Thu May 3, 2012, 09:57 AM

Ian David (68,666 posts)

Metroplex Atheists Challenge The Power Of Prayer

Last edited Thu May 3, 2012, 09:59 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

Metroplex Atheists Challenge The Power Of Prayer

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Does the power of prayer really work? One group in North Texas has serious doubts and they’ve issued a challenge to local churches to prove them wrong. “We’re constantly inundated with I’ll be praying for you from all of our Christian friends,” explained Randy Word, president of the Metroplex Atheists.

The Metroplex Atheists and its 500 members are challenging any church in North Texas to pray that one of its non-believers will become Christian. “This is a chance for them {Christians} to demonstrate that their claims actually work,” said Word.

<snip>

McDonald and fellow atheists are giving any church three months to a year to pray for Terry’s conversion to Christianity. If McDonald converts, he promises to publicly announce his faith in God.

<snip>

Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist, Dallas says his church has no plans to accept the challenge, because he says it’s based on the false pretense that all prayers are answered. “The bible doesn’t promise that. The bible promises that God will answer every prayer that is within his will,” said Jeffress.

More:
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2012/05/02/metroplex-atheists-challenge-the-power-of-prayer/

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11 replies	Author	Time	Post
Metroplex Atheists Challenge The Power Of Prayer (Original post)	Ian David	May 2012	OP
But if a prayer is "within his will"...	eqfan592	May 2012	#1
I think that's the question that got me kicked out of Hebrew School. n/t	Ian David	May 2012	#2
WE were always told that God DOES answer every prayer	OriginalGeek	May 2012	#3
Haven't they already proven prayer is BAD for you?	AlbertCat	May 2012	#4
Not proven, just suggested.	laconicsax	May 2012	#5
Here's the absurdity of this sort of thing...	A HERETIC I AM	May 2012	#6
Right-on	Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel	May 2012	#10
If I were doing a prayer challenge, I'd set it up like this	sakabatou	May 2012	#7
I would add in	Rainforestgoddess	May 2012	#8
Yes, I'd add that.	sakabatou	May 2012	#9
Pray in one hand and $^&* in the other,	yortsed snacilbuper	May 2012	#11

Response to Ian David (Original post)

Thu May 3, 2012, 12:10 PM

eqfan592 (5,109 posts)

1. But if a prayer is "within his will"...

...then wouldn't he do it anyway, with or without the prayer? If so, what exactly is the power of prayer then? I'm confused....

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Response to eqfan592 (Reply #1)

Thu May 3, 2012, 03:07 PM

Ian David (68,666 posts)

2. I think that's the question that got me kicked out of Hebrew School. n/t

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Response to Ian David (Original post)

Thu May 3, 2012, 03:22 PM

OriginalGeek (5,671 posts)

3. WE were always told that God DOES answer every prayer

Just not always with the answer you wanted.

Pretty convenient if ya ask me.

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Response to Ian David (Original post)

Thu May 3, 2012, 04:15 PM

AlbertCat (10,513 posts)

4. Haven't they already proven prayer is BAD for you?

In the largest study of its kind, researchers found that having people pray for heart bypass surgery patients had no effect on their recovery. In fact, patients who knew they were being prayed for had a slightly higher rate of complications.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12082681/ns/health-heart_health/t/power-prayer-flunks-unusual-test/

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Response to AlbertCat (Reply #4)

Thu May 3, 2012, 04:24 PM

laconicsax (14,860 posts)

5. Not proven, just suggested.

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Response to Ian David (Original post)

Fri May 4, 2012, 12:05 AM

A HERETIC I AM (10,384 posts)

6. Here's the absurdity of this sort of thing...

If god knows everything, has a plan and knows what will happen in the future (most Xtians will say yes to those contentions with a possible exemption for 'free will') then by that very definition, prayer is not and can not be effective.

Prayer suggests one can change the mind of god. That prayer is an effective method to alter gods plan - to sway his opinion.

How is it possible for this to happen?

Simple.

It can't.

If the answer to a given prayer is what the pray-er asks for, that is little more than proof it was part of the plan. If it isn't - ditto.

It is absurd to think prayer can do anything to change anything when the entity being prayed to is an all powerful, all knowing entity. God already knows the outcome.

Prayer is utter bollocks, by that definition.

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Response to A HERETIC I AM (Reply #6)

Sat May 5, 2012, 08:27 PM

Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel (3,181 posts)

10. Right-on

I really enjoyed reading your post.... close family member added me to her FB page and every reply is has all these words... god, pray, him and lord. all capital, all the time.

I'm soo glad I can hide her from everyday viewing.

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Response to Ian David (Original post)

Fri May 4, 2012, 03:02 AM

sakabatou (29,252 posts)

7. If I were doing a prayer challenge, I'd set it up like this

Last edited Fri May 4, 2012, 03:03 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

You have 3 groups of people who are ill/have a disease.

One group knows that they're being prayed for and by whom.
Second group knows that they're being prayed for, but doesn't know by whom.
Third group is a control: doesn't know if they're being prayed for nor by whom.

Does anyone have a better idea or a change to this?

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Response to sakabatou (Reply #7)

Fri May 4, 2012, 12:51 PM

Rainforestgoddess (80 posts)