Can you pray for souls who weren't saved?
You have free will.
The futility of doing so depends on what you chose to believe.
I happen to agree that to pray for the dead is useless....because our time to choose Christ is before death... not after.
Did the story of the rich man and Lazarus not imply and even state directly that the rich man would have loved to choose where Lazarus was? Yet, he was denied.
Is it sad that MANY will be lost? Is it not sadder still that many of those lost will have thought themselves saved?
Matthew 7:21-23
Why would many come to Him saying "Lord Lord" unless there was recognition?
It is a sad reality that MANY more souls will be lost than saved.
It is why we MUST fight the good fight and continue to run the race... because there are no "second chances" after death.... otherwise we wouldnt need fight this fight or run the race enduring til the end.
However God gives us so very many chances to turn to Him and away from the world... every day that you wake up is one more chance to enter His kingdom by turning to Him rather than to the world.
The amount of days we all have vary by the person, but most of us have many, many chances.... the older we live to be... the many many more chances we are given than others.
It may not be pleasant to think of loved ones possible destination... but they as we have a choice to make.. every day.
It is why no one is better than another, but some are simply "better off"
I wont say you are wrong and I am right as I do not wish to fight with my brother or sister....and this is an issue that has heavy roots in emotion as none of us want to think a loved one could end up anywhere but in Heaven... and is at best more speculative on both sides of the fence.
Ultimately you were given free will and if you are convinced in your own mind then do so.
I simply see it as more nessicary to pray for the souls of the living than the souls of the dead as the souls of the living 100% assuredly have a chance to be saved, while the souls of the dead, the efforts are debatable.
I dont believe you put your salvation in jeopardy by doing so, so if you feel inclined to do so, that is between you and the Father. Praying for the dead is no more my business than any other conversation you have with the Father... what you choose to share is, again your business.