--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're really thinking prayer can stop…" description: "\"If you're really thinking prayer can stop rockets or bullets, you have to ask why some people do get hit by rockets or bullets. Are they people who no ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36e/john-shelby-spong-1488_asks_if-you-re-really-thinking-prayer-can-sto_2185187.jpg" --- # If you're really thinking prayer can stop rockets or… ![“If you're really thinking prayer can stop rockets or bullets, you have to ask why some people do get hit by rockets or bullets. Are they people who no one prayed for? Are they people who God just didn't like? I don't think so.” quote by John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36e/john-shelby-spong-1488_asks_if-you-re-really-thinking-prayer-can-sto_2185187.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36e/john-shelby-spong-1488_asks_if-you-re-really-thinking-prayer-can-sto_2185187.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36e/john-shelby-spong-1488_asks_if-you-re-really-thinking-prayer-can-sto_2185187.jpg) > “If you're really thinking prayer can stop rockets or bullets, you have to ask why some people do get hit by rockets or bullets. Are they people who no one prayed for? Are they people who God just didn't like? I don't think so.” [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote challenges the notion that prayer alone determines who is harmed, emphasizing that divine favor is not selective based on prayer. **In simple terms:** Prayer doesn't decide who gets hurt. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about divine favoritism. Themes faith justice theodicy Mood thoughtful critical Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - war zones - personal tragedy - community support - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts theodicy divine impartiality Questions to Reflect On - How do we reconcile faith with random tragedy? - What role should prayer play in crises? A Different Perspective It may oversimplify complex causes of suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Bullets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullets/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-god/) [Prayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayed/) [Prayed People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayed-people-1529305/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Rockets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rockets/) [Rockets Bullets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rockets-bullets-4737038/) [Stop Rockets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop-rockets-4737037/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“And then I did the best thing I knew to do with the strange concoction of sadness and hope brewing inside me. I prayed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-mcree-turner/and-then-i-did-the-best-thing-i-knew-to-do-with-the-strange/) [Amber McRee Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-mcree-turner/) > [“You know, if you’re selling in the living room and they’ve got a bible on the table, they’re probably down in the heart, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-w-murphy/you-know-if-you-re-selling-in-the-living-room-and-they-ve-got-a-bible/) [James W. Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-w-murphy/) > [I think that Donald Trump has capitalized and prayed on people's fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-wasserman-schultz/i-think-that-donald-trump-has-capitalized-and-prayed-on-people-s-fears/) [Debbie Wasserman Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-wasserman-schultz/) > [Some people think prayer stops bullets or rockets or land mines. It doesn't. That's magic, that's not God. Sometimes, you're just in the wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/some-people-think-prayer-stops-bullets-or-rockets-or-land-mines-it/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [Love the people GOD gave you because you will need them back one day!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenzie-lynn/love-the-people-god-gave-you-because-you-will-need-them-back-one-day/) [Kenzie Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenzie-lynn/) > [“It's hard to know, isn't it, whether the things we face are just because the world is full of sin and sinful people, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/it-s-hard-to-know-isn-t-it-whether-the-things-we-face-are-just/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [I could not say I believe. I know! I have had the experience of being gripped by something that is stronger than myself, something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-could-not-say-i-believe-i-know-i-have-had-the-experience-of-being/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That’s when it finally hit home—God is not a pile of bricks or a collection of outdated rules—He is a living, breathing, Being. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-heil/that-s-when-it-finally-hit-home-god-is-not-a-pile-of-bricks-or-a/) [Michael J Heil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-heil/) > [“Imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. This must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/imperfect-people-are-all-god-has-ever-had-to-work-with-this-must-be/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salmon-p-chase/no-nation-can-be-strong-except-in-the-strength-of-god-or-safe-except/) [Salmon P. Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salmon-p-chase/) > [Things change and so do people but God's love will never change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-tomasello/things-change-and-so-do-people-but-god-s-love-will-never-change/) [Mario Tomasello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-tomasello/) > [Forgive people so that God may Forgive you...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/forgive-people-so-that-god-may-forgive-you/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [If other people choose to believe because I do, great. I want to show people God's love through what I do and who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-aiken/if-other-people-choose-to-believe-because-i-do-great-i-want-to-show/) [Clay Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-aiken/) > [I don't save people. God saves people. I can point them in the right direction. I can say, 'There's that door. I think if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/i-don-t-save-people-god-saves-people-i-can-point-them-in-the-right/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [“again. Here is a sober lesson. Even after times of spectacular revival, reformation, or covenantal renewal, the people of God are never more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson-2/again-here-is-a-sober-lesson-even-after-times-of-spectacular-revival/) [D.A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson-2/) ## More by John Shelby Spong > [The way that I see Christianity is that its role is to enhance the life of every person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-way-that-i-see-christianity-is-that-its-role-is-to-enhance-the/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [The Sins of Scripture is an interesting title; most people don't put sins and scripture together in the same title. It jars people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-sins-of-scripture-is-an-interesting-title-most-people-don-t-put/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [“When a human life is open to all that humanity can be, humanity and divinity flow together as one. It was and is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/when-a-human-life-is-open-to-all-that-humanity-can-be-humanity-and/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [I don't see Jesus as rescuing the fallen; I see Jesus as expanding the potential of life. The primary reason the old idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-don-t-see-jesus-as-rescuing-the-fallen-i-see-jesus-as-expanding-the/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [The Bible interprets life from its particular perspective; it does not record in a factual way the human journey through history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-bible-interprets-life-from-its-particular-perspective-it-does-not/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [My basis of morality is this: does this action enhance life, or does it denigrate life? Does it build up or does it tear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/my-basis-of-morality-is-this-does-this-action-enhance-life-or-does-it/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [I want the traditional family upheld, but I don't want it upheld to the detriment of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-want-the-traditional-family-upheld-but-i-don-t-want-it-upheld-to/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [We live in a very pluralistic society today. There are Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, atheists, Roman Catholics, Evangelical Christians, and Christians like me. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/we-live-in-a-very-pluralistic-society-today-there-are-buddhists/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [The Bible was written between 3,000 and 2,000 years ago, and it's filled with the knowledge that people had in that period of time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-bible-was-written-between-3-000-and-2-000-years-ago-and-it-s/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [We are in a survival mentality, and that's hard-wired into our humanity, because we are the winners of an evolutionary struggle of millions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/we-are-in-a-survival-mentality-and-that-s-hard-wired-into-our/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [Some people think prayer stops bullets or rockets or land mines. It doesn't. That's magic, that's not God. Sometimes, you're just in the wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/some-people-think-prayer-stops-bullets-or-rockets-or-land-mines-it/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [The Hebrew scriptures say it's okay to enslave anybody except your fellow Jews. It says you should enslave only your neighbors. I say to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-hebrew-scriptures-say-it-s-okay-to-enslave-anybody-except-your/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [ I know Jerry \[Falwell\] fairly well, and he's probably not bright enough to recognize all of the implications of what he said. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-know-jerry-falwell-fairly-well-and-he-s-probably-not-bright-enough/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [Benedict XVI kept saying that homosexuals are deviant. They're not deviant. They're deviant only if you say that anyone who is different from me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/benedict-xvi-kept-saying-that-homosexuals-are-deviant-they-re-not/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [ I find it fascinating that Paul \[the apostol\], writing to the Galatians, responds to the question, "What does it mean to live in Christ?"… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-find-it-fascinating-that-paul-the-apostol-writing-to-the-galatians/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) [Explore all 236 John Shelby Spong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) ## More Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. 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That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) [Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you're really thinking prayer can stop rockets or bullets, you have to ask why some people do get hit by rockets or bullets. Are they people who no one prayed for? Are they people who God just didn't like? 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