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Does God Hear Our Prayers?

It seems to me lately that the idea of prayer (as traditionally considered in the West, where a God hears and answers them) is unfalsifiable. Folks who pray will often eagerly tell stories of how this or that prayer has been answered in a way that seems impossible or beyond mere coincidence. But consider all the prayer requests that God, it seems, does not answer. Growing up in Christian circles, there was always a ready-made answer for these situations. Perhaps the thing being prayed for is itself sinful. Perhaps the person's motives in praying for said thing are selfish or otherwise impure. Perhaps God is trying to teach him or her patience or humility. Or perhaps it's simply "not God's will," even if it seems like an otherwise good and noble request.
With these ready explanations, it seems to me that the idea that God hears (and answers) our prayers is unfalsifiable. There is no conceivable outcome that could convince a believer with this mindset that God is not hearing and answering.

What do you think? Does God hear our prayers? What makes you think that?
 

Awoon

Well-Known Member
The same believer who says what you say above ("not God's will") as the reason for God not answering, is the same believer who will say we have "Free Will." Well if we have Free Will no God is needed. Likewise if it's not Gods will and we don't have "free will" then God just cant do it.
 

George-ananda

Advaita Vedanta, Theosophy, Spiritualism
Premium Member
What do you think? Does God hear our prayers? What makes you think that?
I think higher beings can hear earnest prayers. However interference in material affairs are uncommon but do happen. A collection of things we can not see are also involved and yes suffering and problems have there part in the unfolding divine plan. I think there is strong anecdotal evidence for the power of prayer. I agree it is not falsifiable.
 
I think higher beings can hear earnest prayers. However interference in material affairs are uncommon but do happen. A collection of things we can not see are also involved and yes suffering and problems have there part in the unfolding divine plan. I think there is strong anecdotal evidence for the power of prayer. I agree it is not falsifiable.

Interesting. I notice you said "higher beings" in place of "God." Care to elaborate?
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
The spirits, I'll say for lack of appropriate terms, hear my prayers because these coincidences are blessings that healed me from being blind and kept me thinking of my health while I was going out of my mind. I say my prayers are answered and I never saw ones that haven't because prayers aren't magic where you say something or do something and it causes a affect outside the laws of nature, they are answered (or you see them evolve into an answer) in time.

Everything works in correlation with another--cause and effect--and being aware of what you do, your surroundings, and so forth you the answers are there you just have to build a relationship with life, maybe through meditation, good eating, and so forth to be in good mind and body to have enough energy to see the answers naturally rather than looking for supernatural answers (miracles) that personally I don't feel exist.

I guess if I were theistic with the view above, God does answer prayers. I wouldn't try to find the answers in a supernatural way as in miracles. Rather, be aware of your surroundings, everyday life, your thoughts, etc. Coincidences do not need to be brush aside. They, too, can be answers.


It seems to me lately that the idea of prayer (as traditionally considered in the West, where a God hears and answers them) is unfalsifiable. Folks who pray will often eagerly tell stories of how this or that prayer has been answered in a way that seems impossible or beyond mere coincidence. But consider all the prayer requests that God, it seems, does not answer. Growing up in Christian circles, there was always a ready-made answer for these situations. Perhaps the thing being prayed for is itself sinful. Perhaps the person's motives in praying for said thing are selfish or otherwise impure. Perhaps God is trying to teach him or her patience or humility. Or perhaps it's simply "not God's will," even if it seems like an otherwise good and noble request.
With these ready explanations, it seems to me that the idea that God hears (and answers) our prayers is unfalsifiable. There is no conceivable outcome that could convince a believer with this mindset that God is not hearing and answering.

What do you think? Does God hear our prayers? What makes you think that?
 
The spirits, I'll say for lack of appropriate terms, hear my prayers because these coincidences are blessings that healed me from being blind and kept me thinking of my health while I was going out of my mind. I say my prayers are answered and I never saw ones that haven't because prayers aren't magic where you say something or do something and it causes a affect outside the laws of nature, they are answered (or you see them evolve into an answer) in time.

Everything works in correlation with another--cause and effect--and being aware of what you do, your surroundings, and so forth you the answers are there you just have to build a relationship with life, maybe through meditation, good eating, and so forth to be in good mind and body to have enough energy to see the answers naturally rather than looking for supernatural answers (miracles) that personally I don't feel exist.

I guess if I were theistic with the view above, God does answer prayers. I wouldn't try to find the answers in a supernatural way as in miracles. Rather, be aware of your surroundings, everyday life, your thoughts, etc. Coincidences do not need to be brush aside. They, too, can be answers.

I suppose my concern is, if you can find all the "answers" you seek through totally naturalistic means, mindfulness, healthy habits, and just the everyday occurrences of life that would happen anyway, why chalk any of that up to spirits hearing your prayers?
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Just asking the question should be an indicator that things are clearly lacking.

If God answered such things, assuming there is a case for God, the matter would have been settled long ago.
 
Just asking the question should be an indicator that things are clearly lacking.

If God answered such things, assuming there is a case for God, the matter would have been settled long ago.
My thoughts exactly! But I wanted to at least give folks an opportunity to respond and/or defend the idea of prayer, in case I'm missing something.
 

Baladas

An Págánach
In my case? Yes, we are all part of "god". ;)

In the theistic sense? I believe that something "hears" us, and can respond at times.
 
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Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
Making something simple complicated? I guess it makes us comfortable. A lot of people feel better atributing naturalism to spiritual experinces like spirits etc. I guess some feel we are just mere humans that do not compare to any spirit. As if supernatual means superority.

I believe spirits hear my prayers. I guess it makes feel comfortable. I dont tell myself I am just a human compared though. The natural word and spiritual word work hand in hand. no one bigger than another. So my prayers are asking for something that I cannot get myself. It is communicating and building a relatiinship so that Ibhave help with getting what I need on my own rather than supreme intervention.

Prayer is communication. Makes sense?

I suppose my cnoncern is, if you can find all the "answers" you seek through totally naturalistic means, mindfulness, healthy habits, and just the everyday occurrences of life that would happen anyway, why chalk any of that up to spirits hearing your prayers?
 

Smart_Guy

...
Premium Member
I believe that God does hear all prayers, but not necessary answer them at least the way one wants. If God is to answer all prayers and requests, then I think life would be a screwed up place. I don't believe God should pamper us.
 

George-ananda

Advaita Vedanta, Theosophy, Spiritualism
Premium Member
Interesting. I notice you said "higher beings" in place of "God." Care to elaborate?
Sure. Having been raised Catholic I have since adopted a eastern view of things; non-dualism (God/Brahman and creation are not-two). Brahman/God is beyond this duality and the illusion of duality we are trying to transcend. There are various planes above the physical with beings (angels) involved in aiding us; they hear prayer. Brahman/God is the designer of all this drama/play.

Brahman/God is the core of all of us; so who would be praying to who? There is no external God.
 
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FunctionalAtheist

Hammer of Reason
God hears all prayers! So what! Is he not already aware of our suffering we pray to be dismissed? Already aware or our desires we pray to be fulfilled?

God answers prayers! Really? When it suits him? Then what's the point? Wouldn't he do what suits him without our asking?

Or does god crave begging? I'm not aware of another answer that address the question in a logical manner.
 

Kolibri

Well-Known Member
God hears all prayers!

Not all prayers are heard by God. The last 3 scriptures quoted is the solution.

"As for you, [Jeremiah], do not pray in behalf of this people. Do not cry out or offer a prayer or plead with me in their behalf, for I will not listen to you....They are pouring out drink offerings to other gods to offend me." - Jeremiah 7:16,18b

And when you spread out your palms,
I hide my eyes from you.
Although you offer many prayers,
I am not listening;
Your hands are filled with blood.
Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Remove your evil deeds from my sight;
Stop doing bad.
- Isaiah 1:15,16

The one refusing to listen to the law
--Even his prayer is detestable.
- Psalm 28:9

Look! The hand of Jehovah is not too short to save,
Nor is his ear too dull to hear.
No, your own errors have separated you from your God.
Your sins have made him hide his face from you,
And he refuses to hear you.
For your palms are polluted with blood
And your fingers with error.
Your lips speak lies, and your tongue mutters unrighteousness.
- Isaiah 59:1-3

You have blocked approach to yourself with a cloud so that our prayer may not pass through.
- Lamentations 3:44
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trust in Jehovah with all your heart,
And do not rely on your own understanding.
In all your ways take notice of him,
And he will make your paths straight.
Do not become wise in your own eyes.
Fear Jehovah and turn away from bad.
- Proverbs 3:5-7

"Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you indecisive ones." - James 4:8

"For this is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome." - 1 John 5:3
 

Breathe

Hostis humani generis
Yes. IMO, God is found as the one who prays, the one prayed to, and the prayer.

But God is not a sugar daddy.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
Because the spirits do make these natural laws, coincidences, and so forth happen. If you don't see what you have as blessings unless they come in "supernatural" means, I think people would be always asking "why God doesn't answer my prayers." It's like that boat analogy. People are waiting for them to magically be plucked out of the water rather than seeing the blessing that another person came to save them though they didn't take the offer since they were waiting for God.

Spirits are involved in our everyday life. Why say anything is supernatural when life, itself, is a blessing in itself. God doesn't need to be supernatural to count the blessings you receive through Him.

I suppose my concern is, if you can find all the "answers" you seek through totally naturalistic means, mindfulness, healthy habits, and just the everyday occurrences of life that would happen anyway, why chalk any of that up to spirits hearing your prayers?
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Because the spirits do make these natural laws, coincidences, and so forth happen. If you don't see what you have as blessings unless they come in "supernatural" means, I think people would be always asking "why God doesn't answer my prayers."
How does someone go about telling whether an event is truly a coincidence or is being caused by "spirits"?

It's like that boat analogy. People are waiting for them to magically be plucked out of the water rather than seeing the blessing that another person came to save them though they didn't take the offer since they were waiting for God.
I think that boat analogy devalues the people in the story.

Also, if coincidences and natural phenomena are the work of God, then it stands to reason that God is responsible - and culpable - for the flood and the fact the guy in that story's life was at risk in the first place.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
How does someone go about telling whether an event is truly a coincidence or is being caused by "spirits"?

I think that boat analogy devalues the people in the story.

Also, if coincidences and natural phenomena are the work of God, then it stands to reason that God is responsible - and culpable - for the flood and the fact the guy in that story's life was at risk in the first place.

By that logic, I would assume that God is responsible, the culpable. In regards to spirits, they help us out (I should have said that). The natural events are controlled on its own in cause and effect. I don't see them as God.. just people who have passed on who, just as the living, can help us out from time to time if we ask.

I guess I am trying to say is that Spirits have a role in nature and our lives but aren't like God, who created these laws. Natural laws are caused by cause and effect. Unlike God, who gives laws and tells what one should do and what one should not, the spirits aren't like that. They have personalities of their own (deceased spirits not supreme Gods) and their own likes and dislikes. So, they help humans who want to communicate with them.

As for them controlling natural laws, I think I said that wrong. I believe there is something behind the natural laws but since that something isn't a person who does this or that and gets jealous it cannot be blamed for leaving the person in the boat to drown. I actually never asked the origins of human kind for a supernatural perspective. My coming from my ancestors is good for me. The spirits help me just as family and friends. Ancestors and recent passed relatives as well as living help me learn who I am. Why try to find the answers in the unknown rather than be comfortable and accept the know and seeing that as spiritual in itself.
 
It seems to me lately that the idea of prayer (as traditionally considered in the West, where a God hears and answers them) is unfalsifiable. Folks who pray will often eagerly tell stories of how this or that prayer has been answered in a way that seems impossible or beyond mere coincidence. But consider all the prayer requests that God, it seems, does not answer. Growing up in Christian circles, there was always a ready-made answer for these situations. Perhaps the thing being prayed for is itself sinful. Perhaps the person's motives in praying for said thing are selfish or otherwise impure. Perhaps God is trying to teach him or her patience or humility. Or perhaps it's simply "not God's will," even if it seems like an otherwise good and noble request.
With these ready explanations, it seems to me that the idea that God hears (and answers) our prayers is unfalsifiable. There is no conceivable outcome that could convince a believer with this mindset that God is not hearing and answering.

What do you think? Does God hear our prayers? What makes you think that?

If God answered the prayer to rescue the victim of genocide He would have to answer every prayer from every innocent victim because playing favors would be unfair and unjust, and that would make free will impossible. That is why I do not think prayers for divine intervention ever get answered.
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
It seems to me lately that the idea of prayer (as traditionally considered in the West, where a God hears and answers them) is unfalsifiable. Folks who pray will often eagerly tell stories of how this or that prayer has been answered in a way that seems impossible or beyond mere coincidence. But consider all the prayer requests that God, it seems, does not answer. Growing up in Christian circles, there was always a ready-made answer for these situations. Perhaps the thing being prayed for is itself sinful. Perhaps the person's motives in praying for said thing are selfish or otherwise impure. Perhaps God is trying to teach him or her patience or humility. Or perhaps it's simply "not God's will," even if it seems like an otherwise good and noble request.
In many Christian contexts, this doesn't work because Original Sin and the knowledge of good and evil are a package deal: if we need saving, it's because of an event in humanity's past that embued us with a divine moral sense, so either we *can* say that some request really is good and noble or else the religion's teachings fall apart.

With these ready explanations, it seems to me that the idea that God hears (and answers) our prayers is unfalsifiable. There is no conceivable outcome that could convince a believer with this mindset that God is not hearing and answering.

What do you think? Does God hear our prayers? What makes you think that?
I think that these excuses only work in isolated cases. When we look at prayer as a whole, it breaks down, because it suggests an inconsistent god: for instance, if we have a group of children with cancer, all being prayed for, and some go into remission and some don't, I don't think it's reasonable to believe that there was something so different about the kids who didn't get better (or the people praying for them) to warrant their death sentence.

Also, these excuses have some strange implications. For instance, should we assume all amputees are horrible sinners? Why else would they never be healed by God? And why is it that, apparently, smallpox was a useful tool in God's holy plan before, but not any more?
 
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