Could you possibly............ .....

Welcome back Petallus & well done. [You're a better man than me, Charlie Brown ]

Well done, Petallus - you are more strong-minded than I am.

Hey Petallus - Welcome back.
If I remember correctly, you had a pact with your grandson. Did he do as well as you?

Wow *Petallus! Did n' t you do well! Welcome back!

No way Elegran! (You Dot Cotton in real life?!)

Wow! Thanks everyone. It was probably even harder for GS who pranged his car in a spectacular fashion and got a new job and wasn't able to post any of it up on Facebook.

I coped by becoming totally addicted to online jigsaw puzzles and freecell.

jO8 No, I don't. I see no reason why anybody should, apart from wishful thinking. After all, praying implies an expectation that someone or something will, on your behalf, break the laws of physics - and if that could be done there would probably no longer be a universe!

The only properly conducted test, involving prayer groups and patients recovering from heart problems resulted in those who were prayed for and knew it doing least well, and those who were prayed for without knowing it doing better but those who weren't prayed for at all doing best! Of course that was only one trial, and nobody took it seriously - but it was funny!

I think that when people pray over a problem, they are forced to put the problem into words, and thus come to analyse their difficulty - which can help them to solve it for themselves. Otherwise - it's mostly mumbling...

I have always found it amusing that anybody would believe that a supreme intelligence that rules the universe would be interested in helping them to find their keys!

I am not convinced if prayer, as in requesting the support/intervention of a higher being is relevant.

Perhaps though the mind focussing by the process of concentration does something for helping to work out what is needed to solve a difficult situation or helps one to accept it.

Sorry JO8 That is probably not the answer format you wanted.

They don't. They know that's St Amthony of Padua!

Ah Pettalus good to have you back! You gave up GN for lent I believe! Well done!

Greatnan I can't find the reference, but I am sure that a couple of years ago some research proved that if you say OUT LOUD "Where the bl**dy h*ll are those keys?" they will magically appear withiun 30 seconds
Try it next time

But then St. Antony would have to bother god! Even when I was a devout Catholic, I could not understand the whole concept of saints, as I thought only god was to be worshipped but I expect the nuns just did not explain it properly. (Come in Lilygran and Micelf - my religious tutors!)

Jane - I don't lose my keys - they are in the door so I can't get out without them and my car key is on the same ring!

JaneA You might be right about car keys. Its what I said before about "praying"/concentrating. It gives you time to think what you did with them when you last had them.
"I went upstairs to change my shoes/have a pee/check the back door/get the shopping list.
I am an expert at misplacing keys just before leaving the house.

petallus well done and welcome back. Hope you can now give up free cell.

Freecell is almost as addictive as Gransnet. I can play Freecell and watch or listen to the TV. I can't read or post on GN and do the same though.

I've got about ten seconds before the lamb goes in the oven, so.... I think the idea of saints is that in whatever form heaven takes they are people who have lived a good and holy life who who pray WITH those of us here. Their lives are an example of how different people in different circumstances and eras attempted to follow the teachings of Jesus.

As for Saint Antony, god love him, but I think all that nonsense is folklore and popular superstition. No harm in it, really, and I think those who say pray to St Antony or whoever, do say it with a bit of a chuckle!

No

No

Hello petallus,well done to you and your grandon.

grandson of course! jO,I was just thinking,if you offered to share your Easter Eggs, you might get more answers!

No, don't believe it changes events but believe can change how you feel. Felt very supported by other people saying they were praying for me and my family during a particularly difficult time. Mark you, also felt supported by people saying they were thinking about us so I suppose it is not prayer, per se, but love and concern.

Yes

How do non-superstitious folks here deal with the situation where someone reacts to youlack of belief with 'I'll pray for you'?

It's difficult... do we say 'That's kind of you' while secretly thinking that it's patronizing and pointless, or do we say something scathing - 'Just don't sacrifice any goats on my behalf'...