Like prayer healing? I remember Stuff you Should Know did a podcast about prayer healing. This study showed it worked so... But it would be hard to quantify it
The closest thing to "power" it has is comfort when a desperate situation arises. Unless you're an atheist, it's natural to cry out to god when you're desperate, but that doesn't change what prayer is. It's a comfort tool-- which makes it sort of like a drug.
I believe that the mind can do miraculous things. If it believes it is going to be healed it will be healed within reason. For instance, a person who is praying who has cancer and and isn't having treatment and expects their cancer to improve won't. The only thing that can happen in that instance is for the tumor to become benign. Future generations of humans may be able to when we understand completely what the mind is capable of and how to control it but until then I see prayer as just a means of providing hope.
Are God's decisions not final? If a person gets cancer and lots of people pray for them does he go, oh ok, cancer gone now. Does the person with cancer have to be a christian?
Would God save an athiest if people prayed for them? Is it safe to say he'd save devoted christians who have lots of people who pray for them? But how come devoted christians die from cancer then?
It doesn't really make much sense... but rather than say it's not true, you could just say God works in mysterious ways.
I think it acts a bit like a placebo.AnObscureName
Which would mean it has power. If it makes a group or individual feel better or more secure, then it has some sort of spiritual or mental power. It doesn't have to mean a god had anything to do with it.
Prayer is the ultimate placebo. I personally would never pray, but I've seen it help people in desperate times. It gives them the illusion that somebody in a vast position of powercares about them, and that their life is in control.
Prayer is the ultimate placebo. I personally would never pray, but I've seen it help people in desperate times. It gives them the illusion that somebody in a vast position of powercares about them, and that their life is in control.
fiscope
If prayer is a placebo (and I agree it is) then the power is not within the prayer. I could touch my toes every morning and tell myself that had the same power as a prayer. The power is in the mind, not in the act.
Prayer is the ultimate placebo. I personally would never pray, but I've seen it help people in desperate times. It gives them the illusion that somebody in a vast position of powercares about them, and that their life is in control.
spazzx625
If prayer is a placebo (and I agree it is) then the power is not within the prayer. I could touch my toes every morning and tell myself that had the same power as a prayer. The power is in the mind, not in the act.It's the act that sparks the effect in the mind. Thus prayer has power.
It's the act that sparks the effect in the mind. Thus prayer has power.
spazzx625
No, placebos don't hold any power, the mind thinks it is receiving something else and does the work.Look at it this way. If you go for a drive or a walk, it relaxes you, that would also mean it has spiritual power in some sense. If the act is what it takes for the indevidual, then it has power.
It's the act that sparks the effect in the mind. Thus prayer has power.
Pirate700
No, placebos don't hold any power, the mind thinks it is receiving something else and does the work.Look at it this way. If you go for a drive or a walk, it relaxes you, that would also mean it has spiritual power in some sense. If the act is what it takes for the indevidual, then it has power.But considering the act could be replaced with anything, the act is a non-issue. Any act could achieve the same results, the placebo effect comes from the brain interpreting the act, not the act itself.
[QUOTE="spazzx625"]No, placebos don't hold any power, the mind thinks it is receiving something else and does the work.spazzx625
Look at it this way. If you go for a drive or a walk, it relaxes you, that would also mean it has spiritual power in some sense. If the act is what it takes for the indevidual, then it has power.But considering the act could be replaced with anything, the act is a non-issue. Any act could achieve the same results, the placebo effect comes from the brain interpreting the act, not the act itself.The act can't be replaced with just anything when it comes to the indevidual. The result is mental, yes, but it takes specific acts determined only by the person to activate such a response.
There's something odd about sitting in a room by yourself and talking to a man in the sky who isn't there. Surely if I did that, but instead of talking to god and talking to...let's say Andre the Giant, I would be in the mental ward about now.;)
Absolutely. I've had too many experiences with it where things happen that can't otherwise be explained... involving me praying for others and others praying over me.
Nope. I think we as human's have to solve our own problems. Relying on a mystic force to help us out is not the way forward. If there is a God he certainly would not want his creation to become completely dependent on prayer.
Prayer is the ultimate placebo. I personally would never pray, but I've seen it help people in desperate times. It gives them the illusion that somebody in a vast position of powercares about them, and that their life is in control.
spazzx625
If prayer is a placebo (and I agree it is) then the power is not within the prayer. I could touch my toes every morning and tell myself that had the same power as a prayer. The power is in the mind, not in the act.
There is a power within prayer: to motivate the mind and strengthen resolve, as well as bring comfort to those in need. In essence, prayer changes the way people think. I consider that a power, don't you?
It is the same as a coach motivating his team to succeed. Yes, the true power lies in the team itself, but should the coach not be credited as well-for being the catalyst?
Prayer at night helps me get rid of all the stress I've had that day, just letting God know about everything and then asking for guidance and help for the next day. Admittedly it sounds silly but I'm religious and it helps me feel good so to one's own :P
Yes, I believe in the power one has to convince oneself that by asking god for something they somehow increase the chances of getting it. Do I believe that praying actually makes a difference? No.
I remember there was a guy at work telling me he knows prayer works because when he goes hunting he always says a prayer to god. Every so often a deer will run by him. So I'm thinking that while 75% of the world starve, god is flushing out deer for his enjoyment.
Depends on what you mean by prayer. I do believe that prayer, like any other type of meditation, can be soothing and relaxing and overall just good for your health. However, i don't believe that "God" is involved in this process in any way. I also don't believe that praying to God and basically telling him to do something will do anything, that's just ridiculous to me. If i pray for a good SAT score, i doubt that god will jump in and say "psst, dude, the answer is C. C!!!"
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