The Power of Prayer

[gallo]

I propose an experiment to test the power of christian prayer. The 65 teams playing in the NCAA Tournament have been announced. As usual, several of these teams are christian schools, the highest seed among them being Xavier, seeded 3 in the West.

So let's all decide on a christian school and pray to almighty god for a victory in the tournament by that school.

Here are the Candidates:

Mount St. Mary's (16a East) Roman Catholic
Oral Roberts (13 South) ???
St. Joseph's (11 East) Roman Catholic (Jesuit)
Baylor (11 West) Baptist
St. Mary's (10 South) Roman Catholic (Christian Brothers)
BYU (8 West) Mormon
Gonzaga (7 MidWest) Roman Catholic (Jesuit)
Xavier (3 West) Roman Catholic (Jesuit)

If I have missed a school or two because of my ignorance of their religious affiliations, please let me know.

However, let me proceed with my proposal. Everyone should forget their own school loyalties and get together and pray to god for the victory of a particular religious school. We need to decide which school.

Here's my opinion. Mount St. Mary's (a real miracle if they won), St. Joseph's, St. Mary's, Gonzaga, and Xavier are all Roman Catholic schools. Most fundamentalist christians think that Roman Catholicism isn't true christianity.

That leaves Oral Roberts, Baylor, and BYU. I'm not even sure of the affiliation of Oral Roberts (probably a magical interpretation of the Baptists), and most christians don't consider Mormonism to be christian. That leaves Baylor. Founded by Southern Baptists, but now pretty much middle of the road christian dogmatic.

I think that everyone should pray that Baylor will win. That will mean that Baylor will have to beat 8 Purdue, 3 Xavier, 2 Duke and 1 UCLA, or who ever beat any of those teams, to reach the final four, where they will face Memphis or whoever beat Memphis, and then either UNC or Kansas or whoever beat them.

Let's show everyone the power of prayer and pray for a Baylor victory.

If you have another suggestion, the please speak up. We have to hurry to decide who we are going to pray for. The opening round is tomorrow, the 18th, and the first round begins on Thurs, Mar 20.

[SoylentGreen]

gallo If you have another suggestion, the please speak up

How about half of us start devil worshipping for something terrible to happen to all of them. While the other half prays to god for something good.
That way we can not only prove they exist but also which one is the better.

[lindsay7]

Gallo,

God isn't going to interfere in our silly sports games, no matter how many people pray. It doesn't work like that. We can't control God.

[Jack]

So are athletes who thank their god for a victory incorrect, presumptive or misguided?

[lindsay7]

Quote by: Isherwood So are athletes who thank their god for a victory incorrect, presumptive or misguided?

All of the above if my guess.

[lindsay7]

It's certainly possible that God might help an athlete if they asked - in the sense of helping them avoid disasterous injury, lifting their spirits (as it is therapeutic to talk to God), etc. That's part of their personal relationship with God.

What I mean is, that I really doubt that God is going to interfere and control the outcome of a sports game.

[ItsDarts]

The power of prayer should not be underestimated. James 5:16-18 declares, "…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." God most definitely listens to prayers, answers prayers, and moves in response to prayers.

Jesus taught, "…I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20). 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 tells us, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." The Bible urges us, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18).

The Word of God is full of accounts describing the power of prayer in various situations. The power of prayer has overcome enemies (Psalm 6:9-10), conquered death (2 Kings 4:3-36), brought healing (James 5:14-15), and defeated demons (Mark 9:29). God, through prayer, opens eyes, changes hearts, heals wounds, and grants wisdom (James 1:5). The power of prayer should never be underestimated because it draws on the glory and might of the infinitely powerful God of the universe! Daniel 4:35 proclaims, "All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: 'What have you done?'"

The only thing he won't do is answer the prayers of amputees.

[loser]

What I mean is, that I really doubt that God is going to interfere and control the outcome of a sports game.

I'm sure that it doesn't top His list of priorities but it really does depend on the disciple.

God's interest is primarily in humans. To that end, all human endeavors and matters are important to Him. However, there is a 'greater good' to which we all must yield. There may be agony in defeat to humans but there is victory in defeat to God.

Yeah, I know, it sounds like religious claptrap to non-believers...but that's okay.

gallo: Your farcical attempt to discredit prayer is meaningless. For you (and others of your bent), you have already decided for the futility of prayer. For those who truly understand, they know the error of your logic.

Still, I'll give you this (or someone else who it might actually help):

Jas 4:3 (GW): When you pray for things, you don't get them because you want them for the wrong reason-for your own pleasure.
Jas 4:4 You unfaithful people! Don't you know that love for this evil world is hatred toward God? Whoever wants to be a friend of this world is an enemy of God.

1Jn 3:22 (CEV): He will give us whatever we ask, because we obey him and do what pleases him.

Jas 1:6 (CEV): But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm.
Jas 1:7 If you are that kind of person, you can't make up your mind, and you surely can't be trusted. So don't expect the Lord to give you anything at all.



Those are just a few of the guidelines to effective prayer. There are more but, as you should see, there are conditions.

Still, I'm going to pray for LSU...I believe in miracles!

[Abitail]

Trying to put God to the test, eh? Prayer isn't going to change anything. God already has His perfect, sovereign plan. Prayer is a way that Christians show their absolute dependence on God.

[ItsDarts]

Quote by: Abitail Trying to put God to the test, eh? Prayer isn't going to change anything. God already has His perfect, sovereign plan. Prayer is a way that Christians show their absolute dependence on God.

You obviously didn't read my post above and you didn't read in the bible the many times god was put to the test and he answered the tests.

[Technosoul]

Quote by: gallo I propose an experiment to test the power of christian prayer. The 65 teams playing in the NCAA Tournament have been announced. As usual, several of these teams are christian schools, the highest seed among them being Xavier, seeded 3 in the West. So let's all decide on a christian school and pray to almighty god for a victory in the tournament by that school. Here are the Candidates: Mount St. Mary's (16a East) Roman Catholic Oral Roberts (13 South) ??? St. Joseph's (11 East) Roman Catholic (Jesuit) Baylor (11 West) Baptist St. Mary's (10 South) Roman Catholic (Christian Brothers) BYU (8 West) Mormon Gonzaga (7 MidWest) Roman Catholic (Jesuit) Xavier (3 West) Roman Catholic (Jesuit) If I have missed a school or two because of my ignorance of their religious affiliations, please let me know. However, let me proceed with my proposal. Everyone should forget their own school loyalties and get together and pray to god for the victory of a particular religious school. We need to decide which school. Here's my opinion. Mount St. Mary's (a real miracle if they won), St. Joseph's, St. Mary's, Gonzaga, and Xavier are all Roman Catholic schools. Most fundamentalist christians think that Roman Catholicism isn't true christianity. That leaves Oral Roberts, Baylor, and BYU. I'm not even sure of the affiliation of Oral Roberts (probably a magical interpretation of the Baptists), and most christians don't consider Mormonism to be christian. That leaves Baylor. Founded by Southern Baptists, but now pretty much middle of the road christian dogmatic. I think that everyone should pray that Baylor will win. That will mean that Baylor will have to beat 8 Purdue, 3 Xavier, 2 Duke and 1 UCLA, or who ever beat any of those teams, to reach the final four, where they will face Memphis or whoever beat Memphis, and then either UNC or Kansas or whoever beat them. Let's show everyone the power of prayer and pray for a Baylor victory. If you have another suggestion, the please speak up. We have to hurry to decide who we are going to pray for. The opening round is tomorrow, the 18th, and the first round begins on Thurs, Mar 20.

Looks like you will not get enough people here at Volconvo who are confident enough in praying to conduct your scientific research.

Now in my opinon prayer is like programing a computer, the results are only as good as the ability of those doing the programing, in this case, doing the praying.

Let us say you took 1000 people at random off the street who claim to believe they can program a computer, well chances are that you might be some diverse results.

However, your idea is not really a silly one.

A simular study was conducted already.

Scientific Evidence for Answered Prayer

(note: the webpage reporting about the results might be bias ).

Point is: You could debate the study already conducted. Was it bias, did it contain any random or other errors? Were the results properly interpreted. And did the test even prove anything at all?

Like I said, not enough people here at Volconvo to do a respectable or scientific test.

[rez]

Quote by: lindsay7 Gallo, God isn't going to interfere in our silly sports games, no matter how many people pray. It doesn't work like that. We can't control God.

Oh yeah? How do you know what god does and does not do? Do you possess the mind of god?

Quote by: lindsay It's certainly possible that God might help an athlete if they asked - in the sense of helping them avoid disasterous injury, lifting their spirits (as it is therapeutic to talk to God), etc. That's part of their personal relationship with God.

So what is it? Does god interfere or does it not interfere?
How does god help someone avoid an injury? Does it cast a spell and change around what would have happened if the person did not pray? That would be changing interfering with our free will.

I don't think you actually thought this out too much...

[HelioPrime]

Quote by: rez Oh yeah? How do you know what god does and does not do? Do you possess the mind of god?

James 5:16-18 declares, "…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Just from above. If your an atheist and just praying as a mockery with the intention to try and flaunt it at christians then no, don't expect much of anything.

[rez]

Quote by: HelioPrime James 5:16-18 declares, "…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Just from above. If your an atheist and just praying as a mockery with the intention to try and flaunt it at christians then no, don't expect much of anything.

The point was I am not going to expect much of anything because prayer does not work. It doesn't even work for the people who actually think it does.

I mean, this website here could be a contributing factor as to why people do actually think it works. Evidence for God from Science... bwwwahahah

[HelioPrime]

Quote by: rez The point was I am not going to expect much of anything because prayer does not work. It doesn't even work for the people who actually think it does. I mean, this website here could be a contributing factor as to why people do actually think it works. Evidence for God from Science... bwwwahahah

On the other hand the action of prayer does have some help.

While it may not be divine guidance simple stress reduction from prayer or faith can lead to better health.

[Rainbow]

Quote by: SoylentGreen How about half of us start devil worshipping for something terrible to happen to all of them. While the other half prays to god for something good. That way we can not only prove they exist but also which one is the better.

:-))) The best solution :-)))
(I can not stop from laughing :-))) )

[lindsay7]

Quote by: rez Oh yeah? How do you know what god does and does not do? Do you possess the mind of god? So what is it? Does god interfere or does it not interfere? How does god help someone avoid an injury? Does it cast a spell and change around what would have happened if the person did not pray? That would be changing interfering with our free will. I don't think you actually thought this out too much...

I think God does interfere in things, but don't expect him to interfere because you want to 'test' him. It's arrogant to think that we have any authority over God. What right do we have to demand miracles?

[HelioPrime]

The lord works in mysterious ways or so the saying goes.

The bible both included stories of prayers answered and prayers apparently ignored. Did Job HAVE to go through losing everything and his wife turned to salt? The list goes on. It's pretty well made clear by example that prayer does not always equal a response.

A response wouldn't make sense in the context of heaven and hell either. If God responded to every prayer in a way that everyone could see then what sane person would doubt God's existence anyways.

[ItsDarts]

Quote by: HelioPrime The lord works in mysterious ways or so the saying goes.

Translation, You have no clue what your god will or can do.

The bible both included stories of prayers answered and prayers apparently ignored. Did Job HAVE to go through losing everything and his wife turned to salt? The list goes on. It's pretty well made clear by example that prayer does not always equal a response. A response wouldn't make sense in the context of heaven and hell either. If God responded to every prayer in a way that everyone could see then what sane person would doubt God's existence anyways.

And here in lies the problem with belief in his existence.... An All Loving God would want more, not less of his creations to reach heaven, not hell. His current system (what ever that may be) will produce more people going to hell, so this leads me to believe he is not all loving. If he's All Powerful, he could make this world any way he wanted that would make getting to heaven more believeable and still leave us with free will to accept or reject his offer and an All Knowing god would know that the majority of todays people will not make it to heaven under todays conditions and with his power, its about time he reassures us that he exists just like he use to do 2000 to 3500 years ago. None of this is going on at the moment, therefore this leaves me with no rational reason to believe he exists as described in the Bible or the Quran.

You see, according to your holy book, he use to let his existence be known all the time, unfortunately we can't verify this with anything other than this old book that was compiled by political means 300+ years after the claim of a messiah was made. Some pieces of this history of god was left in, some left out for reasons really only known by the compilers. How is this any different than us taking the next 300 years of news clips of the Virgin Mary sitings in Cheese sandwiches, wood panelings and highway over passes compiling these news clips and claiming these are "The Truth" and inspired videos of god message" We can throw in videos of David Koresh who claimed to be the second coming of Christ 300 years from now. After we do this, we should have 1000 years of peace before the crap hits the fan, right?

[Zhavric]

How about we pray for god to heal brave American sodiers turned amputees?
















































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