Religion

Does it makes sense to pray if God's existence hasn't been rationally proven independently of faith? Does the meaning of the practice of praying depend on philosophical proofs of God's existence?

Comments

Certainly not, if anything like prayer depended on a philosophical proof it is in real trouble!

There are many reasons to pray which have nothing to do with belief in God. You may enjoy the activity. You may do it because you want to participate in a communal activity with others. You may do it because it is expected of you and you do not want to upset others. You may do it because others do not want you to and you want to annoy them.

Then you may pray because you wonder whether that would be a route to acquiring faith in God. Many devout people pray regularly and say that they are still waiting for something to happen that would represent for them belief in God. Perhaps God values their prayers more than the prayers of those who have no doubts, since after all it is easier for the latter to pray and carry out their general religious obligations.

I agree with Professor Leaman. I might only add that today most theists do not traffic in "proofs" for God's existence. There are very few, if any, universally acknowledged proofs in philosophy. These days, we more often simply refer to good or bad arguments. It also might be added that hope is often identified as a virtue in some religious traditions, and hope may well serve as a sufficient ground for prayer, even when actual belief is not in play.

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