Why does God answer some prayers but ignore others?

[Goatee]

Oh, I have no doubt that millions of Christians think that prayer is achieving something - but that says nothing about the truth of those beliefs.

Now, regarding the results one can find on the Internet - was this an example of a "result"?

Largest Study of Third-Party Prayer Suggests Such Prayer Not Effective In Reducing Complications Following Heart Surgery

http://web.med.harvard.edu/sites/RELEASES/html/3_31STEP.html

Thing is, as an atheist you will always look for what you want to see and believe!

Having true faith in God and prayer etc is so wonderful. You ought to try it sometime! God bless you buddy

 

[SteveB28]

Thing is, as an atheist you will always look for what you want to see and believe!

Having true faith in God and prayer etc is so wonderful. You ought to try it sometime! God bless you buddy

You don't see the irony there, do you?

 

[Davian]

 

[com7fy8]

There are blind people who are dark blind. They have never seen colors, and they do not experience colors during dreams. But they believe you if you say you have seen colors, though they have not a clue what you are talking about.

 

[SkyWriting]

This atheist says - "YOU are making the claim, so it is up to YOU to show evidence for your claim!"No evidence has been presented to show that any form of prayer 'works'. That is not "framing the outcome" - that's a simple fact!

The simple fact is that a scientist understands what he is investigating.
You are seeking evidence for supernatural "forces."
You can't use natural tools to confirm supernatural involvement.

Let suppose I could "pray" an apple into existence on a card table.
I'd be asking God for the apple.
If it were to show up, there would be no way to repeat the experiment
for anyone else.....unless they could force God to do it again.

What God would do, (in my experience) is have someone walk in and
place a apple on the table.
But He would only do that for me and not to show others. God prefers
not to show His hand. IN SCIENCE YOU MUST KNOW YOUR SUBJECT WELL.

25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said,“Peace be with you!” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

I DON'T FEEL AUTHORIZED TO CONVERT YOU
WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS.

 

[com7fy8]

Personal anecdotes are not evidence, without something tangible to corroborate them.

God is tangible, but He is spiritual. There are people whose sensual experience is limiting them to what they are experiencing physically which is not spiritual, and emotionally. So, you need to have spiritual sensing capability, in order to experience spiritually tangible evidence.

 

[SteveB28]

The simple fact is that a scientist understands what he is investigating.
You are seeking evidence for supernatural "forces."
You can't use natural tools to confirm supernatural involvement.

Let suppose I could "pray" an apple into existence on a card table.
I'd be asking God for the apple.
If it were to show up, there would be no way to repeat the experiment
for anyone else.....unless they could force God to do it again.

What God would do, (in my experience) is have someone walk in and
place a apple on the table.
But He would only do that for me and not to show others. God prefers
not to show His hand. IN SCIENCE YOU MUST KNOW YOUR SUBJECT WELL.

25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said,“Peace be with you!” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

I DON'T FEEL AUTHORIZED TO CONVERT YOU
WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS.

And now the weasel words appear.

There is no such thing as the 'supernatural'. It is a convenient term for those who would wish that the imaginary was real.

If something is real then it can be detected. Which means it is part of the natural world.

 

[SteveB28]

God is tangible, but He is spiritual. There are people whose sensual experience is limiting them to what they are experiencing physically which is not spiritual, and emotionally. So, you need to have spiritual sensing capability, in order to experience spiritually tangible evidence.

More weasel words. What does 'spiritual' mean?

 

[com7fy8]

What does 'spiritual' mean?

Nonphysical in existence, and conscious and capable of some sort of personal communication and action.

 

[SteveB28]

Nonphysical in existence, and conscious and capable of some sort of personal communication and action.

If communication is possible, then that 'something' is part of physical reality. You are making up terms to justify the imaginary.

 

[SkyWriting]

And now the weasel words appear.
There is no such thing as the 'supernatural'. It is a convenient term for those who would wish that the imaginary was real.
If something is real then it can be detected. Which means it is part of the natural world.

You can argue with Sting on that.
The Police - Spirits In The Material World


Can we detect love?
Can we detect faith?
Can we detect trust?
Can we detect what creates music?
Can we detect what causes dance?
Can we detect the source of music?
Can we detect the source of hate?
Can we detect our future?

 

[SkyWriting]

If communication is possible, then that 'something' is part of physical reality. You are making up terms to justify the imaginary.

Dreams are detectable and so real?

 

[SteveB28]

You can argue with Sting on that.
The Police - Spirits In The Material World


Can we detect love?
Can we detect faith?
Can we detect trust?
Can we detect what creates music?
Can we detect what causes dance?
Can we detect the source of music?
Can we detect the source of hate?
Can we detect our future?

Yes.
Depends what you mean by that equally 'weaselly' word.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Depends what you mean by "source".
No.

 

[SteveB28]

Dreams are detectable and so real?

Yes, indeed, dreams are very detectable and real events.

Their subject matter? Not so much.

 

[Davian]

Nonphysical in existence, and conscious and capable of some sort of personal communication and action.

If not physical, what is the other option, other than non-existent?

 

[Davian]

The simple fact is that a scientist understands what he is investigating.

Not necessarily. A scientist may only have a hypothesis, based on a few observations. the hypothesis may well be falsified, and the process started over.

You are seeking evidence for supernatural "forces."

I would ask for something to show that what you are alluding to exists outside of your imagination. Even something small.

You can't use natural tools to confirm supernatural involvement.

So what methodology would you suggest, that would distinguish the 'supernatural' from the 'imaginary'?

 

[SkyWriting]

Yes, indeed, dreams are very detectable and real events.
Their subject matter? Not so much.

Science shows this to be incorrect. It turns out there is absolutely
no difference to the mind, between a real experience, and one
vividly imagined.

Athletes use this to mentally prepare for competition by performing
at peak efficiency in their imagination and then repeating the
performance for competition. And it works. Imaginary wins work.

 

[SkyWriting]

More weasel words. What does 'spiritual' mean?

Where is this list of "weasel words"?
If you would like certain words removed
from the english language, just for you,
perhaps you could add them to your
Sig. file and perhaps someone will
occasionally honor your request.

 

[SteveB28]

Science shows this to be incorrect. It turns out there is absolutely
no difference to the mind, between a real experience, and one
vividly imagined.

Yes, I said that. Dreams are very real experiences. Their subject matter not necessarily so.

You don't seem to pay attention very well.

Athletes use this to mentally prepare for competition by performing
at peak efficiency in their imagination and then repeating the
performance for competition. And it works. Imaginary wins work.

An athlete seeing a 'win' is contemplating something from reality. Not so a dream about a man walking on water.

How does this nonsense give evidence of the 'supernatural'?

 

[Goatee]

This is how awesome it is to be a Christian, a believer in God. We dont need 'ANY' proofs as we have total 'FAITH'. It is such a wonderful feeling!!!

I honestly think that Atheists are just plain jealous of us! They just see us with such a massive amount of faith in something that they cannot comprehend. This makes them jealous, insecure and frightened!