Prayer, The dark side.

I will personally fire a kamehameha wave at any omnipotent deity that would listen to my prayers before helping the countless (well, not really countless, but more of I'm too lazy to find the actual number, but it's likely over 2 billion) of people that needlessly suffer, and that's just the people I'm taking into consideration here. I haven't even looked at the billions of animals and other lifeforms that are abused.

Now, I understand as to why someone would pray.
They think that it actually does something. Well at best it is a placebo, at worst, it's extremely harmful, because it leads people to neglect processes that would actually be helpful.

Yet I have another reason for not praying. I don't want the help of a magic sky man. Even if there was 100 percent undeniable proof that a magic skyman existed I wouldn't ask for it's help. That's just sad. I can't even think of doing that. That's no better than cheating, rigging the system, taking steroids. If I were able to do well on a test because I prayed to a god, then there is something inherently wrong with that test, because it is not testing my intelligence, it is testing my ability to beg a superior to help me. Also if this being helps me before a more needy creature, then that shows a lot about the character of this being.

But I suppose I am being too harsh. There are plenty of people who put a genuine effort in, and then ask that god look over them. I suppose that is understandable, I have no contempt for such a request, but I think it is a little silly. What this does is it gives credit for your actions, and for the actions of the people that helped you to a being that doesn't actually exist. Really, if you can do something with god's help, you can do it without... though I suppose for irrational actions like flying planes into buildings filled with innocent people, or shooting abortion doctors, one would need "god's" help, because there would be no rational reason for committing such an act and believing it to be a good thing.

Anyhow, this is the way I see it.

If you want to help fight a disease, instead of giving money to a church or a temple, or whatever, and asking for god to help rid the disease, donate that money to a research fund, that is working to cure the disease of your choosing.

Instead of praying that god help you with your test, or football game, or interview, take those minutes to practice, or just relax.

Instead of trying to make a deal with the big man, like help me win this lottery and I will donate 1000 dollars a year to a poor person, work hard to make lots of money, and then donate that money to those in need (and as a bonus you'll actually be a morally good person, as opposed to a bargaining scumbag who thinks is paying a small fee for a large reward.)

Anyhow, that's my reasoning. It's why I never honestly prayed to a god. I can't recall if I ever thought that god was real (To my knowledge, it was just a pretend thing... at least that's what I remember concerning my earliest recollect-able memory), but as far as memory serves, I always disliked participating in prayers and other rites of religion that are supposed to bring forth the help of god.

Some say, "God helps those who help themselves" I say, "Those who help themselves, help themselves."

Also, head over to god-comics.com for a laugh, though some of the comics are pretty graphic. They are also hilarious, like the one I posted up top.