Let me start with this. When reading anything about human religious history, even archaic civilizations religious history, we can easily grasp that humanity has shared in the same conflict of trying to get whatever "gods" they believed in to assist in the difficulties of life. Every kind of calamity, disaster, sickness, etc. was often met by people trying to appease the unknown gods and gain some kind of upper hand in the situation that would guarantee help, release, healing, or secure a positive outcome. Generally, the use of some kind of sacrificial offering was usually incorporated in hopes it would change their fear of wrath and judgment and secure blessing and favor. The problem remained that people were usually without any concept of what their gods might truly be angry about AND what prescribed sacrificial offering was necessary to secure the positive in their favor. So, religious systems were developed, priesthoods were established, and leaders appointed among those who seemingly had some sort of working knowledge about these matters. Any and every kind of method was embraced and utilized keeping people actively jumping through religious hoops, obeying religious laws, obliging people to follow systematic observations, holy days, and sacrificing their money, crops, cattle, and in some cases, even their children. Nothing was beyond the reach or out of bounds in making people bend to the necessities of what was required to move the hand of a god, or stay its wrath. People mutilated themselves before pagan altars in hopes of gaining the attention and winning favor from the gods. They sacrificed virgin maidens. Greek history has a literal story of thousands of men who castrated themselves before the altar of a goddess who demanded such action to appease her wrath. Some placed their own children on altars of fire to try and gain favor and keep the anger of the gods away from their lives. But surely we're way beyond such things today.
When we look at these stories and take just a little time to consider the underlying motives of the people who went to such extremes, we usually shake our heads in disbelief and question how anyone, at any point in human history could subject themselves to such superstition and depravity in the name of religion. But when considering the deeper psychological and spiritual context of these things, we see that humanity is not much different today than then. In some societies and cultures, it's no different. There are religious groups in today's world who believe that their god requires them to throw homosexuals off of buildings, mutilate the genitals of young girls, stone people for particular "sins" as ascribed in their scriptures, kill infidels, and create terror and bloodshed in the name of their god. These horrifying and unjustifiable situations are pretty much happening on a daily basis without the interference of other nations disapproval. However, I digress, but it is a literal fact that such things are still happening in our world in the name of serious religious fervor and desire to please their god to the best of their understanding.
Where Christendom is concerned, I have also seen some unsettling things happen in the desire to try and appease the "angry God" of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. People who believe in the encroaching and ultimate judgment of an angry Judaeo/Christian God often take no different an approach than the people of ancient human history by trying to do whatever is necessary to appease wrath and stay judgment. For instance, Westboro Baptist members protest at the funerals of fallen US soldiers, and hold heartbreaking signs of offensive language in inappropriate places, believing that homosexuality plays a role in such matters. If they don't take their prescribed righteous stand and moral high-ground, they are allowing God's wrath to prevail. The same with zealots who have bombed abortion clinics in the name of all things holy. What we see is that, for the most part, human perception of keeping God's wrath at bay by our actions and religious zeal, though dramatic and attention getting (yet not required), still maintain a deeply rooted place in our conscious and sub-conscious minds. It's who we humans are. It's how we best respond.
People want to be in charge. We want to control. We want to believe we possess a connection with a god who will work on our behalf to help us maintain sustainable equilibrium in an unpredictable and ever chaotic world. Prayer is one of the most commonly used means to try and make this an unshakable reality in our lives. We are taught that prayer is conversation with God. That prayer gives us the ability to approach God with our petitions and requests and be heard. Our utmost desire of practicing the discipline of prayer is that God will not only hear us, but respond to our requests and grant the outcomes we desire. To meet our expectations. To do what we ask. There are many Christian denominations and circles who maintain that prayer is for this purpose. To "move God's hand" in our circumstances of distress and discomfort. Many teach that God doesn't essentially have access into our world, or sphere of influence, unless we somehow "unleash" His ability and power through a prayer that correctly navigates His will in a given situation. Through my years in ministry and hearing every kind of perspective on the importance and power of prayer's effectiveness in our lives, not to mention all of the easy methods for "how to pray" for the most successful outcome, I've gained some understanding that has helped me. It has helped because it has taken all of the religious hoop-jumping, superstition, fear and anxiety of trying to be sufficient in bringing any bargaining chips into the mix. It has my need to offer vows of what I will do in exchange for the answers I am seeking. This is much different than how I was taught, and how I used to approach the necessity of prayer. And it has put my heart to rest. I am no longer anxiety ridden after time spent before God trying to figure out if I can uphold MY promises, keep MY vows, and maintain the sufficiency and consistency of MY faith in the equation so that answers will surely follow.
I would like to address some of these matters from a different perspective according to scriptural insights that might give us some fresh ideas about how prayer can be more effectively utilized by the seeker. In the meantime, be aware that my goal is not to tear down or come against anyone's understanding or belief system, but to offer uplifting and fresh insights into the way we approach what prayer is by definition, and how it can help to bring refreshing and peace into the lives of those who will use its amazing and simple availability.
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