A Simple Fact by James A. Worrell
A SIMPLE FACT
JAMES A. WORRELL
Generally, a fact is defined as something that is true, something that actually exists, or something that can be verified according to an established standard of evaluation. A fact is also synonymous with truth or reality, as distinguishable from conclusions or opinions.
The simple fact of which I speak is that prayer has no efficacy. For prayer to be a workable methodology, there must be a Supreme Being, or as you say, a God to answer your prayers. Since there is no God, prayers have no efficacy.
Of course you say there is a God. My answer is that there is not one credible fact to prove there is a God. If you can prove there is a God, then you can defeat my statement that prayer has no efficacy. Here is an example:
Suppose you are standing on a busy street corner waiting to cross the street with your 9-year-old child. Standing next to you also waiting to cross the street is the Pope, 6 Cardinals, 12 priests and 8 nuns. Also waiting is Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, Jimmy Swaggart, reverend Al Sharpton, and one physician (medical doctor).
While standing next to the curb, a drunken truck driver comes down the street, runs over the curb and hits your child. The truck misses you and everybody else. As you look down at your child he/she is unconscious and bleeding out of the ears and mouth.
The question now is who among the bystanders would you ask to help with your child? If you are an intellectually honest person, you will say: “The physician.” That would be the best answer because he is the only one that can help your child. “Wait” you say, I would also ask the bystanders to pray for my child. Okay, the bystanders pray and the physician tends to your child and hopefully the results are good.
Now, please let me alter the story. In this second story, everyone is present that was in the first story, except that this time there is no physician. Your child gets hit by the truck and you turn to the clerics and nuns, and ask them to pray for your child. What do you think will happen? Nothing, absolutely nothing because prayer has no efficacy. These 31 representatives of various religions can pray until they are dead, and it will have no effect on your injured child. If you don’t believe this, try it sometime. Try stopping a tornado, a bullet, or curing cancer with prayer. It won’t work simply because prayer has no efficacy, and that is a simple truth.