What is the point of prayer?

What is the point of prayer if god already knows everything?

Seems kind of pointless, don't you think?

 

concentration, same as meditation, it is a quick version of meditation. to concentrate on God and really put all your energy into Him
peacex

 

Praying isn't about God.

Praying is about you.

You're the sorry soul that needs help, not God. Hehehehe ...

 

Yeah its not really focusing energy, because you are asking for a diety to help you out in life... but if there is a divine plan and God knows what is going to happen and already is going to let it happen... then what is the point in prayer?

I think thats what he meant by that question.

 

well it can buy you a few extra minutes "or seconds" if some ones plans too kill you but are granted your last prayer or wish. some well prob say skip the prayer go a head and kill me.

 

Prayer is more than requests, as it is also intimacy and talking, as you would a friend.

 

But as far as requests go...

For instance, if something bad is about to happen, or you think it is. Like say your friend is about to die
"God help me through this... and heal my friend."

if your friend makes it through then.. Wow! Divine intervention and my friend is saved.

but if he does... then it was god's plan.

So... God knows whether or not he is going to die... and he has planned it since before he was born...so whats the point in praying.. your not going to change anything.

 

Speaking from a strictly Christian perspective (which I am NOT, though I used to be), I would say this:

God gave humanity free will. As deterministic as the world is, it shouldn't be thought of as "God determines the fate of all beings." Rather, it should be thought of as, "God gave us the ability to choose our own destiny, but he is so smart, that he already knows all of the choices that we will make."

That being said, God knows what choices we will make. However, our spirit is what determines whether or not we go to heaven. We can make the same choices while making them for different motives. Evil people still make good choices, even if they are dedicated to being evil. And good people still make evil choices. It is your soul that determines where you go: to heaven or hell. And that is your choice. In this way, where you go after death is not predetermined; you are not "born" into going to heaven or hell despite what choices you make.

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Of course, I don't believe in any of this. There is no point in prayer, because there is no evidence that prayer has any affect on anything whatsoever. At best, the point of prayer might be to build up your own hope or focus your mind. And that's more like meditation than prayer anyhow.

 

the point of prayer is to pray.

Kahlil Gibran, from The Prophet:

"Then a priestess said, "Speak to us of Prayer."
And he answered, saying:
You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.
For what is prayer but the expansion of yourself into the living ether?
And if it is for your comfort to pour your darkness into space, it is also for your delight to pour forth the dawning of your heart.
And if you cannot but weep when your soul summons you to prayer, she should spur you again and yet again, though weeping, until you shall come laughing.

When you pray you rise to meet in the air those who are praying at that very hour, and whom save in prayer you may not meet.
Therefore let your visit to that temple invisible be for naught but ecstasy and sweet communion.
For if you should enter the temple for no other purpose than asking you shall not receive.
And if you should enter into it to humble yourself you shall not be lifted:
Or even if you should enter into it to beg for the good of others you shall not be heard.
It is enough that you enter the temple invisible.

I cannot teach you how to pray in words.
God listens not to your words save when He Himself utters them through your lips.
And I cannot teach you the prayer of the seas and the forests and the mountains.
But you who are born of the mountains and the forests and the seas can find their prayer in your heart,
And if you but listen in the stillness of the night you shall hear them saying in silence,
"Our God, who art our winged self, it is thy will in us that willeth.
It is thy desire in us that desireth.
It is thy urge in us that would turn our nights, which are thine, into days which are thine also.
We cannot ask thee for aught, for thou knowest our needs before they are born in us:
Thou art our need; and in giving us more of thyself thou givest us all."

http://leb.net/gibran/

 

A really cool book to read if you want is "Blink" by Ted Dekker.

 

Who are you and what have you done to hikaru?

 

prayer isn't about asking for favors or questions of the Divine. It's about being quiet and still enough to hear the answers that were always there in you.

 

A big part of prayer is what it actually does to the human brain. There are notable differences between a "normal" mind and one that is meditating, praying, etc.

 

Lol! ... Oh, but if I was someone else and I was locked up in a closet somewhere, to what lengths would you go to save me?

 

To a great extent young hikaru, with you being gone; who would I discuss theological issues with? BTW, when are you planning to become a theist, wed been waiting for a while now? ^^

 

Hehehehe ...

When shall I become a theist, you ask?

I should say ... right around the same time that Allah (may he be exalted; or God, or whomever you believe in) becomes a humanist and reveals himself unto the world.

Until then, I must remain agnostic ... in a state of inability to know.

 

THis is one of my faves from the Prophet...thanks for posting this TBTM...it is a beautiful explaination for prayer....

 

From the Self-Realization Fellowship World Wide Circle of Prayer Page: ​

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Prayer imbued with devotion is the most effective prayer. Devotion, love for God, is the magnetic attraction of the heart that God cannot resist. Paramahansa Yogananda said: "The Searcher of Hearts wants only your sincere love. He is like a little child: someone may offer Him his whole wealth and He doesn’t want it; and another cries to Him, ‘O Lord, I love You!’ and into that devotee’s heart He comes running." ​

Knowing all things before we ask,* God is more interested in our love than in long-winded prayers. John Bunyan said, "In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart." Mechanical prayer, devoid of attention and feeling, is like absentmindedly offering wilted flowers to the Lord—an offering not likely to get much response! But if we call again and again to God, with devotion, concentration, and will power, we will come to know beyond doubt that our prayers are heard and answered by that Divine One whose power and loving concern for us is absolute and unlimited.
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Blessed are those who pray for others, for in so doing, they become aware of the unity of all life. We are not isolated beings, struggling alone against the forces of adversity. Our happiness is linked with the happiness of all; our highest fulfillment lies in the welfare of all. To all of you who realize this truth and give of your time and sympathy in participating in the Worldwide Prayer Circle, we extend our deep appreciation. Through such selfless service to humanity, may you ever be aware of the constant protection and all-satisfying love of God.
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SELF-REALIZATION FELLOWSHIP
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* ". . .Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him" (Matthew 6:8).

 

What does everyone here think about the idea that the tingly feeling you get from praying, feeling the presence of, or talking to a higher power is created by a specific part of your brain? Possibly for survival purposes?

 

I completely agree. Easy enough. Everyone has the same effect from worshipping a completely DIFFERENT, completely EXCLUSIVE God.