Why do religious people use prayer as a way of trying to control the natural world in a way that does not inconvenience them?

No, 90% of the time, maybe almost 100% of the time, it is the exact opposite.

That is, everything depends on God's Will. When you pray against God's Will that is a HUGE no-no at least in Judaism and Christianity.

According to who? YOU.

It is through INCONVENIENCE that I step outside my comfort zone.

To me? That is immature, carnal, selfish prayer.

Prayer is learning God's will, and yes presenting requests to God but

it's not about Me, but about God, about how to live for God.

One shouldn't USE prayer but ask to be used by prayer.

Sounds childish.

"People do "NOT" use prayer as a way of trying to control the natural world in a way that does not inconvenience them"

People use the Prayers First=> To Praise the Natural World--Thanking God for ALL Natural Routine Phenomenon--Wishing All Humanity and Living Beings "PEACE and TRANQUILITY" - Lastly only they pray for themselves-ending each chapter with =>

OM --SCAANTHI--SCANTHI--SCANTHI -HI"

OM--PEACE (in thoughts)-PEACE (in words)--PEACE (in deeds-action) -HI=>Let it be so.

That's not what "prayer" means.

actually Jesus said if you have faith you can move mountain, and he said faith as a grain of mustard seed.

Enoch is said to be the ONE that moved a mountain to destroy and invading army

but its always the power of God. even Jesus said he did not have inherit power to do the miraces. he even said that it was the faith of the healed. but he gave credit to God the Father for doing the healing. and yet he said that virtue was gone when a woman touched the hem of his skirt.

anyway, with faith, and if God believes it will edify the church or faith, He will answer such prayers. but it is reminded we are counciled not to tempt God nor to command Him. usually if God will do something he will command a prophet or an apostle or someone of faith. i myself have called down different things that prove power to Me. i even asked to know if halos are true. and yes, i did experience having a halo, two times, and ten years apart, living in different states.

I agree with you - that it is likely that in our selfish human-ness, that many people missuse or don't understand the purpose of prayer. -- I'll give ya that.

So if your point is to remind us of how we SHOULD pray and that we should NOT try to simply 'get what we want' - Then I agree with you.

So as Chrisian, I'll agree that our prayers should be about US (humans) trying to bend OUR will to God's and to figure out how WE can best fit into HIS plan -- and NOT the other way around.

This reminds me of an old poem/prayer.

It basically recounts how a person asked God for various things, and what God gave them, instead, TAUGHT them the very things they wanted.

It goes something like...

I asked for strength,

And God gave me difficulties to make me strong;

I asked for wisdom,

And God gave me problems to learn to solve;

I asked for patience,

And God told me to wait;

I Asked God for Happiness

And God showed me some unhappy people

I asked for wealth,

And God gave me brain and brawn to work hard;

I asked for courage,

And God gave me dangers to overcome;

I Asked God for Peace

And God showed me how to help others

I asked for love,

And God gave me people to help;

I asked for favors,

And God gave me opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted – I received everything I needed.

My prayer has been answered and I am truly blessed.

It's not accurate to say "use prayer" as it implies that Christians do nothing else. There are many major Christian based hospitals and charities which operate with respect to hard work and modern science. It's a vast recurring theme in the bible that God tells people to work. There is only a fraction of the scriptures where people are told to pray we are only instructed how.

◄ Romans 8:26 ►

Verse (Click for Chapter)

New International Version

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.