CelticBear’s Musings

So, why pray? Most Christians from the most conservative fundamentalist to the most liberal tend to agree that “prayer works.” That there’s some reality-bending effectiveness to prayer.

Is there? I doubt it. Why? Let’s look at the evidence.

A recent heavily funded study looked into the effectiveness of intercessory prayer:

http://www.stnews.org/News-2754.htm

Of the three groups of heart-surgery patients, the group that was prayed for and didn’t know it fared exactly the same as those who weren’t prayed for. However, the group that was prayed for and knew it, actually did worse in post-surgery recovery than the other groups! The hypothesis is that the group that knew they were prayed for may have had a negative psychological impact, making them think “Oh dear, I’m bad enough I need to be prayed for,” and the stress caused an increase in complications.

Also, I discussed in my blog at:

Why Won’t God Heal Amputees? and More of Why Won’t God Heal Amputees that despite the fact the Bible states in a few places, from Jesus himself, that if you have faith no matter what you pray for you’ll get it. Many people evidently have faith enough to have prayer cure cancer and diseases (and other conditions which can go into natural remission and can be affected by medical procedures,) but there has not been a single amputee who has gained their limb back. This would mean God either lied in the Bible, the Bible is not literal and true, or God has it in for amputees.

Everything that happens in which people claim prayer made it happen are things than can be explained by natual chance or human actions. I have not heard of or seen a single event that people have thanked prayer for that was not more easily a case of accident or action. Cognitive biases are by and large the reason for the reinforced belief in the effectiveness in prayer, to the same amount that other people may believe in lucky charms and the existance of bad luck, or the effects of WIccan magick and the like.

Reading Debunking Christianity, I read many MANY personal stories in which former believers asked and prayed fervently for months or even years for help from God in dealing with their questions and doubts, and still, they eventually turn toward agnoticism or atheism ultimately. Even former pastors and preachers and theologians. Why would God not answer these payers? Why would God not listen to these people who would be fantastic soldiers to his cause, and give them aid in their doubts and prove his existance and will?

Some believers would bring up “Because God gave us free will and will not intervene in what one has set in their heart.” Will, bunk. If the Bible is literally true, there are countless passages in which God has changed a persons heart either pro or against God or the Hebrews.

Also, if God sees fit not to intervene in human will, then there’s no point in praying for assistance as God won’t intervene in anything that involves human will, from your own will, to the will of the murderer or thief or carjacker or rapist or molestor or drunk driver. If God won’t help the potential soldier for his cause by answering prayers for answers to doubt because of some self-imposed rule of non-intervention, then there’s no reason for him to answer any prayers.

So why pray? Is it for personal emotional strength? Why? Most of the world isn’t Christian, yet just as many non-theists are happy and fulfilled and successful by trusting in their own inner strength and abilities and finding inspiration in other people. So why pray to a silent and uninvolved God? Why not just trust yourself? Make the right decisions as best you can and find joy in the world as it is, and have hope in the ability to make it better?