Comments on: Templeton Prayer Study Flawed

By: Natasha

Natasha — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:22:27 +0000

So I guess God chooses not to help all the little kids starving to death or born with AIDS huh? Who would follow a God like that? Chooses to help some but lets others suffer…can’t believe you people are that stupid.

By: Harry

Harry — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:05:23 +0000

DaPoppa, Sorry about bringing this one up again, but I’m a little at a loss here… Granted all you said was true, why was it just in the group being prayed for (and knew it), and being prayed for (and didn’t know it) that god chose to go against the prayers?

Doesn’t it say in the bible “where two or more people pray” their prayers shall be answered?

This god of yours seems more than a little arbitrary…

By: Jodel

Jodel — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 08:41:45 +0000

Bob,
God is watching from where?

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:03:17 +0000

There were a number of problems with the Templeton Study not mentioned here. First, there is an assumption that God listens and answers prayer without regard to a person’s relationship with him. Yet, the Bible clearly teaches that God does not listen to people who are not in right relationship with him, unless they are repenting of their sin and calling upon him for salvation. The so-called Christian groups who prayed for these people have theological beliefs that make it clear they do not trust in Jesus Christ alone to secure right standing with God. This is at great variance with what the Bible teaches. What if what the Bible teaches is actually true? If so, then only people who believe it’s message of salvation through Jesus Christ could expect to have their prayers consistently answered. Something which myself and millions of other Bible believing Christians could testify to. The fact is, that millions of Bible believing Christians have personally experienced seeing answered prayer only after they actually put their faith in Jesus Christ. If the Bible is true, then one should totally expect the results of the Templeton Study to be exactly what they were. Personally, I would have been shocked to see different results. And yes, I know God is watching.

By: daPoppa

daPoppa — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:21:45 +0000

Perhaps it the parameters of the study, a lot of assumptions about God, and assumptions about the purpose of prayer that are flawed.

It is correct that if God is omniscient, He doesn’t need us to tell us what someone else needs. However, perhaps prayer has other purposes. For instance, helping the one praying understand what he or she really wants.

Or, opening up a line of communication the the Creator in which one seeks to understand God’s will in a matter. For, if God truly is love, then what is ultimately best for each one of us will be God’s will.

When one prayers for someone else’s healing, one needs always to included the provision that will occur if, and only if, it is the best outcome for all concerned, not just the one who is being prayed for.

I have experienced it first hand, and you can learn more at cancerhealingjourney.com.

By: Rastaban

Rastaban — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:20:09 +0000

“Interestingly the study did show that those who were prayed for and knew it had significantly more complications than those who were prayed for and didn’t know it.” – Steve

So, does this mean we should interpret the Templeton Prayer Study results as consistent with the existence of a Devil, but not a God?

By: matt

matt — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:12:30 +0000

God is sure stupid for an omniscient, omnipotent being.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:31:03 +0000

Interestingly the study did show that those who were prayed for and knew it had significantly more complications than those who were prayed for and didn’t know it.
The study also showed that the control group which wasn’t prayed for had no more complications than the groups prayed for.
Not what the Templeton Foundation wanted to hear

By: Rastaban

Rastaban — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 18:30:19 +0000

Elroy, I know what you mean. I get similar emails from relatives of mine, even though they know my opinion about this sort of thing. Guess they’re too worried about breaking the chain to care who they’re including in the nonsense.

You were wise not to chastise your mother. Unless you can figure out a polite, tactful way to do it, best to let the matter drop.

By: Elroy Willis

Elroy Willis — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 12:15:37 +0000

Well said! I recently have been receiving prayer chain letters from my mother, and in them it asks the person to send the email to 7 other people. Here we see the use of a magic lucky number being combined
with prayer, and I find it ridiculous.

I had to hold back from chastising my mother and calling her a stupid superstitious idiot, because I guess I knew it’d hurt her feelings, but I really wanted to let her know how I feel.