The Prayer Paradox

The Prayer Paradox

There are religious people who believe God has their entire life already planned out for them. 

He knows what your career will be. He knows who you'll fall in love with. He knows when you'll die. And He knows what's in your heart. It's all preordained. 

A lot of those same religious people, though, also believe that God listens to them when they pray. Which is weird.

Because most people pray for certain outcomes. They want to do better on that test. They want a promotion at work. They want to improve their health.

Prayer is really just another way of asking God to revise His plans for you.

So either prayer works, and God changes your life... or prayer is useless because God already knows how everything's gonna play out. Which is it?

To put it another way, if you really believe God is omniscient and knows everything, then praying is kind of a dick move. Because you're saying, "God, I don't trust the plan You have for my life and I want You to change it."

People who pray are really just making God angry, aren't they?

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[PossibleTango]

If god has "plans" does that mean we don't have free will?

[SpaceMetalFerrari]

Prayer and "God having a plan" completely contradict the term "Free Will" as well.

[Giga_Pudding]

God: "I already know what you want; I just want to see you beg."

[kinglaserna]

So basically God already knows whose gonna burn in hell and whose gonna live in heaven. If that's the case what's the point of life.

[maliayork]

I think there are those Christians who pray for their will to be done but I also think a lot of Christians pray for comfort and guidance in tough situations as opposed to wanting to change the future per say. It's a mixed bag.

[elizabethisland]

well when i was a christian i believed that god knew what we were going to pray and took that into account but i never asked myself if god knows what im going to pray why does he have me do it to watch me beg?

[Chictaliano]

The first time i've heard this paradox was from George Carlin

[WhtetstoneFlunky]

I don't think religious people think through some of the inconsistencies in various aspects of their religious belief. They either don't think it through, or they use one of the many excuses that validates ignoring the inconsistency. The catch-all excuse is "we humans are too small and insignificant to understand God". When I was a kid and believed in a god, I would pray to God for merchandise or positive outcomes, but now and then something would overtake me and I would actually thank God, no strings attached. Now that same emotion makes me give thanks in a kind of non-religious sort of way.

[c-myc]

I'm an Atheist and i have a question... Is there really a paradox??
If god had already planned every thing and knows everything, then doesn't it make prayer a planned event??

[philojudaeusofalexandria]

When I was a Christian I got around this by thinking that God could have infinitely different ways to achieve his plan. So my prayers were not "Change your whole plan." but just "Would you consider using a different method to get to the same result? One that involves some better outcomes for me personally?"

[AngirsonLopez]

Conclusion: Praying doesn't work.

[VeryMaryTV]

When I grew up in church, I was told throughout my life that prayer is one of the many ways we can have a relationship with God. I was told that, yes, God knows your prayers before you even pray them but he enjoys the company of his children. This is how many Christians justify prayer.

[LeBonkJordan]

Also, if "God" already knows what you're thinking, and also knows what will happen before it happens, what's the point in praying, since "He" already knows what you're gonna pray about?

[joe]

Isn't "God" going to do HIS will anyway?...Prayer....The biggest waste of time.

[Anna-okvx]

Oh my god thank you! This is such a valid point I've thought for years. If he has it planned out there is no free will and he is purposely putting people on this earth to not 'follow' him sending them to a life of damnation.

[toe]

God wants you to have a relationship with him.. Prayer is how you build a relationship with God.. Yes, he knows whats going to happen in our lives, but he also wants us to be willing to acknowledge his involvement in it all and to build faith in him.. When you let go of worrying and allow God to direct you, there's a peace that comes over you that's unexplainable.. You're missing out

[hitrapperandartistdababy]

Conclusion: There is no paradox because he propably dont exist

[tonespinner]

"The man who prays is convinced that his god is handling matters badly. He is also convinced that he can instruct his god on how to handle matters in a better way"".----The Hitch The religionist's ability to compartmentalize his/her beliefs and live with the dichotomy never ceases to amaze me. btw-excellent vid. I always enjoy your commentaries.

[KevinHuangPhasorQuantaG]

If I prayed then I would pray to be at peace with whatever outcome presents itself to me.

[TylerDurdentyler]

What you are asking is for religious people to reason.
If one could reason with religious people.... there would be NO religious people!