text: They are praying to a deity so that they can receive that deity's forgiveness from a crime that deity invented, and to avoid an infinite punishment for a finite offense. Prayer is the outright rejection of personal responsibility, either for studying your schoolwork, doing your job properly, or being a total dickhead to people you meet just because they're different.  Sure, pray it away, and pray for forgiveness and for pardons from infinite punishments.  Prayer to me is funny from an "I can't believe you think this is a worthwhile way to spend your time" perspective.