{"id":62693,"date":"2022-02-05T12:36:54","date_gmt":"2022-02-05T16:36:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/?p=62693"},"modified":"2022-03-11T12:52:02","modified_gmt":"2022-03-11T16:52:02","slug":"pearces-potshots-61-the-rationale-for-prayer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/02\/pearces-potshots-61-the-rationale-for-prayer.html","title":{"rendered":"Pearce\u2019s Potshots #61: The Rationale for Prayer"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><head><meta http-equiv=\"content-type\" content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\"><meta http-equiv=\"content-type\" content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\"><\/head><body><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/572\/2022\/02\/PrayingWoman-scaled.jpeg\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-62694\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/572\/2022\/02\/PrayingWoman-224x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"224\" height=\"300\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Atheist anti-theist Jonathan M. S. Pearce is the main writer on the blog,\u00a0<a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/onlysky.media\/author\/jpearce\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><em>A Tippling Philosopher<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0His\u00a0<a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/tippling\/author\/jpearce\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cAbout\u201d page<\/a>\u00a0from his former site states: \u201cPearce is a philosopher, author, blogger, public speaker and teacher from Hampshire in the UK. He specialises in philosophy of religion, but likes to turn\u00a0<span class=\"read-more-target\">his hand to science, psychology, politics and anything involved in investigating reality.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">He has encouraged me to visit his site and offer critiques. Before he departed his former site at Patheos, he wrote under\u00a0<a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/tippling\/2021\/12\/14\/my-thanks-before-chapter-4-begins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a post dated 12-14-21<\/a>:\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cI even need to thank the naysayers. Some of them have put up with a lot of robust pushback and still they come. Bravery or stupidity \u2013 it\u2019s a fine line. But they are committed, and there is something to be said for taking that commitment into the lion\u2019s den. Dave, you are welcome at my new place. Come challenge me. All the best to you and thanks for your critiques of my pieces. Sorry I couldn\u2019t get to more of them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Again, at his new site (under\u00a0<a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/onlysky.media\/jpearce\/why-matthews-guards-at-jesus-tomb-are-so-important\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">a post dated 1-27-22<\/a>), after a vicious attack by a commenter, calling for me and indeed\u00a0<em>all<\/em>\u00a0Christians to be banned, Jonathan offered an honorable and principled refusal:\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cI do welcome disagreements because I don\u2019t want [my blog] to [be] just an echo chamber. As long as it is good faith . . . someone like Armstrong does give me ammunition for some of my pieces! As long as they aren\u2019t trollish.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">His words below will be in\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">blue<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">*****<\/p>\n<p>This is a reply to a portion of his post, <a href=\"https:\/\/onlysky.media\/jpearce\/gambling-on-prayer-getting-addicted-to-blind-hope\/\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">\u201cGambling on prayer: Getting addicted to blind hope\u201d<\/a> (2-4-22).<\/p>\n<p data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\" data-v-25c0621f=\"\">I\u2019ve made it clear that prayer does not change God\u2019s mind. It can\u2019t. God is immutable,<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><span data-v-25c0621f=\"\">So far so good. That is orthodox Christian theology.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\" data-v-25c0621f=\"\">and his predictions or knowledge about the universe (and his own actions) are set in stone from causally before the creation of the universe. It\u2019s all down to his infallible foreknowledge.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><span data-v-25c0621f=\"\">That\u2019s true, too, although He allows us free will, and this is incorporated into His providence and sovereignty. No one is predestined to hell, and no one gets to heaven without cooperating with saving God\u2019s grace and Jesus\u2019 sacrificial death on the cross on our behalf: without which no one would be saved.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><span data-v-25c0621f=\"\">It\u2019s a bit like children playing on a hill that has steep cliffs on all sides. Putting a fence around the edges prevents them from getting hurt and \u201cconstricts\u201d their free will in a sense. That\u2019s like God\u2019s will in some ways. But the children feel free to run around as they wish and take no thought of possible harm. In fact, the fence (ostensibly a \u201crestriction\u201d) makes them feel *more* free, because they don\u2019t have to worry about falling over the edge.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><span data-v-25c0621f=\"\">So in one sense they are free, and in another they are not (at least not totally or in an unlimited sense). That\u2019s how we are with God.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\" data-v-25c0621f=\"\">So prayer isn\u2019t about changing God\u2019s mind. But people still do it. Believers believe (because that\u2019s what they do!), somehow and for some reason, that their prayer will enact change away from God\u2019s divinely foreknown course. The trolley is on the railroad, but they think they have the lever in their hands to change tracks for that God-driven cart.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><span data-v-25c0621f=\"\">This is where you fail to understand the immensity and wondrous nature of God\u2019s sovereignty. What you neglect to see is that God, from all eternity, knowing everything that will happen or even what would happen differently, given different conditions (<em>scientia media<\/em>: \u201cmiddle knowledge\u201d) <em>chooses to <strong>incorporate<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0our prayers into His perfect will and sovereignty. They then become part of the whole mix.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><span data-v-25c0621f=\"\">The idea is that He wants us to <em>participate<\/em> in His workings: not that we are controlling Him or giving Him orders, but willingly participating with what He does and wishes to do.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><span data-v-25c0621f=\"\">God doesn\u2019t need anything. He\u2019s not sitting up in heaven waiting for us to summon Him so He can act (as if He is our mere robot). He urges us to pray in order to involve us in His actions. That\u2019s how He likes it to be. Prayer helps us (i.e., it\u2019s a good and pious thing to pray), and helps recipients of prayer. The world was designed to be a place where people helped each other. Prayer is a means of helping others by involving the power of God.\u00a0<\/span><span data-v-25c0621f=\"\">The Bible has many indications of this notion of \u201cworking with\u201d God. For example:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><span data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><strong>1 Corinthians 3:9<\/strong> (RSV) . . . we are God\u2019s fellow workers . . . (KJV: \u201clabourers together with God\u201d)<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><span data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><strong>2 Corinthians 6:1<\/strong> Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><span data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><strong>2 Corinthians 13:3<\/strong> . . . Christ is speaking in me . . .<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><span data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><strong>Philippians 2:13<\/strong> for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><span data-v-25c0621f=\"\">Prayer is the same. We also participate in our own salvation by cooperating with God, and He includes us in His plan to save as many people as He can. Prayer is part of this whole package. For much more on all this, see my article:<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-v-25c0621f=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2021\/10\/gods-fellow-workers-help-spread-salvation-grace.html\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\"><span data-v-25c0621f=\"\">God\u2019s \u201cFellow Workers\u201d Help Spread Salvation &amp; Grace (We \u201cImpart Grace\u201d, \u201cSave\u201d Others, Win Souls, Help Them \u201cObtain Salvation\u201d, Etc., In Our \u201cWork of the Lord\u201d)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-v-25c0621f=\"\">***<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Practical Matters<\/em><\/strong>: Perhaps some of my 4,000+ free online articles (the most comprehensive \u201cone-stop\u201d Catholic apologetics site) or <a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2009\/06\/dave-armstrongs-catholic-apologetics-bookstore-49-books-paperback-e-pub-mobi-nook-book-amazon-kindle-itunes-pdf-rock-bottom-regular-prices-67-savings-for-e-books-2.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fifty books<\/a>\u00a0have helped you (by God\u2019s grace) to decide to\u00a0<a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2006\/11\/feedback-comments-on-my-writing-from.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">become Catholic<\/a>\u00a0or to\u00a0<a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2014\/01\/feedback-comments-on-my-writing-from-2.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">return to the Church<\/a>, or better understand some doctrines and\u00a0<a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2021\/02\/the-biblical-basis-of-apologetics-defense-of-christianity.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>why<\/em>\u00a0we believe them<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Or you may believe my work is worthy to support for the purpose of apologetics and evangelism in general. If so, please seriously consider a much-needed financial contribution. I\u2019m always in need of more funds: especially\u00a0<em>monthly<\/em>\u00a0support. \u201cThe laborer is worthy of his wages\u201d (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a\u00a0<a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2006\/07\/my-literary-resume.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">full-time Catholic apologist<\/a>, and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/us\/webapps\/mpp\/sem\/account-selection-signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">PayPal donations<\/a>\u00a0are the easiest: just send to my email address: apologistdave@gmail.com. You\u2019ll see the term \u201cCatholic Used Book Service\u201d, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing, including 100% tax deduction, etc., see my page:\u00a0<a class=\"decorated-link decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2015\/08\/about-dave-armstrong-2.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong \/ Donation Information<\/a>.\u00a0<strong><em>Thanks a million<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0from the bottom of my heart!<\/p>\n<p>***<\/p>\n<p><strong>Photo credit:<\/strong> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Old Flanders<\/em> (1915), by <\/span><span title=\"Belgian painter and sculptor (1848-1927)\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Theophile Marie Francois Lybaert (1848-1927)<\/span> [public domain \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Theophile_Lybaert_-_Old_Flanders.jpeg\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Wikimedia Commons<\/a>]<\/span><\/p>\n<p>***<\/p>\n<p><em>Summary<\/em>: I explain to atheist Jonathan MS Pearce the Christian and biblical rationale for prayer: participating with God in His great works, &amp; being \u201cco-workers\u201d: by God\u2019s choice.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Atheist anti-theist Jonathan M. S. Pearce is the main writer on the blog,\u00a0A Tippling Philosopher.\u00a0His\u00a0\u201cAbout\u201d page\u00a0from his former site states: \u201cPearce is a philosopher, author, blogger, public speaker and teacher from Hampshire in the UK. He specialises in philosophy of religion, but likes to turn\u00a0his hand to science, psychology, politics and anything involved in investigating [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2331,"featured_media":62694,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[124,50],"tags":[4121,4129,1043,258,522,212,1472,1473,525,524,1633,15704,4107,195,15713,15707,15710],"class_list":["post-62693","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-atheism-agnosticism","category-salvation-justification","tag-a-tippling-philosopher","tag-alleged-bible-contradictions","tag-anti-theism","tag-atheism","tag-atheist-biblical-exegesis","tag-atheist-christian-discussion","tag-atheists-the-bible","tag-atheists-theology","tag-bible-contradictions","tag-bible-difficulties","tag-biblical-skeptics","tag-god-prayer","tag-jonathan-ms-pearce","tag-prayer","tag-prayer-gods-immutability","tag-rationale-for-prayer","tag-reason-for-prayer"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Pearce\u2019s Potshots #61: The Rationale for Prayer Pearce\u2019s Potshots #61: The Rationale for Prayer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Atheist anti-theist Jonathan M. S. Pearce is the main writer on the blog,\u00a0A Tippling Philosopher.\u00a0His\u00a0\u201cAbout\u201d page\u00a0from his former site states: \u201cPearce is I explain to atheist Jonathan MS Pearce the Christian and biblical rationale for prayer: participating with God in His great works, &amp; being &quot;co-workers&quot;: by God&#039;s choice.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/02\/pearces-potshots-61-the-rationale-for-prayer.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Pearce\u2019s Potshots #61: The Rationale for Prayer Pearce\u2019s Potshots #61: The Rationale for Prayer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Atheist anti-theist Jonathan M. S. Pearce is the main writer on the blog,\u00a0A Tippling Philosopher.\u00a0His\u00a0\u201cAbout\u201d page\u00a0from his former site states: \u201cPearce is I explain to atheist Jonathan MS Pearce the Christian and biblical rationale for prayer: participating with God in His great works, &amp; being &quot;co-workers&quot;: by God&#039;s choice.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/02\/pearces-potshots-61-the-rationale-for-prayer.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-02-05T16:36:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-03-11T16:52:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/572\/2022\/02\/PrayingWoman-scaled.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"573\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"768\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dave Armstrong\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dave Armstrong\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/02\/pearces-potshots-61-the-rationale-for-prayer.html\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/02\/pearces-potshots-61-the-rationale-for-prayer.html\",\"name\":\"Pearce\u2019s Potshots #61: The Rationale for Prayer Pearce\u2019s Potshots #61: The Rationale for Prayer\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2022-02-05T16:36:54+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-03-11T16:52:02+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#\/schema\/person\/471eaa20e441eca4bb1ea50393cf632e\"},\"description\":\"Atheist anti-theist Jonathan M. 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Pearce is the main writer on the blog,\u00a0A Tippling Philosopher.\u00a0His\u00a0\u201cAbout\u201d page\u00a0from his former site states: \u201cPearce is I explain to atheist Jonathan MS Pearce the Christian and biblical rationale for prayer: participating with God in His great works, & being \\\"co-workers\\\": by God's choice.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/02\/pearces-potshots-61-the-rationale-for-prayer.html#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/02\/pearces-potshots-61-the-rationale-for-prayer.html\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/02\/pearces-potshots-61-the-rationale-for-prayer.html#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Pearce\u2019s Potshots #61: The Rationale for Prayer\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/\",\"name\":\"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism\",\"description\":\"Catholic biblical apologetics\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#\/schema\/person\/471eaa20e441eca4bb1ea50393cf632e\",\"name\":\"Dave Armstrong\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/820e6db89734ae7a9e5dac8d498f5ac7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/820e6db89734ae7a9e5dac8d498f5ac7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Dave Armstrong\"},\"description\":\"Dave Armstrong is a Catholic author and apologist, who has been actively proclaiming and defending Christianity since 1981, and Catholicism in particular since 1991 (full-time since December 2001). Formerly a campus missionary, as a Protestant, Dave was received into the Catholic Church in February 1991, by the late, well-known catechist and theologian, Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave\u2019s articles have appeared in many influential Catholic periodicals, including \\\"This Rock\\\" (now called \\\"Catholic Answers Magazine\\\"), \\\"Envoy Magazine\\\" (Patrick Madrid), \\\"The Catholic Answer,\\\" \\\"The Coming Home Journal,\\\" \\\"Gilbert Magazine\\\" (American Chesterton Society), and \\\"The Latin Mass.\\\" He also writes a featured column for every issue of \\\"The Michigan Catholic\\\": published by the archdiocese of Detroit, and was editor for most of the apologetics tracts published by the St. Paul Street Evangelization apostolate. Dave\u2019s apologetics and writing apostolate was the subject of a feature article in the May 2002 issue of \\\"Envoy Magazine.\\\" He served as the staff moderator at the Internet discussion forum for The Coming Home Network, from 2007-2010. Dave has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated Catholic radio shows, including \\\"Catholic Answers Live\\\" (twice), \\\"Faith and Family Live\\\" (Steve Wood), \\\"Kresta in the Afternoon,\\\" \\\"Son Rise Morning Show,\\\" \\\"Catholic Connection\\\" (Teresa Tomeo), and \\\"The Catholics Next Door.\\\" His large and popular website, \\\"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism,\\\" was online from March 1997 to March 2007, and received the 1998 Catholic Website of the Year award from \\\"Envoy Magazine.\\\" His blog of the same name (now transferred to Patheos), begun in February 2004, contains more than 1,500 papers, at least 500 debates or dialogues, and over 50 distinct \\\"index\\\" web pages. Unsolicited correspondence has indicated many hundreds of conversions (or returns) to the Catholic faith as a result, by God's grace, of these writings. Dave's conversion story was published in the bestselling book \\\"Surprised by Truth\\\" (edited by Patrick Madrid; San Diego: Basilica Press, 1994). Sophia Institute Press has published six of his books: \\\"A Biblical Defense of Catholicism\\\" (Foreword by Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J., 1996 \/ 2003), \\\"The Catholic Verses\\\" (2004), \\\"The One-Minute Apologist\\\" (2007), \\\"Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths\\\" (2009), \\\"The Quotable Newman\\\" (editor: 2012), and \\\"Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical\\\" (2015). He is co-author (with Dr. Paul Thigpen) of the inserts for \\\"The New Catholic Answer Bible\\\" (Our Sunday Visitor: 2005), and editor for \\\"The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton: The Very Best Quotes, Quips, and Cracks from the Pen of G. K. Chesterton\\\" (Saint Benedict Press \/ TAN Books: 2009). \\\"100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura\\\" was published by Catholic Answers in May 2012. His \\\"Quotable Wesley\\\" compilation was published by (Protestant \/ Wesleyan publisher) Beacon Hill Press in April 2014. Several of his 49 books are bestsellers in their field. Dave maintains a popular personal Facebook page, a Facebook author page, and has a Twitter account as well. He offers almost all of his books in e-book form on his own Biblical Catholicism site (http:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/), at a permanent deep discount: only $2.99 for ePub, mobi, and AZW, and $1.99 for PDF. His writing has been enthusiastically endorsed or recommended by many leading Catholic apologists, authors, and priests, including Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Marcus Grodi, Patrick Madrid, Steve Ray, Tim Staples, Devin Rose, Mike Aquilina, Al Kresta, Karl Keating, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Brandon Vogt, Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. They have three sons and a daughter, and reside in southeast Michigan (metro Detroit).\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LuxVeritatisApologetics\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/author\/davearmstrong\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Pearce\u2019s Potshots #61: The Rationale for Prayer Pearce\u2019s Potshots #61: The Rationale for Prayer","description":"Atheist anti-theist Jonathan M. S. 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Pearce is the main writer on the blog,\u00a0A Tippling Philosopher.\u00a0His\u00a0\u201cAbout\u201d page\u00a0from his former site states: \u201cPearce is I explain to atheist Jonathan MS Pearce the Christian and biblical rationale for prayer: participating with God in His great works, & being \"co-workers\": by God's choice.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/02\/pearces-potshots-61-the-rationale-for-prayer.html","og_site_name":"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798","article_published_time":"2022-02-05T16:36:54+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-03-11T16:52:02+00:00","og_image":[{"width":573,"height":768,"url":"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/572\/2022\/02\/PrayingWoman-scaled.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Dave Armstrong","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Dave Armstrong","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/02\/pearces-potshots-61-the-rationale-for-prayer.html","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/02\/pearces-potshots-61-the-rationale-for-prayer.html","name":"Pearce\u2019s Potshots #61: The Rationale for Prayer Pearce\u2019s Potshots #61: The Rationale for Prayer","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#website"},"datePublished":"2022-02-05T16:36:54+00:00","dateModified":"2022-03-11T16:52:02+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#\/schema\/person\/471eaa20e441eca4bb1ea50393cf632e"},"description":"Atheist anti-theist Jonathan M. 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Pearce is the main writer on the blog,\u00a0A Tippling Philosopher.\u00a0His\u00a0\u201cAbout\u201d page\u00a0from his former site states: \u201cPearce is I explain to atheist Jonathan MS Pearce the Christian and biblical rationale for prayer: participating with God in His great works, & being \"co-workers\": by God's choice.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/02\/pearces-potshots-61-the-rationale-for-prayer.html#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/02\/pearces-potshots-61-the-rationale-for-prayer.html"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/02\/pearces-potshots-61-the-rationale-for-prayer.html#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Pearce\u2019s Potshots #61: The Rationale for Prayer"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/","name":"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism","description":"Catholic biblical apologetics","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#\/schema\/person\/471eaa20e441eca4bb1ea50393cf632e","name":"Dave Armstrong","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/820e6db89734ae7a9e5dac8d498f5ac7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/820e6db89734ae7a9e5dac8d498f5ac7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Dave Armstrong"},"description":"Dave Armstrong is a Catholic author and apologist, who has been actively proclaiming and defending Christianity since 1981, and Catholicism in particular since 1991 (full-time since December 2001). Formerly a campus missionary, as a Protestant, Dave was received into the Catholic Church in February 1991, by the late, well-known catechist and theologian, Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave\u2019s articles have appeared in many influential Catholic periodicals, including \"This Rock\" (now called \"Catholic Answers Magazine\"), \"Envoy Magazine\" (Patrick Madrid), \"The Catholic Answer,\" \"The Coming Home Journal,\" \"Gilbert Magazine\" (American Chesterton Society), and \"The Latin Mass.\" He also writes a featured column for every issue of \"The Michigan Catholic\": published by the archdiocese of Detroit, and was editor for most of the apologetics tracts published by the St. Paul Street Evangelization apostolate. Dave\u2019s apologetics and writing apostolate was the subject of a feature article in the May 2002 issue of \"Envoy Magazine.\" He served as the staff moderator at the Internet discussion forum for The Coming Home Network, from 2007-2010. Dave has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated Catholic radio shows, including \"Catholic Answers Live\" (twice), \"Faith and Family Live\" (Steve Wood), \"Kresta in the Afternoon,\" \"Son Rise Morning Show,\" \"Catholic Connection\" (Teresa Tomeo), and \"The Catholics Next Door.\" His large and popular website, \"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism,\" was online from March 1997 to March 2007, and received the 1998 Catholic Website of the Year award from \"Envoy Magazine.\" His blog of the same name (now transferred to Patheos), begun in February 2004, contains more than 1,500 papers, at least 500 debates or dialogues, and over 50 distinct \"index\" web pages. Unsolicited correspondence has indicated many hundreds of conversions (or returns) to the Catholic faith as a result, by God's grace, of these writings. Dave's conversion story was published in the bestselling book \"Surprised by Truth\" (edited by Patrick Madrid; San Diego: Basilica Press, 1994). Sophia Institute Press has published six of his books: \"A Biblical Defense of Catholicism\" (Foreword by Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J., 1996 \/ 2003), \"The Catholic Verses\" (2004), \"The One-Minute Apologist\" (2007), \"Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths\" (2009), \"The Quotable Newman\" (editor: 2012), and \"Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical\" (2015). He is co-author (with Dr. Paul Thigpen) of the inserts for \"The New Catholic Answer Bible\" (Our Sunday Visitor: 2005), and editor for \"The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton: The Very Best Quotes, Quips, and Cracks from the Pen of G. K. Chesterton\" (Saint Benedict Press \/ TAN Books: 2009). \"100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura\" was published by Catholic Answers in May 2012. His \"Quotable Wesley\" compilation was published by (Protestant \/ Wesleyan publisher) Beacon Hill Press in April 2014. Several of his 49 books are bestsellers in their field. Dave maintains a popular personal Facebook page, a Facebook author page, and has a Twitter account as well. He offers almost all of his books in e-book form on his own Biblical Catholicism site (http:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/), at a permanent deep discount: only $2.99 for ePub, mobi, and AZW, and $1.99 for PDF. His writing has been enthusiastically endorsed or recommended by many leading Catholic apologists, authors, and priests, including Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Marcus Grodi, Patrick Madrid, Steve Ray, Tim Staples, Devin Rose, Mike Aquilina, Al Kresta, Karl Keating, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Brandon Vogt, Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. They have three sons and a daughter, and reside in southeast Michigan (metro Detroit).","sameAs":["https:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LuxVeritatisApologetics"],"url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/author\/davearmstrong"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2331"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62693"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62693\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62694"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}