To detest the idea of prayers being answered?

[rootypig]

My in laws recently had some lovely news - a family member who it was thought would die very soon, of cancer, is in remission. I'm really happy for them (have never met the woman in question, my husband's aunt).

But I can't bear the flood of messages and posts. 'The power of prayer'. 'We're blessed'. 'Faith works miracles'.

My precious aunt died a horrible death from cancer last year and she did NOT die because we didn't pray, or want her to live enough, or because we don't have faith, or she wasn't blessed. She died because she had fucking cancer and noone could do a damn fucking thing about it.

How can people believe in this god, who would pick and choose. How can people believe that they deserve more than others.

So sorry about your aunt, and so sorry to all the PPs who have lost loved ones. You might not be in the mood for it at the moment but Tim Minchin's song about is very funny and sums up what's wrong with all these god-in-my-pocket merchants.

That bluestocking says it all for me

I'm so sorry for the loss of your Aunt. I totally understand what you're saying.

We lost our first pregnancy to a Partial Molar pregnancy. I recently happened upon a video of a couple sharing their story. They too we're told they had a partial molar pregnancy, however at this point their baby was still alive and they refused a termination based on their beliefs.

They had members of the church round for a group prayer the day before a follow up scan. She said she felt God through her. Next day, no presence of any mole. God healed them.

It is a chromosomal issue. These cannot be reversed!! It was a blatant misdiagnosis as they only went by on blood tests and a quick scan to begin with.

I feel angry. So my baby died because I don't believe?!

Yes the talk of fighting, Canyou. How I hate it! my aunt was not a fighter. She was an amazing light. She brought calm and peace. So is that why she died, she didn't fight hard enough? She went through the most appalling surgery (half her stomach, some oesophagus, and a rib removed), she suffered the chemo, she did it all, she was brave and strong and chose to suffer for the tiny chance she might live, and she still died.

hiddenhome I remember reading a critique of The Secret (which I never read, or watched), it was essentially political. Are hungry people not envisaging food enough? It's amazing how willing people are to believe in god when things are working out, eh.

I don't have faith myself - you've probably worked that out by now - but I'd hazard that people who truly do turn to their god when things are hard, not when they're easy.

I agree with you OP. what does it mean if prayers aren't answered?

but I think it's driven more by sloppy thinking than malice. In fact, I think there is 0 malice (so 100% sloppy thinking!).

Agreed written, these people aren't exactly deep thinkers. Sadly I've never been very forgiving of stupidity