Why pray for the dead?

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[Celsus]

You stated that God was a coward or a sadist.

I replied by asserting that God works in ways that you do not acknowledge.

You asked for an example.

I gave you one.

You didn't like the example and now demand great signs and wonders, but that doesn't change the fact that I gave an answer. You just don't like it.

so it goes back to my original thought that you have alerady determined the outcome and your assumptions are based on that pre-determined decision.

Where is your God when innocent people have to suffer? Because of war, rape, famine, earthquakes, parasites, etc?

Agreed, SOMETIMES there are people helping (whether because of your God or simply because they want to help). But in MOST situations there is NOBODY to help them. No humans and no God.

[Chokmah]

To the Christian, praying for the dead is the same thing as praying for the living. It helps the person praying more than it does the person being prayed for.

If prayer worked, would there be any wars?

I totally agree that praying can be a mental comfort for the one who does it.

Yet it seems that a lot of Catholics think that their prayers can INFLUENCE the dead's fate?

Jesus did a lot of praying. What was Jesus praying for?


 

[Celsus]

To the Christian, praying for the dead is the same thing as praying for the living. It helps the person praying more than it does the person being prayed for.

If prayer worked, would there be any wars?

I totally agree that praying can be a mental comfort for the one who does it.

Yet it seems that a lot of Catholics think that their prayers can INFLUENCE the dead's fate?

Jesus did a lot of praying. What was Jesus praying for?


 

If he was God then he was talking to himself?

[poi]

Would it be fair to say that praying for someone can shorten that person's time in purgatory or improve things if they are already in heaven?

[Gwyddion9]

Honestly, it depends on ones religious back ground as to why one would pray for the dead.
Myself, I figure i'd simply talk to them if there was a reason besides, since i believe in reincarnation...human to human, who knows how long the spirit stays before it decides to be reincarnated. For me it's simply not something i'm not concerned about but for people like poi, i'm assuming you're Catholic, i understand the thought and belief that it can lessen ones time in purgatory, which is a good thing. 

[CCC460]

Would it be fair to say that praying for someone can shorten that person's time in purgatory or improve things if they are already in heaven?

It is sometimes said that praying for someone can shorten their time in purgatory, however, there is really nothing in Church teaching that affirms this. I would find that statement problematic because there is no time in purgatory, as it is a process that occurs outside of time.

There can also be a confusion in that purgatory is somehow seen as a time in prison in which temporal punishments are worked off. While there is a temporal component to the purification of purgatory, I think that it is better to view purgatory as a process of becoming holy rather than "jail" time.

[Chokmah]

We are like one big family, I think it's called 'the communion of saints". Since our Faith is based on what we believe, our faith, God listens. Even Jesus said, "The prayers of a righteous man availeth much".

Then we have the WOG in Revelations where it tells us that the prayers of the saints are put upon the altar and burned like incense, and that the incense goes up to God. If this is even remotely true then God must consider our prayers. IOW, God likes to hear our prayers and I don't think it is just because he likes to hear his name over and over...

[Deacon777]

Why pray for the dead? Because we hope and pray that even though they are biologically dead, they are not "dead" to God, and their existence continues, albeit outside space and time.

[CCC460]

Good to see you back, Deac!

[Deacon777]

Thanks CCC. Thought I would pop in and stir the pot a little. I really jumped in on the Christian board (what else is new) because that seems to be where most of the heathens reside (only kidding folks).

[SquirleyWurley]

Good to see you!

My attention has been drawn last night to Eastern Orthodox teachings on synergy.  At the same time we do things, the Holy Spirit is also doing things, together we bring about things that glorify the Father.

There are many glorious things that can come about.  Some of them we are invited to participate in.  The more we participate in them, the more we are drawn into the drama of the Kingdom of God.  Who knows what unique, special, amazing, glorious things may come about as special blessings for individual members of the Church whether visible or invisible?

[CCC460]

SQ,

I think the west calls that concommitant grace.

[SquirleyWurley]

Thanks.

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