Is it wrong to pray for someone's death?

[arbusto_baboso]

And I'm not talking about someone who is terminally ill and in pain and who needs relief.

I'm just talking about the "s/he needed killin" kind of a-hole who just makes existence miserable for everyone around him/her.

[BeachBaby]

1. Well, since God is described as already knowing the future....

all the praying in the world isn't going to change the outcome. ;)

[Shell Beau]

2. I think it is.

There are times when I can see why someone could feel that way though.

[LeftyFingerPop]

3. I would say it is wrong. n/t

[datasuspect]

4. wrong

and sociopathic

unless you are praying to satan, then it's okay

[petronius]

5. I suspect that most religious traditions would consider that to be wrong.

(Although you can find practitioners in any faith who would find a justification for that sort of prayer.) I'm not religious, but my preference is to wish/pray for a change in behavior away from assholehood (and if that doesn't happen, then you kill them...)

[cherish44]

6. Wishing death to someone is a little harsh

I'd say pray that they will see the error of their ways and become a better person or barring that, pray they move far far away.

[arbusto_baboso]

7. Jeez! I can't believe you folks actually took me seriously!

[Bucky]

35. I wish you were dead.

There, now we're even.

[Blue Diadem]

8. I'd say yes. It's not good for your own well being to have

that much hate for someone.

[Deep13]

10. That's probably true...

...but if one does have that much hate, what is he or she supposed to do about it?

[Blue Diadem]

18. It's difficult especially if you have to deal with the person on a regular basis.

Luckily my own situation consists of occasional brief contact, but his behavior affects someone I love dearly and sometimes I really do hate him. But, it helps me to not dwell on what I have no control over. He owns his behavior, not me. Sometimes it's easier to put people like that in the lifetime A$$hole club, knowing they're never going to change and it's a waste of my time and energy to think about them.

[Deep13]

9. nah.

You're just talking to yourself and you already know you want so-and-so dead.

And if some god is listening then it is up to said deity and not you.

[cloudbase]

11. Knock yourself out.

As with most prayers, the answer will be "no."

[arbusto_baboso]

12. As with all prayers, there's no one there to take the call.

[Taverner]

13. Well I judge a person on their actions, not their thoughts

But I'm not God

That role goes to Regis Philbin

[arbusto_baboso]

15. Regis is God? Wow. That explains so much.

[Taverner]

16. It explains Kelly Ripa's abs

[DeepBlueC]

19. That belly button...egad...gross!

Does she pee through that thing or something? x(

[Taverner]

21. Its the product of several pregnancy, and then a tightening of the abs

I see a lot of soccer moms in the gym who get that exact effect. I'm surprised she didn't have minor surgery to get rid of it.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

20. OMG...Kelly has an outie!

:o

[Arugula Latte]

14. Well, prayers aren't heard by anyone but the prayer.

It's sort of like thinking to yourself: "Dick Cheney is a miserable piece of human excrement."

[FloridaJudy]

17. Probably

Though it is tempting at times. I have been known to pray that someone will just go away and leave the rest of us in peace, though. Not nearly as damaging to oneself, spiritually speaking. I've also been known to wish for a habitable - but uninhabited - planet somewhere to send the jerks and twits. Most of Fux News and their fans for example.

[scheming daemons]

22. Since praying is a worthless exercise tantamount to talking to yourself, it is only wrong

..in the sense that it means you suffer from delusions that there is actually someone or something other than yourself listening.

[Shell Beau]

24. Don't tell me I suffer from delusions because I pray.

I don't mind what you believe nor will I ridicule it. Such utter bullshit.

[jobycom]

27. You underestimate the CIA

If they don't have a machine to intercept and record your prayers already, they are working on it.

And incidentally, since you sound like a fellow atheist, don't you get disgusted when people tell you YOUR beliefs are delusional? Why do it to someone else?

[Ohio Joe]

23. As I see it...

Wrong? No. A waste of time? Yes, but that is because I am an atheist.

[Dangerously Amused]

25. Not if they are religious persons and believe that when they die they will go to Heaven.

'Cuz that's actually like wishing them well, right?

Heh.

[sarge43]

26. It's a waste of time and pray. The jerk will check out eventually.

I've alway thought wishing them a long lonely life of total awareness because s/he drove everyone away is better. There are worse things than death.

[guitar man]

28. not if they are republican

:silly:

[old mark]

29. Rush, Dick, that crowd? I wish it silently several times a day.

But I am not as fine a person as some here....


mark

[timtom]

30. Yes.

[WillParkinson]

31. Prayer doesn't work...

If you want the job done right, just do it yourself.

[Initech]

32. Pro life fundie freaks seem to do it all the time.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Bucky]

34. I expect your God knows when you mean it or are just venting.

Most Gods are pretty smart that way. If you really mean it, then yes, obviously it's not nice. "Wrong" is a pretty subjective concept. If it does no harm to them, I can't see the case that it's absolutely wrong, even if you sincerely want to see them die.

The real question is, then, is it harmful to you yourself to devote your wishes to someone else's pain?

[rockymountaindem]

36. Moralist preaching time:

As I read as a child in the Yom Kippur prayer book, there was once a Rabbi whose neighborhood was blighted by a gang of unruly youths who caused all kinds of trouble for everybody. They especially targeted the Rabbi because he was a symbol of authority. One day, in exasperation, the Rabbi prayed for the deaths of the troublemakers. His wife heard him praying and scolded him, "It is wrong to pray for their deaths, because the Torah says that God does not desire the deaths of sinners, but that they should turn from their ways and embrace righteousness. If that is the will of God, it should be your desire as well."

Maybe a little too saccharine, but it's a lesson that's stuck with me. So, I always try to avoid even secretly wishing death on people, even if a change in their ways is unrealistic and even if it doesn't make me feel any better about some of them as individuals :)

[cwydro]

37. Certainly

it is bad karma.

[Wapsie B]

38. As much as some people have angered me in life it's wrong to dwell on their existence

as well as their demise. Aside from the moral question of wishing for someone's death there simply is nothing to be gained making them any more a part of your life than they have to be. If it's a family member or someone with whom you interact everyday I'd say try to give yourself as much space as you can.

[latebloomer]

39. Yes, so I try to picture them

surrounded in the light and going far far away from me. :D

[doc03]

40. If I thought VOO DOO would work I would

make one of those dolls. Can you imagine the fun you could have with a Rush Limbaugh or Hannity doll?

[Sultana]

41. YES

Let God handle that ish...

[RagAss]

42. As George Carlin would say..."Pray to Joe Pesci. He just looks like he can get things done !"

[Xipe Totec]

43. I wish all my enemies a long, long life...

No, I will not elaborate.

[Iggo]

44. Wrong? Hmm...i dunno.

I can tell you it's probably a bad thing.

[DerekG]

45. I've prayed for a monster to be brought to justice

A thieving, child-abusing meth cook, to be precise.

God hasn't answered my prayers. Prick.

[triguy46]

46. Yes. It's wrong. I hope you didn't really need this advice.