Every time you think the world has hit its limits of goofiness...

[jducoeur]

... the world proves you wrong. Thanks to TechCrunch for the pointer to Information Age Prayer, a new online service that uses text-to-speech technology to say your prayers for you on a regular basis.

No, I'm not kidding. Far as I can tell, this thing is serious. (Possibly fraudulent -- I can't really see how to check that they're really doing this -- but serious.)

They even have specials! For instance, the Complete Jewish Discount Package, including "Morning and Evening Shema, 5 Get Well Prayers and a Prayer for Peace, only $25.95 each Month". Such a bargain!

Comments

[corwyn-ap.livejournal.com]

I suppose it depends on what you think a prayer is.

Any visitor-from-another-planet arguments about why this is goofier than more traditional prayers?

[metageek.livejournal.com]

Regular prayers have an effect on the petitioner's mental state; they could, possibly, lead him to think about what he's praying for, and help him solve his problem. Noticing a $25.95 charge on the Visa statement every month won't do that.

[corwyn-ap.livejournal.com]

Ok. But I would call that meditation.

[metageek.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah, but many of the people who pray wouldn't; they'd see it as God answering their prayer with advice.

[corwyn-ap.livejournal.com]

Right. It was that that I was hoping to get an explanation for.

What is the difference between a) thinking a petition to God, b) saying one, c) having another person say one for you, and d) having a machine say one for you? (aside from the $29.95). In other words, convince a visitor from another planet that one (or more) makes sense, and another doesn't.

[metageek.livejournal.com]

Mmm, a believer might say that the difference is how much effort you're expending, on the theory that, if it's too easy, you don't deserve help. It's not a magic spell, it's an appeal to God's mercy, begging him to intervene for you. If you don't take it seriously, why should he?

Although I suppose there might be religions that believe that the purpose of prayer is to ensure that the gods have lots of prayers to listen to, like a celestial iPod. For them, a prayer machine would make plenty of sense.