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Published: 2012-04-25 00:17:46 +0000 UTC; Views: 4778; Favourites: 269; Downloads: 15
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//warning, Chi rant 8'DHOLY SHIT. LOOK. IT'S AN OPINION. AND A RELIGIOUS ONE AT THAT. ABANDON ALL LOGIC!11!!!1
Okay, so on a more serious note:
Due to the fact that I've seen so many anti-prayer stamps, I've decided to make this one for those who are for it.
I do believe prayer works, because it's worked for me and I've seen it work for others. Through my experiences, I have come to the conclusion that praying /can work/. And before people go batshit, please understand that I happen to have an opinion /just like you/! No way! Does my differing opinion from yours make me a dumbass? Hmmm, I guess that would depend on how strong your feelings are for those who see things differently from you c:
On a more detailed note since I realize people are going to want to stray from the specific topic of this stamp (the opinion that prayer works)-- I'll leave these bullets here:
I pray, but I also do take action if it is within my abilities. I am in no way saying we should just pray and take no other action. Contrary to apparent popular belief, there /are/ a lot of people that, while they don't believe in prayer, actually appreciate the thought that someone cares enough to do something that they believe may help. I have been general on purpose in specifying what prayer to whom I am referring to. While I am a Christian and pray to God who I believe in, this stamp can also apply to - and is not restricted from - those who pray to something/someone else. I am not bashing those who don't believe prayer works. Honestly, what a silly thing to bash someone for! Lastly, if you're going to comment, please be mature or leave something funny.
And for goodness' sake, don't be an ass and attack people who are commenting on here. That's just plain rude. And if you want a definition of "attack", sucks for you. Find a dictionary. Or common sense. Either - or both! - are a good idea.
TL;DR - Read it, ya lazy derp :V
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Comments: 195
Me too! One time we were on our way to Arizona and were struggling to drive faster because the car was weak and it took days for the travel. There wasn`t gas anywhere and we couldn`t do anything so we decided to pray in hope. At first, I had my doubts but I was proven wrong when we finished with an Amen and our car suddenly started boosting us forward. Our dad said he was worried that we were gonna take off XDΒ
But still, best moment of my life. Prayer does work (at least when you have a bit of faith) :3Β
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Why wouldn't it it's the fastest conversation method in existence god would have an answer for you on the prayer before your born
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hold up, let me set up my lawn chair to watch the inevitable hate this will get.
(not meant to be offencive just for fun)
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it's been years and it'll still occasionally happen lol
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It's fine to think your prayers work. I don't believe they do, but you have your own opinions. I'm just going to tell you this straight tho. Praying did save my friend or my great-grandma or my cousin.Β
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I'm assuming by the original direction of your comment you meant "didn't"?
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Oops, yes I meant didn't.
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I don't believe in it, but I support it. It gives people hope, and may let them down. But, they get up again and try again :3
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It's funny how prayer "works" on making so many miracles that could have happened by random chance, but fails every time to do something as simple as regenerating a missing limb.
I conclude that god hates amputees, but loves highschool kids who are trying to pass math tests.
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It's funny how many misconceptions there are about the purpose of prayer and how it works in the first place, but I digress :'D
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Sure - I'll bite.Β How do you think prayer "works"?
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Apologies ahead of time for the wall-text, haha. But since you've asked, I'll try to explain as well as I canΒ based on my readings of the Bible, my personal views, and what I've learned from my pastor:Β
For one, prayer is not simply a request type of deal. "Let me get an A on the test" or "regrow my limb" isn't really the way it's viewed by religious folk. The concept of prayer in the Bible, for instance, is to have a "conversation" with God, as bonds are built on interaction and conversation - and a bond is what Christians seek. While it's true that many use prayer as an askance of God, that is not its sole purpose. I, for one, don't always ask for things when I pray. I just tell the "man in the sky" about my day and send well wishes for all those I care about.Β
However, when I do ask for something, it's not for things like the A on the test. It's asking that God will watch over or take care of a friend or family member of mine that is going through a rough time, and I am incapable of helping them or offering sufficient help. Hell, they'll often feel comforted to know that I'm praying for them in the first place, even if they don't believe in God. Other times I'll pray to God that He'll help me overcome an obstacle in my life that I am struggling with; either way, knowing that someone up there is listening to me and cares is comforting in of itself.Β For another example, my roommate, who is an agnostic, prays to various deities for the safety of her friends based on which ones her friends believe in. In this way, prayer is also viewed as a way to give well-wishes and provide comfort for others who believe it will work and that they've been heard.Β
In regards to other requests and amputees and test-takers. If prayer is used as an askance for such things, whether God answers or no is not guaranteed. The idea is that God works in mysterious ways; and as an all-knowing being while we are not, naturally we wouldn't be able to understand all of the reasons for which He answers or does not answer the request. That's where the idea of faith comes in, that He knows what He's doing, and that there's a reason for why He does not or does answer a request. This tends to be the point where people veer away, because not many are willing to simply rely on faith to answer everything they don't understand. And that's fine - to each their own.Β
On a side note, many Christians view God's reasoning for not answering a request is that whatever was asked for is not actually needed, or that lacking this object or whatever it is will, in the end, benefit the person and maybe someone else as well. For instance, lacking a limb can open a person's eyes to many things, such as the realization of how weak people actually are and how much they took for granted, giving them a greater appreciation for what they have and to do something more with their life. This can inspire them to get over their handicap and do amazing things to inspire other people, or their experience can lead them to teach others for how to deal with handicaps. While it sucks that they lost a limb and didn't have a miracle occur to get it back, they've ended up helping other people and maybe even themselves, which would not have occurred should they have had a miracle occur and gotten their limb back. Losing a limb could have also been a consequence for a bad choice, which will teach the person not to make the same mistake again and tell others to avoid making that mistake. This is sort of where reasoning gets applied, or reasoning in trying to understand God's purpose and reasoning for not answering a prayer request.Β
I think I strayed a bit near the end, but that's how I understand the concept behind prayer and how it "works"; I hope it makes at least a little bit of sense to you, since you've bothered to ask my opinion on it. And well, if you don't understand it or agree with it, that's alright - to each their own c:Β
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Thanks for helping me to understand your position.
I don't know in this case what it would look like for prayer to *not* work, though.
It feels like working and not working are the same thing, which might make the distinction not very useful.
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Also, it sort of depends on who you are talking you in terms of prayer. Most often people see prayer working as very black and white. For instance, someone you know is in the hospital is sick with cancer. Many assume that you pray for them to get better, and that if they get better than through a combination of science and prayer they have been healed. If they die then the prayers didn't work. However, that's not always the case, especially with in some religions. Native Americans for example pray for the greatest good of the individual. Whether that means that they recover or go walk the blue road is up to Great Spirit, but either way, the prayers were heard.
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But that sounds like a self-fulfilling system that is designed to declare that the prayer "works" no matter what happens.
Is that useful?
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Is it? Well, yeah, it is. That's the funny thing about prayer. If you believe in it, it always has a back-up plan. It's not for everyone and I certainly don't believe that prayers/religion are for everyone despite the many flavors they both come in now days. They're absolutely not. It all depends on what makes sense to you as an individual concerning how the world works.
And on being useful, I think so, because no matter the outcome, if you're the one praying, you know that you have at the very least put the energy out into the universe for that person's recovery or what have you. If you're the one on the receiving end, it's just another way that people can let you know they are thinking about you and holding you in their hearts, and that right there, that acknowledgement of another being in their time of need can make all the difference in the world to them.
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No problem!Β
Well, I guess in the case of a Christian, for prayer *not* to work would be a prayer not answered. If a prayer is answered it has "worked."Β
For someone who doesn't believe in prayer, they would see it as prayer never works, and that everything is coincidence if it looks like a prayer worked, yeh? Or that whatever happened had nothing to do with prayer. So naturally to them, prayer "working" and "not working" is the same thing, because even if it looks like it worked, they don't believe it actually works in the first place.Β
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But... you said a prayer can't include a request.Β So how the heck would you know if it "worked?"
I mean, you've already said, prayer works, so I guess you'd take whatever happens as proof.Β Even having a limb ripped off your body sounds like something you'd accept as proof that prayers work.Β
And do you think if you prayed for something to happen, but not an equally likely event, you could effect the outcome?
Some kids have thousands of people praying for them and some have none.Β Do you think the one with thousands of prayers would be more likely to get over a disease?Β And if so, what kind of crazy system is that?
Sorry to give you a hard time, I just really, really don't understand how most people think prayers "work."Β I think it would be better if people got up off of their knees and tried to make the world better.Β
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Mind quoting me on that? As far as I'm aware, I merely said that prayer isn't all about asking for things.Β
How does having a limb ripped off my body relate in any way to proof for me that prayer works? That makes no sense.Β
I do believe that prayer can effect an outcome, as is logical since I believe that God can answer a prayer and effect that outcome. To believe that prayer cannot effect an outcome would be the same as my believing that God does not answer prayers and cannot effect outcomes.Β
As for some kids having no one to pray for them, this is false, as many churches in their weekly prayers include "those who do not have anyone to pray for them."Β
It's no problem, really! You're being a lot more civil than others I've had jump onto my stamps before, haha. It's not every day I get someone who is actually willing to discuss rather than flame and mock.Β
I actually commented on the "doing the work" instead of "only relying on prayer" in my artist's description for this stamp. I most certainly agree that actually going out and making the world better if you're capable is important, but that doesn't mean we can't add prayer to it.
For those of us who believe prayer works, getting on our knees and asking God for aid is effective as well - especially if we are incapable of doing anything about it ourselves. Because we believe that our prayers and He can make a difference. For us, that is good enough reason to pray. That doesn't mean that we only rely on prayer, however. I have a family friend who prays for the children in Africa every day, and she joined the Peace Corps to go over there and educate children in Liberia. Work + Prayer.Β
For some people though, all they have to turn to is prayer. If they believe it works and it comforts and inspires them (even better if it comforts and inspires those they pray for), what's the harm in that? Not everyone uses prayer as a crutch or an excuse not to go out and help someone. I'm in college and could never afford aiding those I wish I could. I have a dear friend (sister, really) in Hungary who is financially stuck and in a poor family situation, and I can do nothing for her but pray at this point in time. I pray because I believe that even if I can't help her right now financially or with her family situation, maybe God can until I am able.Β
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I hear all of that.
I strongly disagree, but thank you for taking the time to talk to me about it.Β
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Not necessarily on the question of who has more prayers and if that effects the outcome. Β The amount of prayers does not necessarily move the recipient up the line or mean that they will get better faster. Religion is not an exact science, so there are lots of varying views on how prayer works and what prayer does. This also changes based on the religion.
Also, don't apologize for not understanding. A lot of people don't. Hell, a lot of people who pray don't. To some, the less you think about and analyze it, the more it makes sense. It is something to simply take on faith.
I would like to mention though, that a lot of people who pray do not solely pray. They help in the community and provide a lot of physical support as well as spiritual. A very close friend of mine who prays often for everyone in her life and for those in need. However, she is also in Africa right now on a missions trip, helping build up the area, teach the kids, and make the lives of the community better. This is from the same girl who wants to become a CIA agent because she feels that is another way she can help make the world better.
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I hear all of that.
I strongly disagree, but thank you for taking the time to talk to me about it.
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Praying has NEVER worked for me. Maybe that's why I only truly believe something is real if it's scientificly proven
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Prayer works quite well for me! Even the ones that aren't really important.
I once prayed that a Studio Ghibli movie I watched in Chinese dub could come out in English. One day, poof! There it was in English! Sometimes I wonder why that prayer was answered, but then I would see it as God just doing his Dad duty: humor the kids every once in a while.
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yeah, because starving children in Africa have sure been helped!
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Why don't you ship them some food then? Oh, even better - volunteer to go over there and help out! That's what my cousins do : D
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what makes you think I dont
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The fact that you're on the internet right now tells me. c:Β
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1st. I have donated
2nd. if prayer worked then wouldn't those problems that exist over there stop?
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Wow, we're suddenly on topic! I'm amazed 8D
1st. Good for you.Β
2nd. If you put a coin in the vending machine and you don't get a drink, does that mean every vending machine is broken?
If you're actually truly meaning to find a Christian answer to your question:
Prayer doesn't work like that. People seem to think that prayer means making demands of God and God meeting those demands - which is incorrect. Prayer is a conversation and askance of God; whether He delivers or not is up to Him for His own reasons. If we understood God why God does or does not do things, He, quite frankly, wouldn't be God, because then we'd know all things and we'd be gods ourselves.Β
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well, ive been enlightened a bit. but still, but just one answer wouldn't make us god
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Happy to be of service : D
I suppose, then, it would depend on your definition of a "god." An all-knowing being to me is a "god-concept." If one knows all things he/she can cheat death, making that all-knowing being immortal as well.Β
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it doesn't matter what you believe in, that doesn't make it real
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*I can shoot that right back at ya, bub : D
I believe I am human. Wow! I'm human! What do you know 8D
I'm not trying to convince you to believe what I happen to believe is real or true, 'kay? You asked a question or made a rebuttal, and I answered. Simple enough.
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God has answered my prayers over and over again.Β Whether you knew it or not, God has used you to share something great.
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I love god I believe in him he is my savior if you don't agree that's fine.
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I think that prayers being answered is just coincidence but I also think that religion is a beautiful thing, that can do wonderful things for people. I just have never been able to believe in it myself. I think anti-prayer stamps are very rude. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but people shouldn't blatantly tell others their wrong.
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I really love hearing viewpoints like this ;v;Β
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts 
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Β Its always nice to know that people appreciate my opinions
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Ah, yes, I don't know what I would do without prayers... Talking to Jehovah is the only thing that has gotten me through these things. I have to read the Bible after, it makes me feel like he's talking back, because I've always found the solution to what I'm going through in it <3
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Prayer DOES help. Prayed for my mom to come back, and she did. Prayed that she'll read the bible with me one time, and my grandma was saying that if you pray for something you ask for, you'll get it. And a few hours later, my mom called and said she'll read the bible with me. God really does hear.
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I never forget this moment I had a couple of years ago:
I remember I had a tough moment with a friend at school. Not that we fighted or anything else... just... hard moments between us. I didn't really like the situation at all. I cried a lot. My mom saw me and decided to take me to a church. As a good and proud Christian, I prayed, and left all my problems to God. Guess what happened the day after? I found my friend crying in one of the stairs of the school, and I went there to stand by her and listen to the problem she had at the moment.
Our relationship had been stronger than ever after that moment
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