My Problem With Prayer (People Are Better Off Dead?)

The Root ^

[nickcarraway]

Very Smart Brothas' Damon Young explains how his mother's illness has led him to re-evaluate the religious practice.

... Much of this love and support has come in the form of prayer. People praying for her, praying with her, and even suggesting special prayers for situations like this. In fact, tonight I searched for "mom" in Gmail and looked at emails and Gchats I received around the time people first found out she was ill. Every single person who contacted me mentioned something about prayer. While this has definitely -- definitely -- been appreciated by my mother and the rest of my family, this situation has reinforced the disconnect I've always had with prayer in general and prayer specifically for ill people in particular.

Now, I'm (obviously) not a theological scholar. But, I do know that Christianity, Islam, and Judaism all offer their true believers some form of an afterlife. And, in each case, the afterlife is a much, much, much better version of Earth.

If Christians, Jews, and Muslims believe this to be true, why pray for a sick person's health to get better?

[Smittie]

My mother suffered from that condition as well. May God bless you and keep you during the time you have left.

[steve86]

Purgatory is not fun. Delay it as long as possible.

[Coldwater Creek]

Thanks!