If God is omnipotent and omniscient, why do people pray to him? Do they think that they can influece God? Isn't that kind of messed up? "God controls all but we can influence Him." How does that work?

Why do you pray to god in the first place?

It is an irrational behavior that would be considered a form of psychosis if the majority didn't do it. You are trying to find logic in thiestic beliefs; I find that funny. It isn't supposed to make sense. Just find a way to rationalise it, read christian apologetics or some bullshit until you pull an explanation out of your ass that seems to makes sense.

If you are an athiest ignore the last part.

Prayers of petition and intercession are a key part of some Abrahamic religions. And they lead to obvious absurdities and/or contradictions--like when both sides in a war claim that "God is on our side." (God does not take sides, having created all sides--BEING all sides.) I see these prayers as obsolete artifacts of the Piscean Age.

That said, prayer can be an effective menas of getting in touch with our Higher Mind , Essential Self, or the Source (other words for God).

It is an irrational behavior that would be considered a form of psychosis if the majority didn't do it.

Try telling that to your pagan ancestors, who said a prayer (which lowered their blood pressure, thus increasing their accuracy) to the mother earth, before they threw a hunting javelin to catch their meal. Infact this "psychosis" may be the only reason you are alive.

I think that prayer was intended to be more of a meditation, or trying to communicate or gain knowledge from the creator(which is open to interpretation).
Unlike the modern view of [Christian] prayer which seems to be asking for material possessions or reciting memorized words.

This is just an opinion though, I don't have any scripture to back it up(I also haven't looked...).

Try telling that to your pagan ancestors, who said a prayer (which lowered their blood pressure, thus increasing their accuracy) to the mother earth, before they threw a hunting javelin to catch their meal. Infact this "psychosis" may be the only reason you are alive.

Sounds more like mediation. Slowing the breathing, thus slowing the heart rate, which inevitably increased accuracy

Prayers aren't meant to influence god. Most people pray to give thanks, to seek guidance, and to ask for forgiveness.

Sounds more like mediation. Slowing the breathing, thus slowing the heart rate, which inevitably increased accuracy

Which also often happens while praying.

If God is omnipotent and omniscient, why do people pray to him? Do they think that they can influece God? Isn't that kind of messed up? "God controls all but we can influence Him." How does that work?

Prayer is psychic but nobody really knows it. You pray with energy and feeling and the faith that your prayers will be answered and then you tell others to start praying and then they pray for you, you pray for them etc...and BOOM...your prayers are eventually answered because of all the energy and time and faith put behind it.

I think most times, prayer is given for thanks.

Others it's asking for an answer. Maybe it's when people ask it helps them find it better.

I don't think prayer should be ignored by science though.

http://www.neilslade.com/weather.html

Ever hear of that?

Which also often happens while praying.

then why pray? why not just meditate,relax clear your mind and concentrate afterwards? prevents a perpetuating mental illness.

then why pray? why not just meditate,relax clear your mind and concentrate afterwards? prevents a perpetuating mental illness.

Mental illness?

then why pray? why not just meditate,relax clear your mind and concentrate afterwards?

In a sense, there IS no difference. Prayer is getting in touch with God; meditation is getting intouch wioth your Higher Self.

However, the kingdom of God is within you.

For me, however, meditation is a lot harder and requires more concentration that prayer.

Say I'm driving along, and the snow on the mountains strikes me as particularly lovely, I shoot out a quick prayer "hey, nice work God, thanks" without losing control of my vehicle.

The words of Jesus.

Matthew 6-8
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

In a sense, there IS no difference. Prayer is getting in touch with God; meditation is getting intouch wioth your Higher Self.

However, the kingdom of God is within you.

For me, however, meditation is a lot harder and requires more concentration that prayer.

Say I'm driving along, and the snow on the mountains strikes me as particularly lovely, I shoot out a quick prayer "hey, nice work God, thanks" without losing control of my vehicle.

you took me out of context, i was referring to the post that said something about pagan ancestors who prayed before battle to lower their blood pressure and to relax them