Gabrielle

How many members have called various ministries to request prayer for themselves or other family members or friends? I have from time to time when people very close to me were experiencing difficulties. Many ministries have toll free numbers for this purpose. Most of them also have a link to click on where you can type in a request for prayer. I know it always makes me feel a little better when I think many people are joining me in prayer. There's strength in numbers.

The Other Michael

Do you really think that would be at all common on a site largely populated by non-theists?

cheers,
Michael

Splarnst

I echo the confusion expressed by The Other Michael. :huh:

Rhaedas

Whatever works for you...don't think a lot here would get the same sense of comfort from strangers talking to their imaginary friend. Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer, and all that...

Astreja

I don't get this group prayer thing at all... I would be extremely hesitant to outsource an urgent petition-to-the-gods to any third party.

It's kind of like asking multiple people to mix up a single prescription... You can guarantee neither competence nor good will on the part of the participants.

AV-98 Ingram

I've called a prayer line as a joke, does that count?

Alethias

You outsource it because you are attempting to increase the odds. Maybe if more people are praying about it, it'll be more likely to get god's attention. Or maybe one of the many praying has a more direct line to god.

I figure that when I prayed as a christian, since i'm left handed, that it was the right-side of my brain talking to the left side. My hypotheses is that it would be reversed for right handed people. When I heard god answer back, it was the left side talking back to the right side.

Self, talking to self: "Hey dude, would ya heal me, man?"
Self, talking back: "Whatever, dude."

SoT

cgordon

Automated Prayer Line:

Press 1 for a prayer for healing
~ Press 1 for cancer
~ Press 2 for heart disease
~ Press 3 for mental health
~ Press 4 for help with the voices in your head

Press 2 for a prayer of bereavement
~ Press 1 for a family member
~ Press 2 for a friend
~ Press 3 for a stranger you saw on TV
~ Press 4 for your mental health

Press 3 for a prayer of thanks
~ Press 1 for blessing a meal
~ Press 2 for winning the lottery
~ Press 3 for getting lucky with the preacher's wife
~ Press 4 for not being a baby-raping, kitten-grilling, ungodly atheist

Press 5 for emergency prayer
~ Press 1 for natural disaster (or Act of God)
~ Press 2 for home invasion
~ Press 3 for imminent airplane crash
~ Press 4 for Xian-eating lions

Press 0 for a live pray-for-pay client service attendant ($29.95 per minute)

general_koffi

I once subscribed to a fundy "Threats against Christianity" mailing list as a joke-of-the-week sort of thing, but never a prayer line.

They neve sent me anything, mind. They either found out about my evil heretical nature, or they suck.

Lilyofthevalley

I've tried prayer/online prayer requests three times:

1) To the Catholics - please give them their due: they had things so arranged that I at least felt someone had indeed prayed for my request. The recipient felt so also.

2) US TV evangelists - response: 'Did you marry an unbeliever? If so, you are gettin' what you deserve.'

3) Christian Forums: 'You must subscribe to Criterion X before you can request prayer.'

Thanks a bunch, prayer lines/forums. I like the Jews' approach - Go directly to God; do not pass Go.