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Praying for known outcomes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 January 2007

T. J. MAWSON
T. J. MAWSON
Affiliation:
St Peter's College, Oxford, OX1 2DL
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Abstract

In this paper, I consider what difference knowledge of outcomes – both past and future – might make to the rationality of praying for them on a traditional theistic model. More specifically, I address four questions: (1)‘Could it be rational to pray for outcomes one knows will obtain?’; (2)‘Could it be rational to pray for outcomes one knows will not obtain?’; (3)‘Could it be rational to pray for outcomes one knows have obtained?’; (4)‘Could it be rational to pray for outcomes one knows have not obtained?’. I argue that, on certain common theistic assumptions, the answer to all of these questions is yes.

Type
Research Article
Information
Religious Studies , Volume 43 , Issue 1 , March 2007 , pp. 71 - 87
Copyright
2007 Cambridge University Press

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