Just a way to avoid taking any kind of action.....because show me one instance where the T&P helped....just one! I'll wait.......

I like it when they vaguebook ask for prayers: "can't give details but please pray for my family," etc. I'm like, you better tell me who and what I'm praying for so I can decide whether they deserve it.

It is called prayer for people who think some diety has to do the heavy lifting; Rather than moving universal energies and effecting a contagion Of emotional or psychic energies. It’s what people say when they feel helpless.

Prayer: Feeling good about doing very little to nothing at all.

I can't stand it and often point out that its god who put uncle bob there so why are you praying?

"Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer."

It makes them feel better-not the person they ask to receive the prayers.

I try to believe that when people say they are 'praying' for someone/something.....they have good intentions and actually want the recipient to feel better. I only get annoyed when the request gets way over the top into the realm of "the power of prayer really works". A family member of mine was going on at Christmas about how a child they knew of from their church had recovered from a brain aneurysm, all due to the hundreds of people praying for said child. I told them that I believed in the power of the medical community.

Prayer is a selfish act at best. Rather than talking to fairies, bake a dinner for a sick person, help them with housework, mow their lawn. Few people will take real action. I just roll my eyes when someone says they will pray for me and think "oh great another useless lazy person."

Sometimes I respond, "Sending warm, positive regard thoughts and energy." I have never had anyone challenge me on it.
It is frustrating when "god-fearing" church goers don't see the irony of 'praying in church' to their god while seeing their fellow congregates being mowed down in a blaze of gunfire. I remind myself, "ignorance is bliss." I also remind myself, "to each their own" and so long as anyone isn't trying to force me to pray, I'm good.

What's the difference between prayers and positive healing energy?

That's all over my fb too. Pray for me Im tired, Pray for me I have the flu, pray for me there is snow outside. blahblahblah.
If they ask me directly for my prayers, I say Im sending positive thoughts their way, or Im thinking of them.

Or "prayers for family member needed" where there isn't even a name or incident. Somehow it must make them feel better. I don't understand it.

It is a bit of a turn off. I think my problem with it is that it excludes people who don't pray. Like, I can't send some sympathy without using your worship methods? It took me a while to figure out why I was annoyed with it. haha