No. It isn't. That's the usual argument, but it's quite apparent to me that there's a difference between speaking to your pastor and praying to a deceased person, not even knowing if that person can hear your prayer. And that's to say nothing of the fact that the Bible doesn't approve of such an act, and Jesus (who in addition to everything else is believed by Christians to be our model for life choices) never prayed to a dead saint or instructed his Apostles to do such a thing, not even when he was answering a direct question about it!
To be sure, I'm not steamed over this matter, nor do I have ill feelings towards people whose religious orientation makes much of praying to the saints, but there's no sound basis for this practice. No one has yet given a solid explanation about why it's so attractive. As I mentioned, no one can even say why it is better than just praying to God or even equal to doing that.
When did Jesus ask anyone to pray for Him? Yet we ARE instructed to pray for one another. So the lack of Jesus having asked for prayers (by anyone) would not seem to be a definitive way of getting an answer.
(By the way, I have no animosity either. And this is not a necessary thing to salvation. I was quickly assured by Orthodox priests as an inquirer that no one is required to do such a thing, and I personally think that if it goes against one's conscience, that in itself is a problem, so I don't even encourage someone who is hesitant to do so.)
But although Jesus didn't ask anyone to pray for Him, He did speak to Moses and Elijah in the presence of Peter, James, and John at the Transfiguration. Not the same thing, of course, and I wouldn't use that as a point to say "we should ask for intercession of the Saints" ... but of course they are alive, and conscious, and within a certain context, there is obviously no sin.
Are they aware of our prayers? Only by their communion with God, I would say. But the martyrs under the throne in Revelation have knowledge of and interest in what happens on earth.
As to why a person would want to do that, I'm sure you've heard the theological reasons, so I don't think there's any point in me repeating them. They at least make logical sense to me, if not being proof in themselves. But I will say from my own personal experience, although very cautious, the first two times I asked (and by the way, I actually never "pray to" any Saint, but rather I ask God for their prayers - just my own comfort level, but apparently there is no problem with that) ... but the first two times I asked, I received answers almost immediately to things I had been praying fervently for for months, in some cases many moths. And in one case, the answer was even far more than I hoped for. That is my own personal reason for why a person might want to do this.
If we believe that we have a greater communion with God after we die, which makes sense Scripturally even (Paul said that he was torn because if he died, he would be with Christ, so one pretty much has to understand he meant to be with Him in a greater way than he was in life) ... in that case, it might be seen a LITTLE bit like a king who lives in a faraway castle. You can text or fax the King anytime you want, and He reads them all. And He cares about His subjects, and will answer them as he wills. But ... if you knew someone who lived in the King's castle, and sat down to every meal with him, might you not appreciate it if that person were to ask the King for favor on you? That's not a perfect analogy - it's just the best I can think of.
It brings glory to God to answer such prayers - we fully recognize that He is made glorious in us. It underscores His pleasure in lives greatly devoted to Him. And it strengthens bonds of love all around, which I believe pleases God.
I think if a person never prayed to God, but only asked others to do so for them, whether those others are alive or in heaven, then I think such prayers are not as effective at all as one's own prayers would be.
If one prays to God anyway, then the "effectiveness" of those prayers or of others is up to God anyway. (That's a whole other topic, what we hope or expect to "accomplish" by prayer.) But then, why do we ask others - whether our pastor, family, friends, or whoever to pray for us at all? Do we think that is more "effective"? Why? And if we don't think having others' prayers added to our is effective, then why would we do it?
Most of us DO want others to pray for us. Even in Scripture we have that instruction and example.
The only quibble here seems to be with WHO we are asking?
