The Power of Silly Prayer

Nov. 3, 2011
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Letter to the Editors
Dear Sirs:
To believe in the power of prayer is like believing that God up there will alter His Divine Plans formulated centuries ago to conform to our needs in this 21st century down here.

Again, saying prayers is equivalent to believing that the Philippines is governed by a Supreme Being who changes his mind if we Filipinos ask him in our prayer to do so.

Since Christianity arrived some 400 years ago - I have yet to see how exactly prayers have transformed our country into one of the most developed and advanced country of Asia? But here's what is even more ticklish: We are told that if we want to solve our problems as a people or solve our troubles as a nation - we must only pray. Now if nothing happens, we must only pray harder. And if nothing still happens, it is only because we do not know how to pray!

In the meantime, our children in school are taught how to pray. It is the best way to teach them how to seek fantasy solutions to real problems. But then again, if God were all-knowing, why should he be bothered with daily prayers? The encouragement of prayer promotes selfishness. People pray for that for which they have not labored or thought. Prayer also undermines the power of human intelligence. Prayer causes a weakening of self-reliance and a corresponding deterioration of character. In fact, daily prayers are among the most effective causes that keep us Filipinos poor spiritually, backward morally, impoverished economically, insane politically, not to mention empty historically.

The question I asked decades ago, I still am asking today: Is there hope for our country? Yes, with intelligent leaders? Never with stupid prayers! Poch Suzara