First I belive in god, but why does or  ever answer a prayer I mean never?
550352
YOU NEED TO STOP ELEVING I MEAN BELIEVEING
941913
Yes dear, when your prayers are answered, it's proof of God. When they are not, well it just wasn't god's will.\nAs I will it..\n\nYou know the rest! ; )
58058
Prayer has never done anything. Many studies have been done. All negative. Face it, as nice as it would be, there is no god. No higher power cares about you. You are on your own. I know that is a scary thought but that's all there is to it.
1021191
Prayer like any other of "invocations" to a higher power relies purely on focus and intent.  Many people pray but do it "just because" then there are those who truely believe in prayer.  The other factor is the reciever of the prayer.  You can pray all you want but if the person doesn't wish it then it falls to the ground like so much chaff.  If it was shown to actually not work it wouldn't stop me,  I am a witch and we don't pray we do spellwork.  Although similar it is different.
337338
Prayer serves several purposes.\nIt brings you into a right relationship with God.\nIt allows you to enter in to repentance.\nIt allosw you to be thankful.\nIt allows us to be humble.\nThis is not a comperhensive list, just a beginning to help you understand why I would pray to God. So I guess for the most part both of your answers are valid. \n\nYou said "And, based on that communication they choose whether or not to assist."  You assume that prayer requires a response that benifits me. You could not be more wrong. Prayer does not require a response at all.
445890
You don't know when your prayers are answered.  If you are the average Christian ,  you pray say,  100 times. If one of your prayers is answered,  you say "God answers prayer",  and forget the 99 times that your prayer was not answered.  That is what they call "Christian Logic".
1027586
maybe because you feel your prayers are not answered,\n\nmaybe you feel like your will alone will set your mind in motion.\n\nnow you are on the right track
176442
Because my way of doing things don't work.  And yes there is a God
596966
God doesn't have to prove anything to anyone...look around you...look at creation...keep your eyes open for miracles...they occur every day.God wants you to have faith...to believe unconditionally.
616582
Prayer requires faith whilst the other action you noted in your inquiry requires imagination; thus, the two are very different, and neither of them are linked.
836820
say a prayer... I am and I'm an atheist.
402961
Well its kinda of like if you need a job. You can pray to God all you want for a job but if you never put in a application or apply for a job how can he bless you w/ one. I think of my relationship with God as a give and take. I give Him control of my life and He takes me where he wants me to be.
1125023
I don't have an average.  We are instructed to pray without ceasing.  So whenever I need help, peace, or anything I will offer up a quick prayer wherever I'm at.  I pray before and after reading the Bible, when I wake up, before I go to sleep, before eating.  It is our way of communicating with God, why shouldn't we pray always.
658124
Dear Gino...\n   I'm a big, BIG fan of your work on Yahoo Q&A...and I'm a Christian!!! I agree with you on some things and others, I could understand. I hope this answer provides some kind of logical explanation.\n\nThe proof of God's existance is not in the air or in the miracles, it's in the hearts of the people who believe. You're right about one thing, if I prayed in the almighty rock to help me get through my depression, it's most likely to happen because I truly have faith in that rocks capabilities to heal me. We as people have to have that leader to turn to just in case something goes wrong or there is something that we can't handle, someone has to take that burden from us. For politians, there's President Bush; for kids, it's their parents; for those who don't believe, there's someone else who was involved; and for us Christians, there's God or Satan (depending on the problem). \n\nThere is no great amount of evidence in the world that can prove to you that prayer works unless that belief is in your own heart.\n\nI'm not one of those crazed Christians who is trying to get you to convert and believe, in fact I hope you stay the way you are...I would date you and have your babies before we even get married (HA HA). \n\nP.S Society is a load of crap sometimes...if anyones see you worshiping a rock or tree, they would have you committed to a mental institution. You have to go with the crowd to be "normal".
826409
First it depends on your world view.  \n\nIf your world view is that all is cause and effect, that only the natural world exists, then not only does prayer not make sense, but you have no free will, so it does not matter, the outcome is already defined.  Of course, you then have to accept that the universe is uncaused, or nothing creates something, which means you begin without cause and effect, and then you accept cause and effect.  There is an inherent contradiction.  However, it is a world view.  To solve it there are theories, but, the theories are designed to align with the world view.  The true answer is unknown.\n\nIf your world view is that a creator exists, then a creator creates for a reason, and your life, your independent spirit can exist under this world view.  Thus, it makes sense to pray and become aligned in some way with God the creator.  I think one of the strongest reasons to have this world view is our day to day experience that we have free will, that we can shape our future.  If free will is an illusion and I am deluded, then so be it.  It is my choice, based on my experience that I do have free will.  In this case, especially if it is true, prayer makes great sense to align your spirit with God, and get guidance.  \n\nHow does God do it?  No one knows for sure.  All you can find is experiential evidence, or read spiritual books and learn.  People can tell you what they have experienced and you have to accept or not.  It is like being open to love.  You can have great joy, and you may have great pain, more than if you not not love at all.  Jesus prayed so hard the night he was betrayed that it is said He cried tears of blood.  Was his prayer heard?...yes  Was it answered?...yes.  The answer was no.  But, He prayed correctly, not my will but yours.  He was spiritually led to his fate.  Kind of scary where prayer can take you.   \n\nMy experience is that when I pray, if I am led to do a hard thing that I do not want to do, I mean I just want to refuse to do it, then I know I am not listening to God.  That is one aspect.  Other aspects you will learn about from others and experience yourself.
927627
There is one simple question that you must ask yourself and give yourself an honest answer to: "Do I believe there is a god?"\n\nIf your answer is no, then you are an atheist. If your answer is yes, then you are a theist (regardless of whether you follow an organized religion or not). If you aren't sure, you're agnostic.\n\nBelieve whatever makes the most sense to you. If you aren't sure what that is, read more about science and various religions until you find something that makes sense to you.\n\nI didn't "become" an atheist, I always was one. I have never believed in god, simply because I have never seen any sign of him and have no reason to believe he exist elsewhere than in some people's imagination.
699793
never I pray...............