Source
r/exmormon•
KoolAidRefuser

Prayer is Manipulative

General Discussion

I was pondering on the concept of blessings and I came to the conclusion that it is a manipulative tool of Mormonism.

My barely adult kids just left for a few days, for a second, I remembered I didn't say a prayer of safety with them before they left. For a microsecond, I thought they might have an accident on their trip. Incidentally, I have been exmo for six years and PIMO for twenty.

Through many family, youth, and scout troop, I was conditioned to think that long trips required devout prayers to guarantee mom didn't drive headlong into an oncoming semi at 78 mph. Your fervent prayer that God wouldn't fuck up your vacation to Disneyland with a roll-over rested on the shoulders of the one dad called on.

In most cases, your family would arrive safely. Of course you'd give all credit to Elohim instead of to those trillions of dollars spent on highway infrastructure. That's how they church brainwashed me, by instilling fear into my psyche.

Prayer relieves the fear that the religion itself generates and fosters. It is a negative feedback loop of delusion and fear. Mormons are masters at it.

Please share your thoughts.

Posted Aug 26, 2020, 4:34 AM UTC

3411
Draperville•

I've concluded that all religion is a manipulative, pyramid-shaped enterprise that sells a fraudulent service, salvation. The elders at the tip top of the pyramid get the power and tax free revenue and the State gets soldiers who have been manipulated by religion to willingly give their life for the State based on the false promises that there is a glorious life after death.

10
grove_doubter Bite me, Bednar.•

You’re 100% correct. Your comment raises 2 questions, one serious and one not.

  1. An LDS hymn goes, “Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, uttered or unexpressed”. God knows we want those blessings...shouldn’t he provide them without being asked all the time? Is he like...forgetful and needs to be reminded every day that we don’t want to die in a horrible car crash? Or is Elohim vengeful? Would he say, “They forgot to pray? Well, fuck them! They’re gonna get a flat tire at 70 mph, lose control, flip over the median and get hit by a huge truck. Maybe next time they’ll remember to pray.”

  2. In a pre-trip prayer, it would make sense to ask Elohim to ensure that “all the other motorists have had at least 10 ounces of coffee so they are wide awake and don’t fall asleep at the wheel.” Would it be wrong to pray that all the other motorists break the Word of Wisdom? Would Elohim answer that prayer?

4
doinmybest4now•

I've always looked at it like this: What kind of God ignores the prayers of moms and dads all over the world praying for their children who are starving or are suffering in war-torn regions...and yet does make sure that mormons travel safely?

3
[deleted]•

Maybe Elohim was a travel agent in his mortal probation?

Or, given his love of finding keys, maybe he was with AAA?

2
doinmybest4now•

Perhaps 🤣

2
Ex_Lerker•

The faithful answer is god doesn’t forget us but that prayer is to help us remember god in all things.

I look at that statement now and see that members know they are being conditioned to believe but don’t realize they are actually being manipulated.

2
gutter_strawberry•

I’ll never forget learning about the psychology of affirmation and the law of attraction. At the time it seemed eerily similar to how I was taught to pray. Now it seems obvious that I perpetuate what I allow and invite. Now if something doesn’t happen I know there are actual reasons that I may or may not be able to affect.

1
OxfordCommasAreHot•

It’s also a placebo that lets its users be lazy. How many fervent prayers are sent so that good Mormons can then do abso-fucking-lutely nothing to help those who are hurting but claim that they did all they could and feel good about themselves? For example, someone I know just opened up on Facebook about a struggle they’re having post weight loss surgery and having to go off their anxiety meds. It was a really honest and vulnerable post to make. Soooooo many people commented about how they’ll “keep you in our prayers” which is all fine and dandy, but like, how ‘bout after you say amen, you get off your ass and show up with a movie and an offer to do some chores or to just hang out or whatever? Especially because this particular friend doesn’t even believe in your god, so your prayers aren’t helping her!

1
mymindonadhdIt's ..... a cult!•

I didn't realize this until I lost all of my faith, but the concept of prayer is completely ridiculous. To convey thanks maybe but does God really need us to be grateful, would he withdraw blessings if we didn't thank him for them and if so he isn't a very kind or benevolent god.

To ask for blessings, we are taught even within the church that prayer is to ask for blessings that god is willing to give us but we have to ask for them first. While there may be some parallels to real life and real parents with that it is again not something a kind and benevolent God would do. How are we supposed to know what blessings God is willing to give us? Do we just ask for anything/everything and see what we end up with? Are you punished or just disappointed if you ask for something but he isn't willing to give it? Imagine if you would only give your kids food once they asked for it, if they only had a room or place to live if they asked for it. What if you only gave them love and help and opportunities to grow after they asked for it? Its like with blessings if you can't change the will of God in a blessing or in a prayer, then why have the blessing or prayer? Mostly to comfort minds that are worried like the OP said because the religion caused them to be worried about certain things.

1
1Searchfortruth•

Agree

1
OutofKool-Aid•

So true! Happy cake day, u/KoolAidRefuser. Awesome username btw!

1