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Debate Score:184
Arguments:103
Total Votes:237
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 Prayer Success Stories (103)

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AuntieChrist(803) pic



Prayer Success Stories

What prayers of yours has God answered? 

 

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Every night I prayed for a huge house and a sports car, but then I realized that I will have to work for that.

Side: Hence prayer fails
2 points

Well, thats just putting G-d in a tricky situation. If he made all of that fall from the sky, it would break!

Side: Hence prayer fails
yellowfishyb(58) Disputed
1 point

That is completely against the whole point of prayer you ask for help and forgiveness you don't ask for greed.

Side: Hence prayer fails
3 points

I only have a couple of things...

1.) I once prayed to god as a child that when I throw a nail it will point to my house, as a test of faith as my house was 30 meters away and in plain sight (rural area)... it worked it pointed at my house 5 out of the seven times.

2.) As another test I made a prayer to satan, for my father to get a promotion... it worked. He got promoted to supervisor of the metro police, sweet deal.

3.) Another test of faith was another prayer to satan, for my father to find happiness in finding a new girlfriend... he met a gal named Stacy whom he is still with.

So in conclusion I thought BS was going on if Satan did better things than 'god': so it is either the same being, Religion has things backwards, or it was all coincidence. I soon became a rationalist. I once received an offer to go under one of 2 street lights from 2:50Am to 3:10Am, for 'payment' I think it was all in my head... however a dream recently told me that the offer still stands. I think I have been slightly crazy throughout the whole thing...

Side: Hence prayer fails
TERMINATOR(6780) Disputed
1 point

so it is either the same being, Religion has things backwards, or it was all coincidence.

I can think of many other possibilities.

I once received an offer to go under one of 2 street lights from 2:50Am to 3:10Am, for 'payment' I think it was all in my head... however a dream recently told me that the offer still stands. I think I have been slightly crazy throughout the whole thing...

Precisely the danger found in meddling with the occult.

Side: Hence prayer fails
aveskde(1935) Disputed
2 points

Precisely the danger found in meddling with the occult.

There actually is no danger in the occult, besides believing in it...

Side: Hence prayer fails
NuclearFish(182) Disputed
-1 points

A gift from Satan is like a discount from a drug dealer. It seems great, but there is an underlying cost that you're ignoring somewhere.

Side: Hence prayer fails
aveskde(1935) Disputed
3 points

A gift from Satan is like a discount from a drug dealer. It seems great, but there is an underlying cost that you're ignoring somewhere.

Satan doesn't exist anyway, but if I had to choose between him and god, I would choose Satan. Satan represents anarchy against an evil deity.

Side: Hence prayer fails
2 points

Well, prayer is not simply the act of asking God to do something for you or another. Praying literally means conversation with God. You can ask for anything and everything and conceivably never receive any of that which you asked for. Prayer brings you closer to God, just like speaking to a friend or stranger makes you closer to that person. When one prays, it pleases God. There is a very common misconception about prayer, and I hope I have made this easier to understand.

Supporting Evidence: Prayer (www.mountainretreatorg.net)
Side: Prayer is misunderstood
5 points

Well, prayer is not simply the act of asking God to do something for you or another. Praying literally means conversation with God. You can ask for anything and everything and conceivably never receive any of that which you asked for.

So in other words, Jesus lied.

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Prayer brings you closer to God, just like speaking to a friend or stranger makes you closer to that person.

Actually, it's nothing at all like speaking to a friend. A friend doesn't ignore you when you need help. If you really need a friend to do something, he or she will do it. An imaginary friend however, is much less reliable, as you've come to accept.

There is a very common misconception about prayer, and I hope I have made this easier to understand.

I suppose the common misconception is that the Bible is the authoritative word on prayer, when all this time, it's actually been you. Thank you for clearing this up for everybody.

Side: Prayer is misunderstood
hoegy(308) Disputed
3 points

Pray about getting to know him first. ANYONE WHO HAS FAITH IN ME. Faith is the key. YOu may say you had faith when you asked him, but it is not true. YOur heart is not in the right place. FAITH.

Side: Prayer is misunderstood
Openend(35) Disputed
2 points

So in other words, Jesus lied.

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus did not lie. Read this:

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless - Psalms 84: 11

Basically, God will grant you what ever you desire, when you become so close to God, through prayer, reading His Holy Word, and walking with Him. Your desires must be His desires.

Actually, it's nothing at all like speaking to a friend. A friend doesn't ignore you when you need help. If you really need a friend to do something, he or she will do it. An imaginary friend however, is much less reliable, as you've come to accept.

God does not ignore you if there are no walls between the both of you. God has three basic answers to every prayer. Yes, No, Wait. He will rather grant you what you pray for, say no, or have you wait.

Bible is the authoritative word on prayer

The Bible is the authoritative word on life.

Side: Prayer is misunderstood
Spadedude(227) Disputed
2 points

"Actually, it's nothing at all like speaking to a friend."

When did you last try talking to God, and actually tried? I can tell you that millions around the globe can tell you He has never let them down.

A friend doesn't ignore you when you need help.

He does not ignore us at all. When we are angry, we get angry at God and our sin makes us far from him. We don't even try to comunicate, but blame him for ignoring us when he ISN'T!

"If you really need a friend to do something, he or she will do it. An imaginary friend however, is much less reliable, as you've come to accept."

Millions have needed God to heal them, their Earthly friends haven't had the power to, but God has, even if they are athiests.

Side: Hence prayer fails
NuclearFish(182) Disputed
1 point

"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

Consider that Jesus had a different sense of glory and honor than you or I. Humiliation was his greatest honor. A criminal's death was his reward for his faith. Jesus also made it clear that the rewards God gives for faith in Him are not of this world.

Side: Prayer Works
iamdavidh(4856) Disputed
2 points

Pretend there are two Kings.

One King spends his day ensuring all the peasants have enough grain, he builds walls for fortification, hears complaints, and does all the things a King does, and he is involved to the best of his ability in the well-being of his people.

The other however decides that, in order for him to do all of this, he first must be sure that the peasants like him. So he lines them up and allows them to - morning, noon, night, and 1 hour sunday - first tell him, the King, how wonderful he is, then they may ask a favor.

Ignore that the second King may or may not grant these favors, and ignore even that much praise is first required before the King will hear the request.

Which is the better King? And which are the happier peasants.

One in a position of leadership should not require praise, nor personal requests to act in the best interest of the people that leader is in charge of.

If there is a god, you are the peasant of a tyrant.

Side: Prayer Works
1 point

here here!! :)) I strongly, absolutely, excellently agree on this point because PRAYER itself is an opportunity for us to have conservation with GOD.

Side: Prayer Works
2 points

This video totally disproves the notion of prayer working.

Prayer = epic fail
Side: Hence prayer fails

I've made the same argument for years, only with a pet rock rather than a milk jug and I never turned it into a video. Delusion is a powerful thing though, and rather than admit to a mistaken foolish belief in nonsense for their entire lives, believers will concoct all sorts of marvelous excuses for the ineptitude of their deity.

Side: Hence prayer fails
1 point

Well, not that it proves there's a god, but once I prayed for a heavy snowfall in the evening before bed, then the next morning it was white outside.

Side: Hence prayer fails

What, a believer at one time. Satan did fall from heaven and rule hell.

Side: Hence prayer fails

Just because someone say "no" doesn't mean you didn't get an answer. Selfish prayer isn't prayer at all. To measure the "success" of prayer by the positive responses and expectations that MORTALS have for IMMORTAL and omniscient God who understand the consequences of every change in the universe is just silly.

Side: Prayer is misunderstood
1 point

Why, if so many innocent children, true Christians and good spirited men and women have all prayed for world peace and the end of poverty, has it not happened? Why have so many deserving people, inches from death, of nations ruined not received what they need to survive?

If there is a God, answer me this.

Side: Prayer is misunderstood
NuclearFish(182) Disputed
1 point

Because other people screw that up. God saw fit to give us free will. Believe in him or not, it's evident that at any moment I could punch you in the face or you to me. Prayer for world peace is a wasted prayer. Peace will never come of this world because of the inadequacies of man. You have a choice, and because you have a choice, we are capable of having this conflict and so this conflict could turn to war. It's not that God isn't listening, it's that we are not listening. Believe in God or not, one knows war comes from man and so peace is up to the choices of man as well. At the very least, what can be done is to teach us a way to avoid conflict, and it was given:

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." -Matthew 5:38-39

Bear in mind, this comes from a culture where "Eye for an eye" was law of mercy, not revenge. In ancient times, one would kill an entire family for an eye. It was later culturally established that a law of reciprocity take over (The Code of Hammurabi). Jesus, an extremist of his day, argued that when struck, one should refuse to strike back. This effective stance was borrowed by both Gandhi and MLK Jr. Need I say more about the results?

Side: Prayer is misunderstood

Prayer for world peace has not worked because I've been praying for the end of the world. So...., naturally, God is conflicted ;)

Side: Prayer is misunderstood
Slater(4) Disputed
0 points

Poverty is man made thing. God gave us the Earth to look after and we've done the worst job possible. There is so much poverty because countries like the uk insist debt being paid off completely! If we weren't so greedy these needy countries would have more money to save their own people.

Therefore poverty is a result of our own greed! Not of God neglecting His children whom he loves dearly!

Side: Prayer is misunderstood
1 point

Therefore poverty is a result of our own greed! Not of God neglecting His children whom he loves dearly!

God is powerless to help children? I think you need a new god. The reason they need help is not the issue. The fact that your pathetic deity can't (or worse, won't) help them is.

Besides, this debate is supposed to be about prayer success stories, not further examples of your god's malice. ineptitude or nonexistence.

Side: Prayer is misunderstood
1 point

There is one thing left out of all these arguments. It is undeniable that "faith" causes feelings and experiences in ones current reality. No one has seemed to figure out how or why. The only explanation so far is that there is a "higher" power or some unknown manifestations that take place inside of what we call self and inside of what we call reality. Until someone can prove a scientific explanation for experiences that take place when one actually "believes" in something I am going to accept a higher power as an explanation.

Side: Prayer is misunderstood
1 point

It is undeniable that "faith" causes feelings and experiences in ones current reality. No one has seemed to figure out how or why.

Wrong. Numerous studies have been done on the placebo effect.

Until someone can prove a scientific explanation for experiences that take place when one actually "believes" in something...

already been done

I am going to accept a higher power as an explanation.

Not surprising. This is the default position of the ignorant in an attempt to explain what they don't understand and it's this same ignorance that gave rise to theism in the first place.

Side: Prayer is misunderstood
1 point

"I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: "O Lord make my enemies ridiculous." And God granted it. " - Voltaire

Side: Prayer is misunderstood
1 point

Even though I am atheist I see tremendous value in prayer.

I have practiced internal self dialog for as long as I can remember. It is a method of self criticism.

I also think of prayer in terms of speaking up (not remaining silent) about what matters. It takes bravery

Often I have some specific achievement and I strongly suspect others are willing and able to help me accomplish it. So what do I do? I openly and with humility admit that I could use some help.

It doesn't require superstition or anything like that.

I hope we grow out of this stage where we so pridefully label things as absolutely good or absolutely bad. Wisdom comes when you can admire without worshiping and criticize without condemning.

Side: -let your idea of what prayer is evolve-
1 point

I have practiced internal self dialog for as long as I can remember. It is a method of self criticism.

If you feel good about talking to yourself, hey great, whatever works right? This debate isn't about that though. It's about people who believe in a deity who hears and answers prayer.

Often I have some specific achievement and I strongly suspect others are willing and able to help me accomplish it. So what do I do? I openly and with humility admit that I could use some help.

I don't see the connection between asking people for help and praying to a deity.

It doesn't require superstition or anything like that.

What doesn't?

I hope we grow out of this stage where we so pridefully label things as absolutely good or absolutely bad. Wisdom comes when you can admire without worshiping and criticize without condemning.

The truth of something is not dependent on whether it's perceived to be good or bad.

Side: -let your idea of what prayer is evolve-
atypican(4875) Disputed
1 point

If you feel good about talking to yourself, hey great, whatever works right?

I don't feel offended in the slightest, though I strongly suspect your intent was to be insulting.

This debate isn't about that though. It's about people who believe in a deity who hears and answers prayer.

Funny that you, (being a professed atheist) regard prayer as anything but what I described. I'd rather talk about what prayer really is. Not what people like you (and theists) mistakenly IMO think it is.

I don't see the connection between asking people for help and praying to a deity.

People exist. People pray. As an atheist I don't think people pray to dieties (as you understand them), Dieties IMO are imaginative constructs.. Unless you believe differently, it should be easy for you to understand that prayer can refer to either internal self dialog or dialog with another individual.

You would have to have a poorly developed idea of what a deity is to think differently.

What doesn't?

Prayer

The truth of something is not dependent on whether it's perceived to be good or bad.

I agree. But your statement doesn't make sense as a response to the point I brought up about how people tend to be overly absolutist (Go ahead and relate the word absolutist with theist in your mind) and unable to recognize both the beneficial and the detrimental aspects of things. This applies to you in that you don't seem to understand how prayer can be beneficial. You will not let YOUR idea of it evolve.

Your idea of what prayer is as silly as those you criticize.

Side: -let your idea of what prayer is evolve-
1 point

Sure, I yell at myself all the time- but that's not prayer.

Side: -let your idea of what prayer is evolve-
0 points

When I was a kid I used to pray a lot more, especially for concrete things. I'd be forced to church (no kid wants to sit there for an hour) and pray for new games or money or for my team to win. After I grew up a little, I began realizing that God isn't some sort of fairy that grants wishes. Part of Him is there to vent a little and the other part is to ask for strength. Of course, afterward, it's not good enough, because I still need to vent more and the strength comes from within. But I'm not going to give up on prayer. Sometimes it just makes me feel better to think that my thoughts, while in prayer, are sent to God.

Side: -let your idea of what prayer is evolve-

Prayer helps people see things in a different light. Sometimes it makes things seem clearer. This is because you end up arguing with yourself, except, unlike CD, you are more open to your own counter arguments. I mean, if you start calling yourself names, then that defeats the purpose of prayer and you can be classified as clinically unstable ;)

Side: -let your idea of what prayer is evolve-
1 point

"if you start calling yourself names"

For those of you who honestly believe that the little voice in your head is G-d, this still applies. If He is insulting you, there is probably something wrong.

Side: -let your idea of what prayer is evolve-
Spadedude(227) Disputed
0 points

If praying worked like you want, you would be even more of a spoilt brat. Don't you think God created people because he DIDN'T want to fill the earth with idiots like yourself?

Side: -let your idea of what prayer is evolve-
aveskde(1935) Disputed
2 points

If praying worked like you want, you would be even more of a spoilt brat. Don't you think God created people because he DIDN'T want to fill the earth with idiots like yourself?

Prayer doesn't work, period. Besides the simple fact that if it did work it would be very evident from the billions of people praying all the time having wealth, health, food, etc. It doesn't work when tested scientifically.

Side: Hence prayer fails

I pray that I don't kill any of the ass holes that are bound to piss me off that day. This prayer has been working for me so far ;)

Side: Hence prayer fails
0 points

Prayer: The ability to do absolutely nothing and still think you're helping.

Side: Hence prayer fails
0 points

There was a woman at my friends church that died. The whole church prayed and prayed that she need to be there and that it wasnt her time yet. Close to 24 hours later, she came alive again.

That is a prayer being answered.

Side: Prayer Works
2 points

There was a woman at my friends church that died. The whole church prayed and prayed that she need to be there and that it wasnt her time yet. Close to 24 hours later, she came alive again.

That is a prayer being answered.

How did she get out of the body bag?

Side: Prayer Works
sop4life603(48) Disputed
0 points

She was not in a body bag............................................................................................

Side: Prayer Works
zombee(1026) Disputed
2 points

It seems that many people were involved in this anecdote of yours. If it is true, surely there is a peep of it, somewhere, in some newspaper?

Side: Prayer Works
2 points

You mean you did not read about it in your unbiased, bipartisan, secular newspaper? Egad!

Side: Prayer Works
-1 points

It says clearly do not test God. Second if you dont beleive in God and ask him for selfish desires, then he will not answer you. If you beleive in God and ask him for selfish desires then he will not answer you. God reconizes the voice of his people. The question is what is your intent? What are you going to use it for?

Side: Prayer Works
protazoa(427) Disputed
1 point

"God reconizes the voice of his people"

So, how do you explain the Holocaust? I am pretty sure that out of 6 million Jews dying in concentration camps, many were praying for their hellish torture to come to an end.

Were they being selfish? To want to survive?

And what of the cancer patients. Did the 7.6 million people who died just not pray hard enough?

And lastly: juvenile diabetics. They do not die. But I am sure that people all over the world have prayed for a cure. Were these patients, the vast majority of which are little more than children, intending to misuse their ability to live healthy lives?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_1

Side: Prayer Works
0 points

I agree I lost my Sunday School books and kept on praying-ifound them

I lost my phone i prayed- I found it

My friend was seriosly ill and i had no-one to talk about how i felt to i prayed for her- she got better

I was finding it hard to follow the path of righteousness i prayed for guidance- I found my way again.

Side: Prayer Works
3 points

I agree I lost my Sunday School books and kept on praying-ifound them

I lost my phone i prayed- I found it

My friend was seriosly ill and i had no-one to talk about how i felt to i prayed for her- she got better

I was finding it hard to follow the path of righteousness i prayed for guidance- I found my way again.

TAMPA, Fla. — A 9-year-old girl was raped, bound and buried alive, kneeling and clutching a purple stuffed dolphin, state prosecutors said in documents released Wednesday.

Jessica Lunsford's (search) body was found March 19 buried about 150 yards from her house in Homosassa, about 60 miles north of Tampa.

According to the documents, Jessica was found wearing shorts and a shirt — different from the pink nightgown her family said she was wearing when they reported her missing Feb. 24, The Tampa Tribune said in its online edition late Wednesday.

The body was wrapped in two plastic trash bags knotted at her head and feet in a grave covered by a mound of leaves, the state attorney's office said in the documents.

Millions of people around the world prayed for that little girl to be found safe, yet she was raped repeatedly and died frightened and alone with nothing more than a stuffed toy to comfort her in her final moments.

I guess God was too busy with your fucking Sunday school books and your phone to help her.

Side: Prayer Works
iamdavidh(4856) Disputed
2 points

Wow, your god's a jerk-off because there was this Christian tribe in Africa that happened to be at war with a tribe of some other religion, and one Sunday while all the children of the Christian village were in the church for Sunday school, the other tribe burned the church down.

Burning over a dozen children alive, all of whom were doubtless praying.

Thank god you found your silly ass books though.

Side: Prayer Works