Why Doesn't Prayer Work Against the Coronavirus
I read today that gatherings featuring faith healers have been cancelled. We all know church services across the country have been halted. I wonder if all those small signs I read when I'm driving which say "Prayer Works" have been taken down?
Among the preachers featured who has been cancelled is the famous healer, Benny Hinn. He heals a stage full of ill people at every show. I've read the same healed people get on a bus and appear at his next show.
Atheist sites are ablaze with sarcasm about the impotence of religion while the illness spreads. Now is a time when going to church harms but it has been advertised since forever as a place that helps.
I recall reading an ex preacher's frustrations. As a preacher, he wrote, I was forced to come up with a reason to take God off the hook every time there a national disaster. If if was a shooting, tornadoes or illness like today, there has to be a reason it is not God's fault. This fellow gave up on both preaching and God.
There is an old rule about promises. It is wise to promise a little less than what you expect to deliver. President Trump has never heard this, always promising far more than he can possibly deliver. The Christian faith would be wise to take this route as well. Promising life after death and answer to prayers is a weakness not a strength.
I know there is an old explanation about prayers, the prayer is not to prevent bad things from happening but to deal with what happens afterwards. Sorry, pray doesn't help with that either.
It's just another visit to the world of make believe. The Bible should be interpreted to say, "Pray, it is fantasy that helps avoid reality."
Prayer is a conversation with God. Prayer is not rubbing a magic bottle with a genie inside, ready to grant our 3 wishes.
ReplyDeleteGod does not remove pain and suffering from our mortal life in most cases. He didn't save His Son from the horrors of the Cross.
Selling atheism and anti-theism based on the argument that prayer is not stopping COVID-19 is based on a lie. Besides, how do you know prayers are not being answered in specific cases?
If every prayer was answered the way people understand, the world would be a completely different experience ... and not necessarily for the better.
Matt "Prayer is not rubbing a magic bottle with a genie inside, ready to grant our 3 wishes."
ReplyDeleteMostly, as far as I can tell, Christians are taught God hears their prayers and because of this prayer brings them good results. Governors pray for rain, the President said something like, "In time like these Americans turn to God." Why would political leaders do this if "Prayer is not rubbing a magic bottle with a genie inside" ?
Jon, please re-read my original post. Stop playing dumb. If you want to have an adult conversation, please do.
DeleteI pray that God will make you into a Christian. He has not answered my prayer, insofar as I can tell.
I pray for my kids.
I pray for an end to abortion. The abortion rate has been declining for the past 30 years.
I pray for a SCOTUS which will overturn Roe.
I pray for a number of things which I have no idea if they are being answered.
Are you keeping up?
Matt "If you want to have an adult conversation..."
DeleteAn adult conversation usually involves people taking seriously actual cause and effect matters. It is about agreeing first what a problem is and using time and money to solve it. All the time trying to make life better for the society.
It's hard to have a adult conversation with you because you want to spend precious time talking of unseen spirits and an invisible god to accomplish goals that are not for the greater good. You spend your time praying to invisible beings hoping to make life more miserable for women.
If there ever was a person who spends precious time talking of unseen spirits and an invisible God, it is Jon Lindgren. As evidence of such, I give you this blog.
DeleteAgain, if there is an adult in your household willing to write here, please let her.
Matt--"If ever there was a person who spends precious time talking to unseen spirits and an invisible God, it is Jon Lindgren."
DeleteI admit I spend a good deal of my retirement on this blog. I talk OF these mythical beings. I don't talk TO them like you do.
The televangelist healers are one thing but “There are a number of small [Charismatic Christian] churches, mostly nondenominational, that teach their members to rely solely on faith for healing. These churches encourage their members to forgo medicine and medical treatment.”
ReplyDeleteNot trusting the will of God [Jesus] alone to heal a member of the congregation is considered an insult to the power of the divine and failure to trust in scripture. Instead of utilizing the healing power of modern medicine, prayer groups or circles are formed to leverage prayer power. Children and adults alike have ended up in cemeteries as a result.
One would think in the case of a life threatening illness of a child God would whisper in the ear of someone in the prayer group and say, “Hey! This is serious. Take this child to the hospital and I will work my will by empowering the medical professionals to do everything they can.” or at least a twinge of doubt would alert someone in the group to the immorality of their negligence, spark the courage to speak up, and provide rational leadership to continue prayer but commit the child to the care of medical science. Of course doubt is a sin and being shunned by the congregation for a failure of faith would likely extinguish the spark of courage.
As an example of the nonsense I give you the “The Church of the First Born: This group is mainly active in Colorado and Oklahoma. The sect promotes the use of prayer to heal; they do not believe in doctors or medicine.” Among their victims; “Jason, 9, of Enid, OK died of a ruptured appendix”, “Desiree, 3, of Cushing, OK died after a treatable illness”, Angela, 7, of Olathe, CO, died of a ruptured appendix“, “Jordan, 4 months, in Redding , CA, died of meningitis and pneumonia”, “Amanda, 13, died from diabetes in Grand Junction, CO”, and the list goes on. Criminal charges have been brought in several cases. http://www.religioustolerance.org/medical8.htm