purpose of prayer

[Cadre]

---READ BOTTOM OF POST FOR OPINION AND QUESTION---

Praise (dictionary.com)
-noun
1. the state of being approved or admired The king lived in praise for many years.

Prayer (dictionary.com)
-noun
1. a devout petition to God or an object of worship.
2. a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.

In August 2005, Newsweek and Beliefnet asked 1,004 Americans what they believe and how they practice their faith

One of the questions was this: What do you think is the most important purpose of prayer?

Here are their responses...
a. To seek God's guidance (27%)
b. To thank God (23%)
c. To be close to God or the divine (19%)
d. To help others (13%)
e. To improve a person's life (9%)
f. Other (4%)
g. Don't know (5%)

(CITE - Welcome | Christian Classics Ethereal Library)


I. ADORATION

A. EXPRESSING ADORATION...
1. God is certainly worthy of our praise, our adoration
2. While we can praise God in song, we can also praise God in
prayer

B. EXAMPLES OF ADORATION IN PRAYER...
1. When Paul prayed for the Ephesians, he took time to praise God
- Ep 3:14-21
2. David provides an example of offering adoration and praise
- 1 Chr 29:10-13

[Expressing adoration was not one of the responses in the aforementioned
survey, but it is certainly an important purpose of prayer. Continuing
with our acronym ACTS , "C" stands for...]

II. CONFESSION

A. CONFESSING OUR SINS...
1. There is mercy to be found in confessing one's sins - Pro 28:13
2. The Christian enjoys cleansing of sin by the blood of Jesus
- 1 Jn 1:7-10

B. EXAMPLES OF CONFESSING SINS...
1. Jesus provided an example in the parable of the Pharisee and
the publican - Lk 18:10-14
2. Again, David provides an example with his confession of sin
- Psa 51:1-13

[Obtaining forgiveness by confessing sins is a blessing now enjoyed only
through Christ (Jn 14:6). Once we have put on Christ (cf. Ga 3:27),
prayer is crucial to remaining forgiven. "T" stands for...]

III. THANKSGIVING

A. OFFERING THANKSGIVING...
1. Being thankful is emphasized repeatedly in exhortations to pray
- Ep 5:20; Co 4:2; 1 Th 5:17-18
2. The antidote to anxiety is to pray for everything, with
thanksgiving - Ph 4:6

B. EXAMPLES OF OFFERING THANKSGIVING...
1. Christ set an example of thanksgiving - Mt 11:25; 26:27; Jn
6:11; 11:41
2. Daniel had the custom to thank God three times a day - Dan 6:10

[We cannot discount the importance of thanksgiving in our prayers.
Especially if we expect God to answer us as we make requests for future
blessings. This leads to the final letter, where "S" is for...]

IV. SUPPLICATION

A. MAKING SUPPLICATION...
1. We are encouraged to let our requests be known to God - Ph 4:6
2. We are commanded to make supplications for all men - 1 Ti 2:1-2

B. EXAMPLES OF MAKING SUPPLICATION...
1. "Real widows" are known for their supplications night and day
- 1 Ti 5:5
2. Solomon made supplication at dedication of the temple - 1 Kin
8:28-29
3. Jesus made supplication as He was crucified; Stephen also, as
he was being stoned - Lk 23:34; Ac 7:59-60

-------------------------------------------------

Therefore, via observation of this listed criteria, assertained and confirmed from various theistic resources (as an accurate definition of both prayer/praise, and the actions and motives of modern prayer/praise are essential to this argument), the utilitarian benefits of prayer/praise seem to serve from my viewpoint wholly and entirely personal needs surrounding the ego-center.

The desire to speak and engage God in commune is essentially fruitless, as we cannot talk to one we cannot comprehend; we can only believe in Him. With that being known the uses of prayer can thus, only be subjective.

ie.

• To satisfy the human ego-centric nature (wishing for betterment or fulfillment within one's own materialistic and emotional status)

• To satisfy the individual desire to contribute altruistically (even though this once again is a mere satisfication of the contributor's own ego-center)

People generally tend to pray during times of hardship and struggle, assuming that God is listening and will answer their call. The only person listening to your mind is you. And in this private conversation throughout life, the only one who can better yourself, and overcome hardship, is yourself.

People need not thank or blame God, only themselves for answered/unanswered prayer. Some people have the motivation and drive to succeed and overcome, others do not.

Lastly, then, it is only logical to place reasonable faith in SELF, over some God.

STAY ON TOPIC FOLKS, WE ARE DISCUSSING THE DEFINITION/RELEVANCE/EFFECTIVENESS OF PRAYER TO A GOD.

[Zhavric]

I'm reminded of the words of Voltaire who once said, "I only ever made one prayer to god, a very short one: Oh Lord, please make my enemies ridiculous! And god granted my prayer."

As social mammals, we have an instinctive desire to be protected by the "alpha ape". We want there to be somebody to help us when we need help. God is simply the product that fills that marketing niche. Hence some pray to god. It does nothing save make the theists feel better and is an important part of religious propaganda.

[Cadre]

C'mon Theists...

Bump!

[Cadre]

I'm gonna go ahead and take the lack of response, or debate as an indicator that the Theists/Atheists are in agreement, and that at this time my point is irrefutable.

Many frightening claims can be drawn regarding organized religion (obviously specifically Christianity in this thread) from my conclusion.

[Gods_Mercenary]

Why can't you racieve guidance from God when you pray. When you sit in meditation and a solution pops into your head, a theist might take that as God giving a suggestion. Prayers asking for things are kind of odd because we know they aren't always answered. Prayers where you talk to God when you are in danger give you a sense of closeness to God that many find comforting.

[Cadre]

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary Why can't you racieve guidance from God when you pray. When you sit in meditation and a solution pops into your head, a theist might take that as God giving a suggestion. Prayers asking for things are kind of odd because we know they aren't always answered. Prayers where you talk to God when you are in danger give you a sense of closeness to God that many find comforting.

What you are attempting to refute is my key point in the original post:

The desire to speak and engage God in commune is essentially fruitless, as we cannot talk to one we cannot comprehend; we can only believe in Him. With that being known the uses of prayer can thus, only be subjective.

Address that before insinuating that it I am wrong.

[Gods_Mercenary]

It is subjuctive, different for every person, to some people it's very spiritual and comforting while to others it isn't all that important.

[The_Genius]

It depends... you get what you can make of it. But if you believe "God doesn't exist", then OBVIOUSLY your prayers would be fruitless.

[Cadre]

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary It is subjuctive, different for every person, to some people it's very spiritual and comforting while to others it isn't all that important.

So am I to assume that if I were to go and talk to a Magical Zebra in Africa, that it could comprehend what I'm saying if I believed hard enough?

[Cadre]

Quote by: The_Genius It depends... you get what you can make of it. But if you believe "God doesn't exist", then OBVIOUSLY your prayers would be fruitless.

So God's existence is based on subjectivity?

[Gods_Mercenary]

No, but if praying to this Zebra makes you feel better, whatever.

[Gods_Mercenary]

Quote by: Cadre So God's existence is based on subjectivity?

Obviously, if we are sitting here some of us firmly convinced one way and some firmly convinced another, and niether of us able to prove the other wrong.

[Cadre]

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary No, but if praying to this Zebra makes you feel better, whatever.

Then you agree with my initial claim.

The purpose of prayer:

To satisfy the human ego-centric nature (wishing for betterment or fulfillment within one's own materialistic and emotional status)

To satisfy the individual desire to contribute altruistically (even though this once again is a mere satisfication of the contributor's own ego-center)

These things, which through logic, can only be attributed to one's own actions.

[The_Genius]

Quote by: Cadre So am I to assume that if I were to go and talk to a Magical Zebra in Africa, that it could comprehend what I'm saying if I believed hard enough?

That you can do face to face... Does the city you live in not have a zoo?

[Cadre]

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary Obviously, if we are sitting here some of us firmly convinced one way and some firmly convinced another, and niether of us able to prove the other wrong.

This is irrelevant to the topic.

However, this only reaffirms the idea, that if God is purely a subjective construct in the mind, then we are only communicating with ourselves when we pray to it.

[Cadre]

Quote by: The_Genius That you can do face to face... Does the city you live in not have a zoo?

..

Face to face or otherwise you are ignoring my point.

Would you rather I pray to the Magical Zebra, and if I were to believe hard enough that he would hear and answer my claim?

[The_Genius]

Quote by: Cadre Would you rather I pray to the Magical Zebra, and if I were to believe hard enough that he would hear and answer my claim?

I will answer you now.

But firstly, what is a magical zebra?

Where did you hear about it?

Greek Mythology?

[Cadre]

Quote by: The_Genius I will answer you now. But firstly, what is a magical zebra? Where did you hear about it? Greek Mythology?

Irrelevant, I am using it as a comparative example to God (in which it's existence is no more provable, or unprovable as the existence of God).

Please continue with your answer.

[The_Genius]

Quote by: Cadre I am using it as a comparative example to God

Dumb...

God = Magical Zebra?

After reading this topic the way I see it, you really don't want an answer.. You just fancy refuting anybody who believes in prayers.

[Gods_Mercenary]

Quote by: Cadre This is irrelevant to the topic. However, this only reaffirms the idea, that if God is purely a subjective construct in the mind, then we are only communicating with ourselves when we pray to it.

Or perhaps the non-existance of God is a purely subjuctive construct of the mind?