A traditional answer would say that the Divine Plan was to allow humans free will from the start, and as such "sinning mortals" have been changing it all along, killing and stealing and raping and lying and coveting and all sorts of other things. A prayer would, in essence, be a fervent request for God to have mercy on His creation and to set aright things that have gone wrong as a direct consequence of the abuse of that free will. God responds to faith, hope and love. Jesus was disappointed that Peter didn't walk on water because with faith all things are possible.
A more non-traditional answer would be that our perception of reality affects reality, and that prayer conducted with faith is heard because our faith helps to accomplish the object of the prayer.
An atheist would say that prayers aren't answered because God doesn't exist.
I'm sure there are other views, but those are the principal ones I'm aware of.
A more non-traditional answer would be that our perception of reality affects reality, and that prayer conducted with faith is heard because our faith helps to accomplish the object of the prayer.
An atheist would say that prayers aren't answered because God doesn't exist.
I'm sure there are other views, but those are the principal ones I'm aware of.
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
I figured I'd put RAFO's top religiologists on the case
- 08/09/2011 02:03:55 PM
867 Views
well I am not religious but that seems a bit of a strawman argument
- 08/09/2011 05:01:57 PM
506 Views
Hm, so there's a broad Divine Plan, but it doesn't matter either way who wins the Super Bowl?
- 08/09/2011 05:25:23 PM
512 Views
Your argument only works if you get to decide who and what god is, like I said strawman
- 08/09/2011 06:32:17 PM
525 Views
I don't know that I'm a "top religiologist", but here goes:
- 08/09/2011 05:35:26 PM
594 Views
I can totally do this.
- 08/09/2011 06:57:19 PM
519 Views
Believe it or not, this is a thought I had when I was little and christian.
- 08/09/2011 07:39:24 PM
522 Views
Predestination is something only strict Calvinists believe.
- 08/09/2011 08:53:59 PM
483 Views
Didn't mean to bring up predestination.
- 08/09/2011 09:17:19 PM
500 Views
Sorry. That's how I read it...
- 09/09/2011 12:48:07 AM
547 Views
It's a very silly argument that the T Rex is making.
- 08/09/2011 07:22:23 PM
469 Views
I think that looking for an absolute answer re: religion is pretty silly. 
- 08/09/2011 08:22:16 PM
467 Views
- 08/09/2011 08:22:16 PM
467 Views
That's a tough one...
- 09/09/2011 01:27:25 PM
444 Views
I'm treating this like a survey even though you didn't make it one: It's about a relationship.
- 12/09/2011 11:23:45 PM
518 Views