The Ethics and Morality of Prayer...

[birdie1971]

I know this question has been done before but lately I've been thinking about the ethical and moral issues with regards to prayer. I'm an avid follower of the TV show, Big Brother (don't shoot me) and there is one contestant who regularly likes to pray that she and her friends will not be nominated for eviction.

My question is, does praying to God for purely personal gain constitute some form of blasphemy? Is it ethical and moral to pray to God for things that will benefit you specifically to the detriment of others?

[mibn2cweus]

It becomes increasing difficult to negotiate with someone who is not mutually compensated in the bargain.

[birdie1971]

Old_Geezer - “... If you do not believe in intervention then your conclusions tend to follow...”

I fail to see how even the most devout person can believe in the concept of intervention since as we all know, religion teaches us that God is omniscient (ie. He knows everything there is to know and His plan is ineffable). Therefore God knows everything that has happened, is happening and is going to happen. It's part of His plan isn't it? Or do you believe that He doesn't really have a plan and He's just making it up as He goes along?

If it is the former, praying for divine intervention is a pointless exercise and if it is the latter then He cannot be omniscient as we have been lead to believe. To put it simply, why would God intervene in His own ineffable plan? The reasoning becomes circular and hence nonsensical.

If you believe in divine intervention then you do not understand the concept of omnipotence which rather renders the reason for prayer moot. The only reason remaining therefore is shameless self gratification. Hence my earlier description of spiritual onanism.