dave@cs.utah.edu (Dave Holcomb) (08/06/90)
The recent discussion of talking (praying) to/with the Saints has been revealing of the misunderstandings that exist between "Catholics" and "Protestants." A fundamental issue regarding prayer has not been touched, though, in my opinion: the reason you and I can pray to God simultaneously and be "heard" by God simultaneously is because God is omnipresent. How is it possible for a Saint in Heaven to be omnipresent when only God is supposed to possess this attribute? If it is answered that angels (messengers) carry our requests/conversation (i.e. "prayers") to the one being invoked, what about the "time" element and the number of requests/conversations/answers being carried on at the same time (yes, the target of the prayer may be "out" of time, but we who are making the requests are still in "time.")? This may be the point that the protestants are driving at but haven't identified, when they express concern for "communications with the 'dead'." In the end, the answer might be that we do "by faith" that which we feel brings about glory to God. Dave Holcomb, Mentor Graphics, Silicon Design Division 5295 South 300 West Suite 300 Murray, UT 84107-4763 USA (801)265-8007 caeco!dave@cs.utah.edu