So why do we pray?

[KnowLedge]

There loads of smart and religious people here.. I believe in god. But i cant figure out why we pray.

why does god want us to pray? why do we have to spend out time praying to a god when this god is said to be selfless.. Is your god shelfish? did he make a law that "if you pray to me, then i shell give u powers"?

[Juliette]

Last I heard it's got to do with having a relationship with god, i.e. 'getting to know each other'.
Meaning that regardless of god's omniscience, he wants people to talk to him as to a friend, or mentor.

But that's just what I heard. It's such a cesspit of theological debate if you think about it.. oh well.

[Kit-Fox]

Its obvious, or should be to anyone who has seen SG-1 after all they put the truth in a TV show so you wouldnt believe it


[spoiler]So they can siphon off our lifeforce power to give them more power to fight some other ascended beings in a galaxy far, far away [/spoiler]

[Doc]

To help connect with god in a spiritual mannor, and not a physical one until you die..

or im just chatting **Filtered**, and god isn't actually real..
^ which is obviously the case

[MEZZANINE]

NOT a religious person in anyway myself, but from limited experience of prays from TV they seem to be selfish wishlists, like a list of presents you want from Father Christmas,

Keep ME and those I care about healthy

Save ME or this person I care about from illness, injury, whatever

Give ME the strength to deal with stuff everyone has to deal with

Basically asking for favors from a mythical all powerful being, and thinking you are more worthy and likely to receive than other because of your faith.

The Lords prayer which we were forced to say in assembly in my school days ( I think the political correctness mob has got rid of it now due to multi-faith society ) was also about indoctrinating children at an early age and kissin Gods arse... oh you who are so powerful, feared and wonderful blah blah blah

[Thriller]

Because God is vain..

[Baphomet]

Talk/mumble to yourself with hands together/clasped/palms facing upwards your judged a pious man.

Talk/mumble to yourself and your looked upon as crazy

[KnowLedge]

so noone has any real answer, yet 7 billion people on this earth do it every day......?

[Kit-Fox]

Thats interesting there are only 6. ?? billion people on the planet & not all of them are religious ao they arent praying. So um, how did you come up with 7 billion exactly?

[Juliette]

Thats interesting there are only 6. ?? billion people on the planet & not all of them are religious ao they arent praying. So um, how did you come up with 7 billion exactly?

http://www.ibiblio.org/lunarbin/worldpop
An applet which makes the most accurate estimates (using an analysis of statistical data, it specifies the sources in the 'click for info' button). The next official update of the world population will put us past 7 billion, Kit.

But that's not an exact science.. counting people..

[Renji]

it gives you peace, for the people that believe i think, believing that there might be someone out there looking out for you that you can talk to whenever you want about anything you want and who doesnt judge you, but on the other hand some people take this to the extreme thinking if they talk to god about it and apologise its ok and forgiven.

[MEZZANINE]

Thats interesting there are only 6. ?? billion people on the planet & not all of them are religious ao they arent praying. So um, how did you come up with 7 billion exactly?

http://www.ibiblio.org/lunarbin/worldpop
An applet which makes the most accurate estimates (using an analysis of statistical data, it specifies the sources in the 'click for info' button). The next official update of the world population will put us past 7 billion, Kit.

But that's not an exact science.. counting people..

lol I like the running counter, every second 7 or 8 more being born than dying really brings it home how Humans spread like a virus

Say the population is 7 Billion, many of them are to young to speak let alone pray, many may pray as children simply because they are forced to, several religions do not pray, and in western developed ( scientifically educated ) nations Id guestimate less than 1 in 20 pray, personally I dont know anyone in RL who prays, so the praying figure must be far far less than 7 Bill.

Also those who do pray, pray to different gods so even if there is a god, how many are praying to the right one ?

Sorry I dont deliberating belitttle others peoples beliefs I just find them very amusing

[KnowLedge]

omg guys, who cares what the actual number is. The fact is many ppl do it without knowing why..

[[KMA]Avenger]

so noone has any real answer, yet 7 billion people on this earth do it every day......?

its not an easy question to answer, so don't be so impatient just because you didn't get an answer right away...

from what i understand about prayer, its because we all need help and God knows this, so he offers us a helping hand via prayer.
many people find it beneficial to be able to empty out their "worry tanks" and prayer is one way of doing that.
prayer also allows believers to have a personal 1 on 1 relationship with God.
also its a good way of weeding out the non-believers....

i don't pray and i ain't religious...but that's what i understand about it.

[KnowLedge]

personally, its a pretty shellfish thing to do.. "worship me and i shell give u power"

Here is how i see it at times, Praying is a form of yoga. Yoga is good for the health.
smart people from the old times made up this stuff so they can get us to do Yoga which is in the end good for the body..