Under what circumstances will God listen/answer you?

[BlueShadow123]

Ever notice that people from all religions have prayed to their God and some have gotten responses. Does that make sense if there is only ‘one’ God?

I guess its true that if you’re not saved, God will answer you, right?

 

[Pieman333272]

Ever notice that people from all religions have prayed to their God and some have gotten responses. Does that make sense if there is only ‘one’ God?

I guess one could argue they’re all the same God. I was attracted to that idea but dropped it when I saw it was incompatable with Catholic theology, and a bunch of other religions’ as well. Not New Age, just too different.

I guess its true that if you’re not saved, God will answer you, right?

No, he’ll answer you either way. Just look at St. John of the Cross, the Apostles, St. Padre Pio, and any number of other mystic Saints.

 

[BlueShadow123]

I guess one could argue they’re all the same God. I was attracted to that idea but dropped it when I saw it was incompatable with Catholic theology, and a bunch of other religions’ as well. Not New Age, just too different.

No, he’ll answer you either way. Just look at St. John of the Cross, the Apostles, St. Padre Pio, and any number of other mystic Saints.

I don’t think they’re all the same God, I think there is one God, but not all of the people are able to realize that. Many people in history have died, and not heard the word of God that WE know of. God will deal with them I guess.

Yes, I do believe God can answer anyone.

 

[davidv]

Ever notice that people from all religions have prayed to their God and some have gotten responses. Does that make sense if there is only ‘one’ God?

I guess its true that if you’re not saved, God will answer you, right?

God is immutable (unchanging), humans are not. No matter how a human understands and describes God, God remains the same. Whether one is saved, or not, does not change God, it only changes our relationship with Him.

The purpose of prayer is to change us, to bring us closer to God. God answers our prayers of petition in a number of ways. He may say “yes”, “no”, “not yet”, or “I’ve got something better in mind”. In all cases, with His response, He is asking us to draw closer to Him, to become a more perfect being.

Note: Petition is only one form of prayer. Others include: thanksgiving and adoration.

 

[faithfully]

Ever notice that people from all religions have prayed to their God and some have gotten responses. Does that make sense if there is only ‘one’ God?

I guess its true that if you’re not saved, God will answer you, right?

I think it depends on who “their” god is. Are we talking about God THE creator of all?

Or a multitude of gods defined in other ways. I don’t gather for example that Hindu god(s) for example can be put in the same category. For one, apparently there are more than one… and then well… it goes on from there.

But if you’re talking about Do Catholics and other CHRISTians pray to the same God, I think so. I think we just highly dispute the appropriate fashion of worship.

Now, who does God answer? I think he hears and answers everyone. Sometimes it’s just not the answer we want. Or that we don’t realize that by a non answer that we’re headed for something else. And well, I think like a 2 y/o just doesn’t understand mommy or daddy’s answer, sometimes we just don’t get it.

For example. We have a child (well heck, he’s in his 20’s now) in our family that was born with a severe syndrome. It’s really been a huge challenge. The $$, the emotion, the pain, the suffering, the anxiety, you name it. Everyone in that immediate family struggles one way or the other… But they are also really close. Well we all are. We’ve got each others back… I can tell that some family members have admitted to praying that God just take him when he was 4 and terribly suffering. Basically asking to end all of OUR suffering, and worry and such. Others of us sitting with a rosary running through the beads while he was surgury begging for more time. What’s the right answer? Well, apparently he’s made it this far . I’m going to guess the answer to some was NO, while to others of us, YES. I know his parents wouldn’t trade a day with him for a day of “relief” so to speak. And he’s really smart, and functional, and has the full ability to contribute to society… Plus he’s been a huge lesson to all of us as to what a person can go through and come out smiling…

I love asking these sorts of questions too! I just think, however, the answers to these questions are beyond the human scope of comprehension… (I think God tolerates the “mommy can I’s” way better than many of us… LOL!

 

[BlueShadow123]

I wasn’t talking about the Christian God, I was talking about Gods from religions found all over the world and through history.

 

[faithfully]

I wasn’t talking about the Christian God, I was talking about Gods from religions found all over the world and through history.

I guess I don’t understand your question…

Christian God is the ONLY God… the rest are false, and don’t actually exist (or are demonic in nature)… So, in the way if you prayed to your teddy bear, I would say that whatever happens to you, whether what you asked for happens or not… IS a result from God, but just by his plan. Not by asking a false god.

But the question remains, and I’m not an expert on the religions of the world. Are there religions that pray to One God, the Creator of man? With just a very different way of worship? And name for God? If yes, I suspect they are on par with all Christians.

 

[BlueShadow123]

I guess I don’t understand your question…

Christian God is the ONLY God… the rest are false, and don’t actually exist (or are demonic in nature)… So, in the way if you prayed to your teddy bear, I would say that whatever happens to you, whether what you asked for happens or not… IS a result from God, but just by his plan. Not by asking a false god.

But the question remains, and I’m not an expert on the religions of the world. Are there religions that pray to One God, the Creator of man? With just a very different way of worship? And name for God? If yes, I suspect they are on par with all Christians.

Well thats my point. People from around the world who pray to their God are sometimes answered from God. Which would mean even if they don’t worship the Christian God, he still answers other people.

 

[freerf]

CS Lewis wrote that being a christian doesn’t mean you must believe all other religions are all wrong. You only need to believe that where they differ from christianity they are wrong.

which leads me to my point: If a Muslim prays to God in ernest for a neighbor suffering a grave injustice, I see no reason why God couldn’t answer that prayer. It’s a “christian” prayer (or is in harmony with biblical teachings) so why not?

however, just because an prayer is “answered” doesn’t mean it is answered by God. that’s the troubling part. If someone is praying to a cow, however, I see no reason why Satan, the great deceiver, may not answer that prayer.

 

[BlueShadow123]

CS Lewis wrote that being a christian doesn’t mean you must believe all other religions are all wrong. You only need to believe that where they differ from christianity they are wrong.

which leads me to my point: If a Muslim prays to God in ernest for a neighbor suffering a grave injustice, I see no reason why God couldn’t answer that prayer. It’s a “christian” prayer (or is in harmony with biblical teachings) so why not?

however, just because an prayer is “answered” doesn’t mean it is answered by God. that’s the troubling part. If someone is praying to a cow, however, I see no reason why Satan, the great deceiver, may not answer that prayer.

Thats true that for some people it might be hard to know if he really answered you. I do know when God answers me though because he pretty much answers me in impossible situations and I don’t pray that much so I am pretty much able to play, its pretty obvious when he does. For me at least.

 

[tonyrey]

however, just because an prayer is “answered” doesn’t mean it is answered by God. that’s the troubling part.

Why is it troubling? Do we need to know which prayers are answered and which are not?

 

[MagicKirk]

The Catechism tells us that there is one God.

212 Over the centuries, Israel’s faith was able to manifest and deepen realization of the riches contained in the revelation of the divine name. God is unique; there are no other gods besides him.He transcends the world and history. He made heaven and earth: “They will perish, but you endure; they will all wear out like a garment…but you are the same, and your years have no end.” In God "there is no variation or shadow due to change. God is “HE WHO IS”, from everlasting to everlasting, and as such remains ever faithful to himself and to his promises.

It is the same God who existed before He revealed Himself more fully to Moses. Some peoples of different religions perceive God differently. However, they are praying to the same God, as he has revealed Himself, through His creation, through Natural Law.

CCC- 1955 The “divine and natural” law6 shows man the way to follow so as to practice the good and attain his end. The natural law states the first and essential precepts which govern the moral life. It hinges upon the desire for God and submission to him, who is the source and judge of all that is good, as well as upon the sense that the other is one’s equal. Its principal precepts are expressed in the Decalogue. This law is called “natural,” not in reference to the nature of irrational beings, but because reason which decrees it properly belongs to human nature

Every prayer is heard and none are ignored.

 

[freerf]

Why is it troubling? Do we need to know which prayers are answered and which are not?

Troubling because perhaps Satan has answered the prayer. For example, “oh Lord Cow, please shame my neighbor. . .etc.”

Now, could Satan respond? I don’t see why not. Would his response encourage additional prayers? Probably. I doubt he can “hear” an unspoken prayer, but Satan is notorious, and probably brilliant, so he would be able to infer much without needing to.

 

[kbwall]

I believe most/all religions have truth in them, to an extent. I believe that Catholicism is, of course, the religion with the most truth, in that it teaches of the one true God, and it is the religion that is based on His revelations. (two thousand years ago, Judaism was the one true religion, but that was then, this is now)

However, most of the big religions have major similarities (when I say other big religions, I’m referring mostly to the eatern religions, such as Hinduism and the ones that came from it such as Buddhism). They all have very similar moral about loving you neighbor, about loving your parents, pacifism, etc. I do not believe this to be coincidence. I believe that, while Judaism/Christianity was the religion given to man by God, other religions are man trying to reach God by their own means. They do not get the whole picture, because they are trying on their own, and don’t have the help of the Bible.

It would be impossible for every religion to be completely true, as that would be complete nonsense given how much conflict there is. However, I do believe that Catholicism is the one true religion, and others have some rays of truth in them.

As for hearing prayers, I believe that if a person truly believes they are praying to God, then God understands and answers their prayer. God is merciful, all knowing, and loving.

 

[faithfully]

Troubling because perhaps Satan has answered the prayer. For example, “oh Lord Cow, please shame my neighbor. . .etc.”

Now, could Satan respond? I don’t see why not. Would his response encourage additional prayers? Probably. I doubt he can “hear” an unspoken prayer, but Satan is notorious, and probably brilliant, so he would be able to infer much without needing to.

Interesting…

Let’s break it down.

What kind of god shames people on the behalf of another? If a person were to state as your example… oh, lord cow… and then ask for a negative… wouldn’t that be like pleading to a demon or a something awful…

To actually state, "Oh, LORD GOD, please shame… " Wouldn’t that be taking the Lord’s name in vain. That a person would even envoke God to do ill will to another? Not that God might not see fit that a person be humbled a bit… but certainly not at a human’s discretion or prayerful wish…

Just thinkin’ out loud…