If there is God, why did He not answer prayers

[Rod]

Here's a question that pop's up in almost every Atheist book I read.

"If there is God, why did He not answer prayers?"

Apparently this is an issue that some Atheists assume they can test in a lab with a sample rate and data showing their assumptions are indeed accurate. I think I recall Richard Dawkins challenging this issue as well.

So. Does God answer prayers? Well, the question is too small. You have to ask the right specific questions if you want a serious scholarly response. How this:

IF there's a god - what would answered prayers look like? as opposed to wasted prayers?

[Rod]

Here's my challenge:

Why do people always assume the answer is "YES!"?

the answer can easily be: Yes, No, or Not Yet, or even God saying "I'll answer it in a way you may not comprehend just yet".
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The scary thing also is: sometimes the answer is a horrifying YES! Then people blame God for the results.
Here's an example: I've met numerous people that actually prayed "Please God let that beautiful sexy fun person marry me".

The marriage happens - All hell breaks loose and life is a chaotic mess of disappointments and ungodly behavior and assumptions. Sorry, you got what you asked for. But you should have made a better request.

The other dangerous prayer I often hear is:
"God I demand Justice!!!"

Okay then, Justice for everyone. Which is God's wrath (and never pretty). Again, they made a bad non-specific request. They should have maybe asked, "God, please deal with this sin as you see fit in your grace and love and truth and mercy. Dealing with MY SINS as well as theirs."

Hey, i've done it.
Similar to the most asked question I get by Atheists: "If there's a God why doesn't He deal with EVIL?"

Then they get offended by all the accounts in the Bible of God actually dealing with Evil. What they really mean is "OTHER PEOPLE'S evil. Not Theirs." Well, remember that FLOOD INCIDENT...

[Rod]

The fun question is:
Is there the occasional MIRACULOUS "YES" answer to prayers?

Depends on how you define Miraculous. Some charismatics assume a somewhat normal coincidence is Extremely Miraculous. This just makes Atheists laugh at them. That's why I always recommend people PRAY BIG! And PRAY SPECIFIC!~

Then you will know if the answer is from God. Thankfully, God answers many of my prayers with a laughing "NO!". And i'm grateful. My requests are often selfish and shortsighted.

But i've also prayed for TRUTH. And the answer is Dangerous... it could drive someone insane. Thankfully, i asked for some comedy with my truth.

[Rod]

I wish we had a resident Atheist here to challenge us on these issues. ?