If a believer prays for a non-believer...what happens?

[Deidre32]

Posted this on another forum, and thought I'd ask it here, since it's somewhat religious, and philosophical.

If I don't believe that God exists, and someone prays for me...will God still bless me? (if he or it exists)

I've been wondering this lately.

People often 'pray' for me, or tell me that God loves me...but if I don't believe what they believe, what happens? Does a god require a person's belief, to 'bless' him/her?

 

[True Scotsman]

Posted this on another forum, and thought I'd ask it here, since it's somewhat religious, and philosophical.

If I don't believe that God exists, and someone prays for me...will God still bless me? (if he or it exists)

I've been wondering this lately.

People often 'pray' for me, or tell me that God loves me...but if I don't believe what they believe, what happens? Does a god require a person's belief, to 'bless' him/her?

Only in the mind of the believer. In reality things don't conform to our wishes, unfortunately.

 

[Deidre32]

Only in the mind of the believer. In reality things don't conform to our wishes, unfortunately.

wow, I like your answer a lot! thanks. makes sense to me. I'm wondering what people who believe might say. When I was a Christian, and I offered prayers for people...I believed that despite their non belief, ''god'' would still bless them.

 

[True Scotsman]

wow, I like your answer a lot! thanks. makes sense to me. I'm wondering what people who believe might say. When I was a Christian, and I offered prayers for people...I believed that despite their non belief, ''god'' would still bless them.

I don't know. Isn't denial of the holy spirit the unforgivable sin? I never mind when they do it. It means something to them. I usually take it as good will toward me.

I haven't been approached by a christian in a long, long time. I don't know why because it used to happen regularly. Maybe I look mean in my old (middle) age.

 

[GrimKingGrim]

Not to hijack the topic but I wonder if it works the same for chain mails.

 

[Cody2]

God will bless you when you decide to give attendance to His words. I have a lot of friends that prayed for unsaved people and those lost people got saved. Salvation is by realizing we're a sinner, separated from a Holy God, but Christ died for sinners, was buried and rose again. He was sinless, virgin born and God in the flesh. The Bible says we can be saved by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour.

 

[Albion]

Posted this on another forum, and thought I'd ask it here, since it's somewhat religious, and philosophical.

If I don't believe that God exists, and someone prays for me...will God still bless me? (if he or it exists)

I've been wondering this lately.

People often 'pray' for me, or tell me that God loves me...but if I don't believe what they believe, what happens? Does a god require a person's belief, to 'bless' him/her?

It's common among Christians to pray to God for the conversion of some non-believer, and some of those people have indeed become Christians in time. Of course, we cannot say with certainty what percentage that represents or how God specifically responds to such prayer. But it has a long record among Christians. So also do Christians pray for the health or well-being of people not of our faith, and it's done in the belief that God does not act only in the case of those who are already his followers.

 

[GrimKingGrim]

It's common among Christians to pray to God for the conversion of some non-believer, and some of those people have indeed become Christians in time. Of course, we cannot say with certainty what percentage that represents or how God specifically responds to such prayer. But it has a long record among Christians. So also do Christians pray for the health or well-being of people not of our faith, and it's done in the belief that God does not act only in the case of those who are already his followers.

Creepy

 

[Albion]

Creepy

Praying for members of other churches--or none at all--is "creepy?"

Interesting.

 

[Deidre32]

When I was a believer, and prayed for people...some might have thought me to be self righteous, but I was doing it out of a place of love.

I wouldn't call it creepy though. lol

 

[Albion]

When I was a believer, and prayed for people...some might have thought me to be self righteous, but I was doing it out of a place of love.

I wouldn't call it creepy though. lol

Me neither, but I suppose there are people who feel threatened or insulted if someone who believes in God wishes them well.

 

[GrimKingGrim]

When I was a believer, and prayed for people...some might have thought me to be self righteous, but I was doing it out of a place of love.

I wouldn't call it creepy though. lol

It's praying that people will lose their mind and abandon reason because you want them to. It's basically a form of intolerance.

If they're not like me then they should be, so I'm going to beg my spiritual agent to make them like me. Forget their individuality and thinking process. I don't like them living the life they see fit so they need to be like me! NOW!

Creepy. Even if it's not meant to be seen that way, that's basically what praying for conversion is. It's bone-chilling actually.

 

[True Scotsman]

It's praying that people will lose their mind and abandon reason because you want them to. It's basically a form of intolerance.

If they're not like me then they should be, so I'm going to beg my spiritual agent to make them like me. Forget their individuality and thinking process. I don't like them living the life they see fit so they need to be like me! NOW!

Creepy. Even if it's not meant to be seen that way, that's basically what praying for conversion is. It's bone-chilling actually.

When you put it like that it is very creepy. I've never thought of it that way. I may just have to start taking offense after all now that you have pointed this out. I always thought of it as a good will gesture but you're right, that is exactly what they are asking for. The fact they don't see it that way doesn't mean it isn't.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

God can bles s people if people pray or not, supposing He exists that is.

 

[quatona]

Posted this on another forum, and thought I'd ask it here, since it's somewhat religious, and philosophical.

If I don't believe that God exists, and someone prays for me...will God still bless me? (if he or it exists)

I've been wondering this lately.

People often 'pray' for me, or tell me that God loves me...but if I don't believe what they believe, what happens? Does a god require a person's belief, to 'bless' him/her?

Positive thoughts and attitudes towards other persons will benefit everyone involved.

 

[juvenissun]

Posted this on another forum, and thought I'd ask it here, since it's somewhat religious, and philosophical.

If I don't believe that God exists, and someone prays for me...will God still bless me? (if he or it exists)

I've been wondering this lately.

People often 'pray' for me, or tell me that God loves me...but if I don't believe what they believe, what happens? Does a god require a person's belief, to 'bless' him/her?

It is not impossible. There are many examples in the Bible. A good one is the story of Jonah.

Even you do not recognize God, God still loves you.

 

[Albion]

It's praying that people will lose their mind and abandon reason because you want them to. It's basically a form of intolerance.

Now, THAT misrepresentation of the facts I do think of as creepy.

 

[GrimKingGrim]

Now, THAT misrepresentation of the facts I do think of as creepy.

The second part of that quote is accurate.

 

[Deidre32]

GrimKing, that is an incredibly insightful view of yours. I think that in a way, you are right...if someone is using prayers to try to bring others to their faith. But, when I was once a believer, I remember thinking that believing in God was right and good and that everyone 'should want' what I believed. Brainwashing is powerful in some families. lol I grew up in religion, so...that's how it was 'taught' to me.

 

[juvenissun]

GrimKing, that is an incredibly insightful view of yours. I think that in a way, you are right...if someone is using prayers to try to bring others to their faith. But, when I was once a believer, I remember thinking that believing in God was right and good and that everyone 'should want' what I believed. Brainwashing is powerful in some families. lol I grew up in religion, so...that's how it was 'taught' to me.

It is a very common life pattern:

Youth education (brainwash) --> rebellion --> experiences --> back to origin.

You are in step 2.

Think about a fact: There are many more old people than young people in church. Not only it is so now, but it is always that way for centuries. Ask yourself: where do those old people come from? Why didn't they just die off? In other words, if a bunch of old people in today's church faded away, why are there still so many old people in church 20 years from now?