[bert]

It can be argued that fasting and prayer are but a cop out, pretending to do something positive while bleeding to death.

[Quix]

And . . .

for SOME individuals

in SOME contexts . . .

. . . particularly those who are loathe to put legs to their prayers . . .

that would be quite accurate.

However a study of the effects of prayer and of calling on the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Revolutionary War and all the wars since

would indicate quite abundantly that prayer has often been associated with miraculous changes on the battle front—many times, saving the day and many lives and the cause entirely.

[metmom]

Prayer and fasting ARE doing something positive.

If you don’t believe in them, then of course you will dismiss them as useless, but those of us who have seen the results of it know better.

The problem with your thinking is that this life is not all there is. If it were, then nothing matters. We might as well be under totalitarian rule as not because it’s all meaninglessness and dust in the wind anyway. And fighting back even with guns, is nothing more than pretending to do something positive while bleeding to death, because once you’re dead, it’s all over and was for nothing anyway.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

I disagree with you, Bert, but you are a brave man to speak your mind about prayer. I wish more people did. Without candor, precious time is wasted.

Throughout history, the most successful of earthly people see little need for prayer. But then there are the strange wonders of the world that prove there are supernatural forces far more powerful than any person of flesh.

America’s history:

Washington, the Bulletproof President
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2524769/posts

Their final Fourth of July (John Adams and Thomas Jefferson)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/1659350/posts
[They both died on the 4th of July’s 50th Anniversary]

The amazing storm when the British burned our capital in the War of 1812:
http://www.roanoke.com/weather/wb/wb/xp-79760

[metmom]

It can be argued that fasting and prayer are but a cop out, pretending to do something positive while bleeding to death.

Then it can be argued that people who make such statements don't know what they're talking about. Sadly, fasting isn't as popular as it used to be for one thing. The other is, that people who ARE motivated to fast and willing to do it, are already likely taking other action as well.

Making the assumption that people who fast and pray don't do anything else is baseless. You have NOTHING on which to base that accusation.