Faith healing: why does god need to asked to heal people?

Having spent most of my life as a Christian, it is obvious. I have seen literally thousands of prayers answered, whether for healing, wisdom, courage, guidance, exam results(!), etc. Amazing, all of them. I once freed Terry Waite from his captivity in Lebanon by the power of my daily prayers.But it is the tens of thousands that I have seen go unanswered, those desperate for healing and getting none, those following every Word given them and falling further and further into debt and despair, Terry Waite spending four years as a hostage in Lebanon despite me praying for him every day; it is they that answer your question.God does not exist, or at least dcertainly not in any form recognisable by evangelical Christians. Or anyone that thinks that intercessory prayer works.

I didn't. I cannot leave something that does not exist. I simply finally had the courage to leave childish ways behind. You missunderstand - there were no answered prayers, only simple random chance and confirmation bias. No. As with most Christians, I experienced doubt all through my 23 years as a believer. I no longer have any doubts. As sure as you know you are right (and you are so very sure), I know you are wrong

you are quite correct - but any god that wants to play silly games like that can go fuck himself - why would I want to worship a being that has less love and empathy for the World than me? I don't need to be offered anything. I am owed nothing. I am alive, I experience. That is all. That's the point - I can't prove (or even begin to support) that prayers are "answered" more frequently than random chance would suggest. Your god is no better than random chance, so why waste your time worshipping that? Ah, you are obviously unaware of the word "most". Your one data point does not discount a "most". You, my friend, are rather extreme in the world of evangelical Christians - you are very far from typical. There is no doubt The evangelical Christian god does not exist. Sorry. But the Universe is still a beautiful place...Edited by cavediver, : No reason given.

Huh? Didn't get what I wanted? I'm ashamed of how much I have compared to most - amazing family, wealth, health, and contentment in my place in the Universe. You know how to *prove* that God is behind something? And you are not sharing this here at EvC, where it could convince the 1000s who read this site of God's existence? Get typing! But I was a believer for many many years - and I'm telling them to doubt, deny, and disbelieve - you have nothing but your own personal crutch.