If there was truly an all powerful and loving God looking over us, why would he wait for us to beg him to do what should come naturally to him: help out humanity? What would you think of a doctor that could save the life of a little girl if he would only do it after being incessantly begged?
Double Edge:
but with others, there can be NO doubt.
Can you please give me an example of one of your prayers that has been answered that could not possibly be a mere coincidence? How can you be so certain that it wouldn't have worked out that way even if you didn't pray?
Well then that settles it.... no answered prayers for you.
lol... well I have had several "good things" happen in my life, even seemingly amazing things. As a dub I would have attributed those events to God. But since leaving and abandoning all faith in God, I still have amazing things happen. I don't believe God has anything to do with the good or bad in our lives.
czar:
No. YOU can't tell if my prayer was answered or not. I can.
hehe... I didn't mean to indicate that I could tell if your prayer was answered or not. I was asserting that you cannot claim your prayer was answered. How can you be so certain that events would have turned out differently if you didn't pray?
The fact that some atrocities happen doesn't prove anything...
It shows that God is a bastard. See my point above about a doctor refusing to help out someone when he has the power.
I still assert that there is no way you can prove that your prayers have been answered.
But there's no reasoning here... most will claim that when a prayer is not answered it's because God knows what's best and answering your prayer would have been the wrong course of action. But when your prayer is answered it's solid proof that God is listening.