Debate Info

Debate Score:	24
Arguments:	20
Total Votes:	27
More Stats

Argument Ratio

side graph

What is the purpose of prayer? (19)

Debate Creator

AuntieChrist (803)

What is the purpose of prayer?

If everything happens according to God's will, what purpose is there in asking him to intervene in worldly affairs?

Add New Argument

2 points

The purpose of prayer is to for His followers to communicate with God and talk to Him. Prayer is a step to get closer to God in our relationship with Him and to connect with God. We also give praise to God for what He has done for our lives when we pray to Him and also we ask for various different things.

10 years ago

Support Dispute Clarify

↑ Hide Replies

AuntieChrist (803) Disputed

1 point

The purpose of prayer is to for His followers to communicate with God and talk to Him. Prayer is a step to get closer to God in our relationship with Him and to connect with God. We also give praise to God for what He has done for our lives when we pray to Him and also we ask for various different things.

I was expecting the "to get closer to God" response. I can understand that. Even if it is a monologue rather than a conversation.

What I'm really interested in is "the various different things" you've asked him for.

Please share.

10 years ago

Support Dispute Clarify

↑ Hide Replies

Srom (12206) Disputed

1 point

What I'm really interested in is "the various different things" you've asked him for.

Please share.

I usually ask if it's His will to show me evidence that He exists and proof of it and He has given me proof in the scriptures and outside sources.

I usually ask God to help me spread the Gospel at school not just by words but by actions and also if someone asks me a question about God that I would be prepared to answer them.

When spreading the Gospel, I ask God that when it's time to talk about Him at school or other places that the Holy Spirit guides me and put words into my mouth to say things and it isn't my words but God's words

10 years ago

Support Dispute Clarify

↓ Show Replies

AuntieChrist (803) Disputed

1 point

I usually ask if it's His will to show me evidence that He exists and proof of it and He has given me proof in the scriptures and outside sources.

I usually ask God to help me spread the Gospel at school not just by words but by actions and also if someone asks me a question about God that I would be prepared to answer them.

When spreading the Gospel, I ask God that when it's time to talk about Him at school or other places that the Holy Spirit guides me and put words into my mouth to say things and it isn't my words but God's words

No offence, but that's pretty lame. You'd get the same results praying to the great pumpkin. Why don't you ask him to get rid of cancer?

Just get a friend and pray together that he'll get rid of cancer right now and he will (the Bible says that if two or more people ask for something in his name he'll do it, so it'll work for sure!).

While you're at it, could you and your friend ask him to do something about missing limbs? There are a lot of decent God-fearing Americans coming back from over-seas missing limbs and I guess nobody else is praying for them to grow back.

K thx.

10 years ago

Support Dispute Clarify

↓ Show Replies

Srom (12206) Disputed

1 point

No offence, but that's pretty lame. You'd get the same results praying to the great pumpkin. Why don't you ask him to get rid of cancer?

You might think it's lame but it isn't. I have asked God to get rid of cancer from a loved one who was related to me but sadly it was her time to go and now she is in a better place then this earth.

Just get a friend and pray together that he'll get rid of cancer right now and he will (the Bible says that if two or more people ask for something in his name he'll do it, so it'll work for sure!).

Yes, I know that and I have done that with my family praying because we wanted that cancer to go away from that loved one that had cancer, but she ended up dying from cancer.

Also that will work if everyone has faith that God will heal that certain individual, and it all depends if it's God's will,or not to heal that certain individual as well. It was her time to go.

10 years ago

Support Dispute Clarify

↓ Show Replies

AuntieChrist (803) Disputed

1 point

Which brings us back to the point of this debate...

If everything happens according to God's will, what purpose is there in asking him to intervene in worldly affairs?

It also demonstrates that Jesus lied...again and again:

1) And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, `Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen. "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." (Matthew 21:21-22 NAS)

2) Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8 NAB)

3) Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst. (Matthew 18:19-20 NAS)

4) Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. (Mark 11:24-25 NAB)

5) And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:9-13 NAB)

6) And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it. (John 14:13-14 NAB)

7) If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. (John 15:7 NAB)

8) It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. (John 15:16 NAB)

9) On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. (John 16:23-24 NAB)

10 years ago

Support Dispute Clarify

Catarecool (25) Disputed

1 point

Wow that was kind of really rude. This person is perfectly content and happy praying, but you just HAD to respond. That's like seeing a smiling baby and punching it in the face. Anyway, the bible says that when people pray, he will respond, that response could be no. Also, the reason some things like cancer exists is because the devil also has power cause a really frickin' powerful dude too. God gave us free will, like a giant sims game, I'm pretty sure you can't like, make your sims fly without some hack or something, just like god gives us free will, instead of using a hack. Also speaking from experience here, my cousin had cancer, and after her condition worsened, we started praying for her. She went in for a test and found out it had gotten better and was almost gone. So please don't be rude and punch this person spiritual baby in the face.

10 years ago

Support Dispute Clarify

atypican (4875)

2 points

To, through conversation, improve your thinking about what is most important.

10 years ago

Support Dispute Clarify

Intangible (4934)

1 point

Because god gets lonely and needs people to talk to him.

He is no good at initiating conversation, so people pray to initiate.

10 years ago

Support Dispute Clarify

↑ Hide Replies

HarryPits (301)

2 points

The lonelier God gets, the more often it snows and rains, if you know what I mean.

10 years ago

Support Dispute Clarify

Intangible (4934)

1 point

The prayer happens according to his will. They would not pray if it wasn't in his will.

10 years ago

Support Dispute Clarify

↑ Hide Replies

Intangible (4934)

1 point

The only way for God's powers to work, is to pray to him.

So he put in his will for those people to pray for him.

10 years ago

Support Dispute Clarify

↓ Show Replies

Intangible (4934)

1 point

To stay connected with god . Even though, if you get disconnected from god, then it's because it happened according to his will.

I don't understand man.

Maybe Google can tell me.

10 years ago

Support Dispute Clarify

↑ Hide Replies

Intangible (4934) Clarified

1 point

Constant repetition of those good thoughts or words being spoken can alter how you really think and feel.

It's just a sugar pill to give you hope.

Google didn't help :/

10 years ago

Support Dispute Clarify

1 point

I've always believed it's less about petty requests and more about deep connections through communication.

10 years ago

Support Dispute Clarify

PhxDemocrat (13121)

1 point

Prayer makes someone feel happy inside. Prayer can make someone who isn't feeling well a happier person.

8 years ago

Support Dispute Clarify

Add New Argument

Browse More Debates