What's the theological take on praying for something bad to happen to someone?

Theologically any prayer is a prayer. Theology does not opine on the appropriateness or morality of a prayer.

You are asking about imprecatory prayer: prayers for another’s misfortune or for vengeance against God’s enemies.

Morally, ethically, there are various opinions on praying for ill fortune upon one’s enemies. Jesus was against it; he preached one should turn the other cheek.

Psalm 109, however, outlines David’s prayers to ” Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.”

Personally, I think of those kinds of prayer to be bad karma. And one thing to remember is that “More tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones.”

Well. In many religions, there are examples of deities doing harm to people.

Whether it’s prayed for, or a judgement by the god (s,) “bad” things happen sometimes. It’s up to the eye of the beholder, as far as what they perceive as a “motive/reason,” for such happenings.

If one perceives all happenings, as an “act of God,” then one could also infer that their god (s) wouldn’t have “done” such bad things to those who weren’t bad, unless there was a reason.

With that inference, one could then mention the “deplorable” behavior of others, and wish for their god(s) to deal out the “justice.”

When such a powerful, and subjective thing as a deity is personified, it is basically giving something with unlimited power human emotions. Men know only men. We converse with our god (s,) in the only way we know how.

I know that when I was a theist, I had a “relationship” with God. I genuinely thought there was a give, and take. A reason for my existence. A path. A debt, to God, for my existence.

I can remember praying to God, for fucking scores in sports. Like “please let us make this field goal.” As if a god would actually care about my desire for the outcome of a game. Enough to change the lives of millions of other people. Yeah. Seems ridiculous, looking back.

I don’t understand why you wouldn’t pray for bad stuff. You pray for things frequently, that would be great for you, but bad for others. Let’s take my field goal analogy. If God answers my prayers, and my team wins. Lot’s of my teams fans, players, owners, and gamblers will be happy. The other team’s players, fans, owners, and gamblers will be upset.

I’m saying that often times, even a “positive” prayer, is a negative prayer….

@MrGrimm888 – I hadn’t thought of this in a sports context, but your example makes sense. If our team wins, your team loses.

That’s right. If my daughter wins the talent show, your daughter, cries…

Seems innocent enough right? Praying for my daughter to win a 5th grade talent show?

Additionally, praying for a deer, when hungry. Yeah, great for you if you kill one. Bad for the deer.

This question reminds me of this lunatic:

https://youtu.be/pIW27p4BI_g

Maybe it shouldn’t surprise anyone. I know that abortion is a way that the GOP manipulates conservative voters. This is just an example of their propaganda.

Peace of mind, so to speak.

If one wishes ill will onto another through prayer or whatever , he himself will carry the burden on his conscience ,knowing that it was wrong . The actual person he wished ill will if not spoken out loud or written would not even know, so it falls on the one who does it whose conscience will be bothered.
So to wish ill will is to wish ill will on oneself and that is why one should not. People who are not ethical will know inside that they said or did something wrong.We don’t need to point it out to them as their conscience will bother them until the deed is rectified by them through an apology or other recognized way.That is why many cannot sleep at night and have other problems.

When I went to Hebrew school, I was told that there are two types of prayers. One type is a prayer of thankfulness or praise of God. The second type is a request of God. Judaism officially only recognizes the first type.

Being an atheist, this makes good sense to me. When you make a request of God, you are in effect saying, “God you are really extraordinary, but I wish for you to consider this matter which may have escaped your notice. As great as the Universe is, it would be yet better if you did the following…” What colossal self-centered arrogance!

But, if God has everything planned out, or knows better than a person, why pray ay all?

When prayer fails, I hear “God works in mysterious ways.” When things go “right,” I hear “our prayers are answered.” Sounds like obviously flawed, hopelessly optimistic thinking.

Lots of good answers / discussion here.

But the first responder, Zenvelo—is spot on.

Prayer to keep enemies away is not for their misfortune.
But mocking God, when you have no relationship whatsoever with God, and despise God’s people, and praying for their misfortune, I’d say is very dangerous territory.

It is biblical but I was not raised to ask anything negative of God, only submit my problems to God and ask Him to handle them.

“When we look at the Imprecatory Psalms we see that the Psalmist isn’t just praying ill will on others, and then going out and carrying that ill will out himself. The Psalmist is expressing himself to God in need. He is saying, “God things are so bad here right now because of this, will you enact vengeance upon them because of their wickedness.” There is an air of release in praying these things. In appealing to God to act in this way the Psalmist is giving themselves and the outcome over to God. They are entrusting themselves to a faithful Creator. This doesn’t mean God, at that moment will do as the person has prayed. It means that the responsibility of setting things straight is put into the hands of the rightful authority.”....“God will bring full, precise, wise justice upon all those who oppose God and his ways.”

http://gcdiscipleship.com/2013/05/20/praying-for-bad-things-to-happen-to-bad-people/

@Yellowdog Great point.

A prayer that wishes harm on someone is surely more of a curse than a prayer.