Prayer is invalidated
by its very premise
and its posture as being
driven/fueled by the profit motive
and its interest in maximum benefit
at minimum cost.

Absolute gain with nothing ventured at all.

Prayer purports to be a bargain
wherein we offer faithful obedience,
filial devotion and unwavering allegiance
throughout eternity
in return for whatever we want at the moment.
A new puppy, perhaps.
Or a shiny red convertibe.
It’s always something.
Something we want badly,
and something we will gladly do in return.

It is corrupt from the start.

We are standing before the Mob Boss
asking for favors, hat in hand, eyes on the floor,
with nothing to put forward as collateral
and only our word as a tool of persuasion.

It is ridiculous.

Who came up with this as a worthy strategy
for guaranteeing our future
and smoothing our way?
“Tell God you will never cuss again
and you will pass th test without studying a bit!”

Even I can spot the absurdity at work in this hokum.