ABSTRACT
This chapter proposes an approach to the metaphysics of petitionary prayer on which such praying is no more problematical as regards the relation between human action and divine action than any other action.
The chapter begins by considering the view that God ordains all that comes to pass, including the free actions of human beings. It is argued that attempts at prising apart one or another action or event from the matrix of events and actions should be resisted, because if it is supposed that a particular action or event did not happen, then the total matrix of events and actions is thereby changed, and a different matrix is introduced. It is argued that, in consequence, one ought not to compare the investigation of praying to investigation in the natural sciences.
The second section considers the ‘interventionist’ view of prayer, on which God’s stance towards human prayer is a reactive one and prayer is a force. It is argued that such an idea of prayer is more magical than biblical, since it denies any purposes to God other than those of a mere prayer-answerer.
The final section considers the relation between each of these views of prayer and natural science and the modern understanding of physical nature. It is argued that nothing happens simply because science says it will but only because God says it will and that God uses physical regularities together with ‘the prayers of the saints’ to bring certain things about in answer to prayer.
