Can the departed pray or hear?
Ecclesiastes 9 describes the dead as lacking knowledge and a share under the sun. Why infer that they can pray for us, much less perceive our particular requests?
Perspective note
The Orthodox response is presented affirmatively. Named Lutheran, Reformed, and ancient objections retain their own attribution; analytic questions are labeled as such.
Sources and further reading
- Ecclesiastes 9
The objection’s actual biblical premise. - Westminster: state after death
This Reformed confession affirms conscious souls after death; do not attribute a blanket denial to it.