Smallpox

In 1979, a global commission certified that smallpox had been eradicated from the face of the earth.  If praying works, why was this scourge of humanity not removed by priests and other  shamans, millennia before?  Did too few pray? Does it matter, how many pray?  Why?

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Pray harder, longer, louder

Which of these works?  If more pray, god listens more closely, yes?  That's why we pray en masse, yes or no?  Does it matter, how many pray?  Why?

If one more prays more fervently, god listens more closely, yes?  That's why many put fervent efforts into it, yes?

If one spends a lot of time in prayer, god listens / understands more, yes?  That's why many pray 5 times a day, yes? Does it matter, how often one  prays for the same thing? Why?

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Your prayer or mine ?

I pray FOR something and you pray for the opposite.  You pray FOR something and I pray AGAINST it.  If praying works, what will happen?  Nothing?  Does your prayer cancel mine?  Does it matter how many there are on each side?  Why not... or why?

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Burn in hell

If one thinks this discussion is justified, will  he / he  will burn in Hell  [sic].

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Let's find out... a test

Pray FOR something and I will pray AGAINST it.  Let's see what happens.  Until then, pray that praying will work.  You have a head start.  Send email, let's see.

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Aim Where?

"Pray in your closet"... this is attributed to Jesus, believed by Christians to have lived ca. 1 - 33 BCE.  No prayer-aiming is necessary, say many.  But many god-fearing people think prayers must be aimed -- correctly -- BUT they must not overshot.  Else the prayers would return to the back of the head of the prayor, transmitting from the praayer's point of origin.   Or, prayers might enter low Earth orbit.  See What is correct Qiblah direction from North America, North-East or South-East?

 

Doesn't He already know?

If God if omniscient, he already knows what you will say.  He knows you oh so well, better than you know yourself -- better than anyone knows you.  Why does God want you to beg on yoru knees, say for the recovery from illness, of a loved child?  Why does God want you to beg on your knees for the end of a war?  Why does God enjoy our  genuflection?

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Effect on Heart Surgery Recovery

NEW YORK — 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.

Researchers emphasized that their work can't address whether God exists or answers prayers made on another's behalf. The study can only look for an effect from prayers offered as part of the research, they said.

They also said they had no explanation for the higher complication rate in patients who... Continued

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Christianity for DUMMIES

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Page updated
 2006-03-30

 What is correct Qiblah direction from North America, North-East or South-East?
One group of people favors the direction of South-East, and another group favors North-East. Now the question is whether South-East is correct or North-East is correct. Those who favor South-East are misleading by looking at the flat map with an argument that Makkah is south and East of North America. The fallacy is that the earth is not a flat plane; it is more like a sphere floating in space of three dimensions. North Pole is a point from where every direction is south; there is no East or West from there. If you take a globe and stretch a thread from Alaska to Makkah, you will see that the thread passes through or close by North Pole. So, the Qiblah from Alaska will be towards North. For more detail check out http://moonsighting.com/qibla.html 
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