Question

\[\textbf{Could the Barnum effect explain what I think are my prayers answered?}\]
I have been studying psychology and I recently learned about the Barnum effect, I think it applies to some of what people call miracles, what do you think?

Do you think the Barnum effect could be how your prayers are answered?

What do you normally pray for?

Have you experienced a miracle? (Explain if you answered yes.)

Have you prayed or asked god for something very specific and gotten what you asked or prayed for? (Explain if you answered yes.)

Answer 1

this is such a materialistic question.

Answer 2

How so?

Answer 3

It all goes back to where Lucifer and his angels were cast out of heaven.

Answer 4

Um, do you know what I am talking about?

I'm suggesting that what people care miracles are actually an result of the Barnum effect. Can you refute my claim with evidence?

Answer 5

I gave a bum 5 dollars and I found 20 dollars is that a miracle whip c;

Answer 6

Did he pray for the 20 dollars though?

Answer 7

Yes you sewed 5 dollars and in return god gave you 20.

Answer 8

lmfao, I think so @Opcode

Answer 9

I didn't sew anything o-o

Answer 10

you Reap what you sew

Answer 11

http://www.miraclesofthechurch.com/

Answer 12

mmkay, I don't understand your talk so....idk what you mean by sewing o-o

Answer 13

you gave an offering and God reworded you

Answer 14

Generally five dollars a homeless person wouldn't waste it on miracle whip though. With fiver dollars you can normally buy some food and an item of clothing. (If you are wise of-course.)

Okay guys, please keep the question in its original topic. (You can find the format and answer the questions at the top.)

@Orwell84 answer my questions.

Answer 15

"reworded"

Answer 16

o-o wut

Answer 17

rewarded*

Answer 18

Yeah opcode I never heard of the Barnum effect.

Answer 19

google

Answer 20

I would have heard about it by now.

Answer 21

@Orwell84
Read up: https://www.google.com/search?q=Define%20Barnum%20effect

Answer 22

Horoscopes?

Answer 23

When you pray for something and God answers your prayer it is a miracle. - there is no such thing as God only gives you limited amount of gifts, he loves you show much that he gave you his beloved son. He answers your prayers in away sometimes we don't seem to see it. Everyday you should recognize it's a miracle your still living. You can ask Him for things and if it's for the greater good he will give it to you. He loves you so much that he wants to make you happy.

Answer 24

click the link

Answer 25

Bar·num ef·fect
nounPSYCHOLOGY
1.
the tendency to accept certain information as true, such as character assessments or horoscopes, even when the information is so vague as to be worthless.

Answer 26

There are no such thing as miracles

Answer 27

Yes

Answer 28

An answer to prayer is not a miracle it is favor from God, and if you pray for something and it doesn't happen you were ether living in sin or what you had prayed for is not part of Gods plan in your life or in the world.

Answer 29

I would tend to disagree with you Orwell.

Answer 30

same

Answer 31

I believe in miracles

Answer 32

Who Hated Jesus first?

Answer 33

If their wasn't a such thing as miracle how do you think people get healed from cancer...

Answer 34

miracles*

Answer 35

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2012562

Answer 36

we hated Jesus first.

Answer 37

The world

Answer 38

\[\small \text{I pray to god for me to find a penny} \implies \text{I found a penny, so god granted me a miracle.}\]

\[\small \text{I pray to god for me to become rich over night} \implies \text{I don't maybe because I was too specific.}\]

What people pray for is normally common and when it happens they think they have been granted a miracle. I think the Barnum effect maybe a logical explanation for why people think they have been given a miracle.

Barnum effect generally states that people believe things that they are told because what they are told is a generally and applies to nearly all people. Since we pray for general things, maybe we are being fooled by the Barnum effect.

Answer 39

Tf are you talking about "the world" go back to school dude

Answer 40

http://www.ainglkiss.com/miracles/mir.htm

Answer 41

I like to believe that there is someone looking after us. Performing miracles, guarding us, and such. Religion is something nice to believe in, especially how they describe "paradise". But then there are people like @Orwell84 who try to prove other religions wrong like its some sort of competition. This is what is wrong with religion now. Their stupid pride. Remember that religion is based on faith, which is what i believe you are looking for. God works in mysterious way, so it may take a while for you to find what you are looking for, but im positive you will get an answer. Patience is key <3

Answer 42

:') thats my boy

Answer 43

Guys, my questions where:
```
Do you think the Barnum effect could be how your prayers are answered?

What do you normally pray for? Have you experienced a miracle? (Explain if you answered yes.)

Have you prayed or asked god for something very specific and gotten what you asked or prayed for? (Explain if you answered yes.)
```

Can anyone answer them?

Answer 44

Sure

Answer 45

People usually pray for someone in their family that's dying or sick

Answer 46

Exactly that is the issue, people only pray to God when something in there life goes wrong.

Answer 47

That's not true dude..

Answer 48

You know dang well what im trying to say orwell, stop being sarcasting.

Answer 49

You can pray to live another day >.> Stahp acting like you know everything

Answer 50

Anyways @Opcode can you explain the Barnum effect to me? Or anyone?

Answer 51

I was not at all being sarcastic, it was a serious statement.

Answer 52

it wasn't a statement..it was an assumption

Answer 53

It was absolutely not an assumption.

Answer 54

Sorry orwell i misread your sentence, my bad

Answer 55

it was... how do you know what people pray for

Answer 56

@Squirrels
Barnum effect isn't the direct question at had, but I think the general "same" thing is happing.

Most prayers are asking for something simple and non-specific things. Could it be that what most people believe are miracles are simple generally things that they could do without prayer, but because they prayed they believe it is a miracle?

Barnum effect applies to fortune telling, such you ask a fortune teller will it rain tomorrow since the question is general the fortune teller can pretend to use this knowledge of tomorrow's weather to "predict" your future.

Answer 57

When was the last time you prayed to God just to thank him for your life?

Answer 58

Why should I? I never asked to be born.

Answer 59

Recently, Why do you care

Answer 60

Because joy comes from thankfulness

Answer 61

You need read the bible. Obviously you know nothing

Answer 62

But I agree with Orwell for once, when something wrong goes in your life. dont pray to god just for that reason. pray to him to thank him for your blessings. cause it just not right

Answer 63

Would you thank your parents for bringing you into the world?

Answer 64

Nope, because I didn't ask to be here

Answer 65

So you are not grateful for your life?

Answer 66

I didn't say I wasn't

Answer 67

its kinda like talking to your mother just to ask money

Answer 68

Than who would you thank?

Answer 69

ask for*

Answer 70

I don't have to answer that question

Answer 71

No you don't

Answer 72

It's obvious... everyone knows the answer to that

Answer 73

What is the answer then?

Answer 74

You tell me

Answer 75

lol wat

Answer 76

God, you would thank God and he would bless you for your gratefulness.

Answer 77

Yep, Exactly

Answer 78

and the blessing would be joy

Answer 79

Mmmhm

Answer 80

Why would you ask me if you knew the answer o-o

Answer 81

In my life i've experienced many miracles and they aren't just coincidence- we took a trip down to Florida and were staying at a mission house- my family and I. I was in one of the rooms packing with my dad when he was checking his bank account to see if we had enough money- I heard him and he started crying. We had been over drawn $85 dollar and we lived over 8 hours away and needed to pay our night at the mission house. And not to mention our house was in foreclosure and we only had a few weeks until we were going to be kicked out of our house back at home. We were poor and we had no idea what was going to happen next. I quickly ran out of the mission house and ran straight to the adoration chapel there where (Jesus - the Eucharist- was in the in the tablenacel ) I cried on my knees bagging God the father to help us. To have mercy on us and to find away for us to help us in our desperate need. - now God already knows what we need but how much it pleases Him when we run to Him in prayer.- So after my time prayer I went back inside the mission house and my family was having the longest conversation with the man who ran the mission house. I was listening on their conversation it was normal but then out no where he explains to us that he had all this money and he didn't know what to do with it. Before my dad could ever tell him that we had no money to pay him for our stay he decided to give us his money he had extra and it saved our house and the gas money, food etc. Once I heard what happened--- I ran to the chapel in tears on my knees I wept in joy, praising the Lord for His blessings and miracles! What Glory He has shed down upon us!!!

- I have seen many miracles in my life including my grandmother being healed of her diabetes and myself from an ear problem I had suffered for more than ten years and I was cured. I pray every single day thank Him for the blessings and I praise Him constantly - knowing that He is the one that put me on this earth today. I Pray every single day. Not a day goes by when i don't. Now this is just my religion and my beautiful relationship with my God the father. It doesn't mean other religions are wrong. And it doesn't mean I'm right- it means this is me. :) and one day you'll find yours too. I wish I could say more miracles but It take forever I written enough lol :P thank you for reading!

Answer 82

I didn't think you knew the answer.

Answer 83

I'm not reading your entire life story linda.

Answer 84

Well.. That's making assumptions.

Answer 85

I didn't assume

Answer 86

You should have just said the answer instead of asking me though... Plain and simple

Answer 87

Linda that was heart warming. <3 and Orwell stop being such a negative person. Being someone like that will get everyone to be against you such as now. Im assuming you dont care and thats fine, but later in life, if there is no one with you in the end, you'll know why. And as you read this you are probably thinking you dont need anyone but god. (just assuming) but i know god doesnt want you to treat someone like that

Answer 88

@Orwell84 then don't insult my religion. thank you.

Answer 89

Exactly

Answer 90

I am not at all a negative person.

Answer 91

Yes you are

Answer 92

Right now you are being more negative than anyone one here

Answer 93

Have we met somewhere before? Because I'm not sure I know any of you people.

Answer 94

How am I being negative?

Answer 95

well you certainly pop out of no where in the chatpod. "talking to us"

Answer 96

^^^

Answer 97

and when linda tried to tell a story about her miracle, you told her "I'm not reading your entire life story linda."