Does Prayer Work?
Does it really work?
Yes (And why)
Side Score: 20
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No (And why)
Side Score: 28
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Yes prayer works sometimes. If you believe in God He is not going to answer your prayer right away. It's according to His timing that He will answer it. I have prayed to God many times and He doesn't answer them but I am patient with the response. Sometimes He does answer prayer through many different things such as the Bible, through a person, or through a sermon someone is giving you in the Church. The reason why I pray is to talk to God and give Him my thanks for letting me live every single day. Side: Yes (And why)
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You're argument is illogical in so many ways. The only good that comes from a religion in the first place is to give his/her followers faith, an inspiration to live under the pressures of life. To believe that a prayer can be answered by a so called god is disgusting to me. God does not in any way, shape, or form answer your prayers. First of all, he can't answer a prayer through something pre-written such as the bible. Its just a book just like any other book. How can you have your prayer answered by something that you could've read before you even prayed? Its contradicting. And to say that your prayer is answered through an actual person is even more ignorant. God cannot control what a human does, but if he can, then why do you even worship him? But I doubt you would even say he can, because you are your own person right, or am i mistaken? All I can say is that I am undoubtedly my own person. Which is the reason I stand here opposing your argument today. Lastly, to say that your prayers are answers through a sermon is the same thing as saying your prayers are answered through the bible. Because every sermon stems from the bible. And god doesn't control whether or not you live, that's a part of nature. You are simply alive because you haven't died yet. Prayer never works. Life happens because those that can make choices for themselves make those choices, and the things that cannot are merely acted upon. Like that of a rock. That rock will sit there for eternity until something alive makes the choice to change that. So if your prayer was to get a job and you got it, it is not because your prayer was answered and god smiled upon you. It was simply because an employer, who isn't controlled by god, decided to give you that job. That was his choice, not gods, because we have already established god doesn't control humans. If he could, Eve wouldn't have tasted the fruit of knowledge and we wouldn't be in so much trouble today. Side: No (And why)
[SORRY THIS IS A DISPUTE TO THE ABOVE ARGUMENT] His argument was so right. I mean, it's what we all (as Christians) believe. Prayers are answered. I'm sure with this. Prayers are never ignored by God. And it's never 'disgusting'. Sometimes, it's the truth and the fact that we get our prayers answered either through a sermon or a bible. Not all sermons are meant to answer your prayer. But there would be that one sermon that attaches to your mind for the rest of the week. Then, you would have to sit silently and ponder what's that sermon so inspiring and all. But I question you, have you ever hear any sermons or read the bible fully? A bible is not the same as all those millions of books in the World. It's the only book that has predicted what would happen in the future (ie, now). And I'm sorry but I contradict to all that you've said here. God does control us humans but that's only if you accept him with all your heart. Or else, you're just preoccupied by those so-called Satans. Here are some statements that I took from the Bible : - If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable. (Proverbs 28:9) - "Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!" (Psalms 66:16-20). Like it says, if you cherish sin in your heart, that is, if you keep on rejecting about God and get nearer to sins everyday, God will not hear your prayer. But praise 'your' Lord. Make him your Lord today if you're not a christian. I assure you that he will change your life and days will come when you glorify him. Side: Yes (And why)
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I don't really do the whole praying thing, but I do if I'm really desperate (say its Game 2 of the NBA Finals with 7 minutes to go and the Mavs are 15 points behind.) - It works sometimes, it doesn't most times. But (and I realize coincidence isn't a measurable phenomena) it seems to occur at higher rate than just coincidence. - And when that team goes on a 20-3 run to win the game in the last seconds, that's when I really start to believe it. Side: Yes (And why)
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But it wasn't the prayer itself that caused the Mavs to win, it was the Mavs themselves. They didn't win because you asked God to make them win, they won through effort and determination. As I have said in my argument on the right, prayer only works if you believe it does. In the real world, it doesn't work at all. Also, as you said yourself, coincidence has no rate. It can happen thousands of times in one day, or never in your entire life. So to compare it with prayer is fruitless. Side: No (And why)
But it wasn't the prayer itself that caused the Mavs to win, it was the Mavs themselves. Well...duh. In the real world, it doesn't work at all. You can't make that claim as coincidence isn't a measurable phenomena. Also, as you said yourself, coincidence has no rate. It can happen thousands of times in one day, or never in your entire life. So to compare it with prayer is fruitless. But correlation between prayer and occurrence is often compelling. Now correlation does not always yield causation, but after a certain point, you have to believe something after a certain point. That is what science s founded on. Nothing is certain, but once you have an inordinate amount of correlation between two things and a logical explanation, it becomes accepted as true. But Side: Yes (And why)
YES, IT WORKS. CERTAINLY. First, I tell you all that I'm a Christian. I can't say that whatever you pray to Lord, it would happen right away! But I can agree strongly on this ground that "PRAYERS WORK". I, myself, is an exemplar. This is somehow a drastic and desperate case for me. My dad, who just entered his mid-forties, was diagnosed that he got a liver cancer. (* Liver cancer is one of the cancers that has highest rate of 'death'.) I used to pray to God for things that I want but also for thanking him most of my days. By the time I heard my dad's unfortunate diagnose, I prayed to God for letting my dad to live with us for many years more. At least, a year. My dad's in-charge doctor only said he can live up to maximum half a year. But I'm sure he listened to my prayer. He lived up to 1 and a half year. Isn't this what we call a miracle? Though he's gone now, I'm sure he's living in peace with Him, my Lord. I remember my dad coming into my dreams and hugged me tight. I think he came to me to assure me that he was alright :). And one more! I've always been worried about my marks (at the moment too!) But everyday (since 2012) I've been doing QT (quiet time) and prayers. I also pray every single moment, as often as possible, to God, first to thank him and second, to let him work on me to glorify him. (simply, I said I want to glorify him through my studies.) And it worked. It's mortifying but I used to score only 80% all below for my Physics, but then last term, I got 92. It's still not so satisfying for me but I know Lord did it for me. I did my best and left all the other things to Lord. He surely listened to my prayers. That's not all. I've so far scored 100% both for my computer studies and Maths. I'm not trying to be self-confident or to be too proud of myself. I'm bragging how glorious is my Lord. So, believe in God! Because, he will listen to your prayers at the right time and at the right place. You pray. It might not happen in short time and immediately but It will happen for you, all at the right moment. Side: Yes (And why)
I'm sorry the hear about your dad, but have you ever asked God why he didn't save your dad? You did pray to him, asking to save your dad, not? Why didn't he? (Before you answer realize that God was able to save your dad, but didn't and you probably found a way to have peace his passing, but the bible is clear. Ask in prayer and you'll get anything you wish for.) I think its sad you are so bogged down into believing prayer works, while there is no justification for it at all. The reason why you seem to do better at whatever you're doing is simple. It's because you are doing it over and over and bound to break through previous results. If I'd like to become famous and have millions of dollars I will not get there sitting on my ass watching TV and not doing more then just praying to God every day. I need to get busy and work hard to reach that goal, aren't I, otherwise, everyone else would be rich and famous, right? Anyway, when I do become filthy rich and famous, I'm gone say it was because I'm special to God because evidently he listens to my prayers and the fame, the mansions, the cars and the millions, is proof of this, right? Ask why God listens to you and not to the abducted children of India, sold as sex-slaves and murdered when the reach an age not economical viable? Seems to me the latter needs his help much much more then you do, don't you agree? Side: No (And why)
I'm saying NO to the above argument. Wrong click sorry. [When you were born in this world, God's purpose was to spread God's words in this huge world to let them get salvations. We were born as 'humans' to spread God's words. That's why we're here.] First and foremost ; PRAYER IS NOT AN 'ACTION' TO REQUEST WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. It's one of the many ways to communicate with our Lord. Did you know this? Before we ask "Does prayers work?", we should know what prayer is for in the beginning. That's it. Prayer is something that lets you communicate with God. It was NOT the thing where you just say "God, I really need your help with this problem. I know, I know that I'm not worth for your salvation but God, please, please let me get through this.." Well, these kind of prayers are in fact answered too but it depends. There's three types of answers to prayers : (1) YES (2) NO (3) WAIT. Although our Lord is an Almight one, He wouldn't always answer the prayers or He would delay it. If you didn't get a statisfying answers, try to ask your self : Do I have a good relationship with God? Do I actually have a "healthy" one? Or, You do know that God exists (or maybe not? haha) but you don't believe in him. You 'know' him but you don't 'belive' in him. That might be one of the answers to why your prayers weren't answered. You may want to re-consider whether you have one or not, whether you believe in him or not with all your heart. I suggest you to start reading Bible first. Or get a Christian friend who's a 'real' believer to get his or her help to establish a good relationship between you and God. And, please read these few lines below. God has given me these lines to "TELL" you what he wants to tell you at the moment.. "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, That it can not save; Nor His ear heavy, That it can not hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that he will not hear." (ISAIAH 59:1-2) "You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask a miss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." (JAMES 4:2-3) When you ask God to make you famous and 'filthy' rich while you're putting your ass watching TV like a couchpotato, it won't be answered. Now, do you know why it's not answered? OR it will never be answered.. It's because 'you may spend it on your pleasures'. I didn't say this but God says so. Isn't it? Wasn't your purpose to become 'filthy' rich was to derive pleasures for yourself? Please. Please get salvation! "We live within the limits of time and limits of knowledge. We have only limited information about a situation and the implications of future action on that situation. God's understanding is unlimited. How an event plays out in the course of life or history is only something he knows. And he may have purposes far beyond what we could even imagine. So, God is not going to do something simply because we determine that it must be his will." (a wise word taken from a random post). God may provide solutions, resolutions to the problem WAY beyond what you imagined possible. Probably any Christian could list examples like this in their own lives. But if the circumstances do not improve, God can still give us his peace in the midst of it. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." "Rejoice always, pray without ceasig, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 THESSALONANS 5:16-18) ; This is what God wants you to do. If you do so, He would definitely listen to your prayers. But always keep in your mind that Prayers are answered only if you need it to be achieved according to what God wants to be. And, to have your prayers answered, you need to get salvation first. And now, to answer to your question about those Indian and African kids that are starving and dying every year.. God does help people all over the world. If some people are starving that doesn't mean God doesn't care about them. God provides enough food for them, but he expects us to deliver it. We have God's hands, we have God's ears. We must open up our ears and pay attention to them. If you ask why did God let them starve, you're wrong. God has allowed many millions of various types of vegetations to grow in this world. We have multitude of people in this world. We also have enough supplies of food in this world. We must cater these foods to Africans. That's how God will help them. Luke 12: 33 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."\ Mathew 25:37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ "And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’" So, God is already helping them out via us. Via His workers, ie, Us Christians. I'm also planning to help those kids by donating monthly if I go back to my country for university. (I'm sorry as I'm still 'planning' cuz right now, in this country that I'm currently residing in doesn't let me do this. OH well..) One of the ways is to send missionaries to these groups of atheist starving and convert them to Christians. Some groups of missionaries bring doctors and tons of foods with them to feed those poor kids. This is what God is doing currently. God doens't ignore anyone. He knows every single person in this world where multitude of them are there. God knows about you too! And maybe, that's why, He let you rebut to my argument and allowed me to reply to yours again. I hope God has worked through me to let you become a faithful believer. I hope so :) Even if His words and my explanations didn't give you enough justifications, I hope one day you realize how much God loves you! ps. I did regret and repent God for not saving my dad but then, now I know. If it's his will to take my dad's pain away and let him rest in peace, if it was what my dad also wanted, let it be. If it was their choice, let it be! God knows what's best for us family. Now, we might be somehow suffering without dad but God knows what to do for us. SO yeah, just let it be :) Side: Yes (And why)
That's why they call it placebo effect and not the prayer effect. Placebo effect can be reproduced without prayer, therefore prayer is not the trigger, but the brain being tricked into a state beneficial to healing the body. Our brain is enormously powerful and poisoning it with religious dogma is such a waste! Side: No (And why)
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If you're a theist and you truly believe it does work, then I can't really disprove that. But I want to argue from situations applicable to the real world, not personal experiences (no disrespect to theists, it's just you can't really argue for something that only you have experienced). Alright, so if prayer really worked, why do we not all lead marvelous lives of frivolous splendour and perfection? If I pray to God asking for a million dollar mansion with smoking hot babes and a pool, then unless I'm Hugh Heffner, I'm not going to get it through prayer. I'll have to get off my arse and start working for it. Maybe for theists, the prayer is the motivation they need to achieve in life, thus prayer does work. But for me, it has never helped me and never will. Side: No (And why)
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I have made this point before so copy and paste shall do Though it is your opinion and my opinion. It seems that you could pray to a rock and you would have the same 3 outcomes If you had prayed to God. 1.Your prayer has been answered. You got what you wanted HAZAAAA praise the rock! 2.It does not happen, this is because the mighty rock thinks you are not ready, you do not deserve it and you should do it yourself because the rock thinks this is a luxury 3. Other-- It happens but not to the extent you wanted it to this means do the rest yourself. So what is the difference between praying to the mighty Rock and God? ---Do not know if this has been mentioned yet----- Side: No (And why)
No. Prayer does not work and it has been scientifically proven with double-blind testing decades ago already and still is researched today. Needless to say, religious folks always say they feel it does work and this is why atheists say religion is nothing more than a state of mind, just as any other e.g. being republican or democrat, a sportsfan, preferring red, green or pink, have a lucky number etc. etc. However, if prayer was to work in some unverifiable way, then you need to challenge yourself by asking why God is listen to your prayer and not the prayer of the thousands of mothers, holding their children for the last time since she does have food to stop it from dying of starvation right this moment, while you read this argument? Remember that God is against abortion, yet lets millions of children die every year of disease and starvation, only because they're not born in the US of A.. Mark 11:23-24 ~ "Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Read this verse carefully and then start praying to God and ask him to not help you get a new iPhone, but void of selfishness, ask him to help those mothers and starving children and irradiate famine. I really hope you'll succeed, if not.. accept the fact that prayer doesn't work because there is no one listening. Side: No (And why)
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