[ATLian]

One of my many beefs with prayer is - Why should god have to wait for us to ask him before he does something about a dire situation? Shouldn't an all-good god do something without us having to ask him? Especialy since he's an all-knowing god, so he knew from Day One about the thing that is going to be prayed for? Why should god watch, say, Darfur go through major genocide, then wait for us to pray, before doing something about it?

I think prayer is pointless. Assume my dad is sick with cancer. If it's in god's plan for him to die, then he will die, no matter how much I pray. If it's in god's plan for him to live, then he will live, even if I don't utter a single word of prayer. Basically, whatever god had planned from Day One will happen, regardless of whether you pray or not. So why bother with prayer?

Also, if the plan is for your dad to die, then it's a perfect plan, since it's all part of god's perfect plan for everyone. Prayer is asking god to change certain circumstances of his perfect plan so that they (the circumstances) become compliant with your wishes. You are telling god that HIS perfect plan for your dad to die of cancer isn't as good as your plan where your dad survives the cancer, so could he please change it so it can be in line with yours. Isn't that blasphemeous, a mere mortal man challenging god's ultimate plan? Isn't it arrogant?