What Good is Prayer?

[TheJenn88]

I don't like religion. I prefer not to have people believing in it. I don't like its existance.

 

But it's something for people to believe in. It has led people to some very extraordinary and wonderful things (as well as many horrible things).

 

I am not going to say that religion is a crutch or sign of weakness, but some people need it. For some people, it gives them a purpose, strength, or ("false") a sense of security, or make them feel whole.

 

If it is something that people feel they need either out of comfort and/or rationality to themselves, then so be it.

 

I choose to see it as a security blanket, and I'd rather find my strength in tangible things around me. My friends are my god. They guide me, help me, share truth with me, and make me a better person.

 

Not everyone has a God, but I think everyone has a god.

[angie]

Why do you need to offer "God" anything? He is an all-powerful deity with everything. What could a pion(no offense) possibly offer a deity with everything in the universe?

Disclaimer: I am not Christian, however I was raised Catholic and attended Catechism classes for many years, so I have an idea of the basics. But you practicing Christians feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

 

Christians view God as their Father (Heavenly Father, etc). All that he wants from us to for us to love him and respect him and his wishes, and to treat others with respect and love as well. That whole brotherhood deal. He wants to be recognized as omnipotent, creator of heaven and earth. What God expects from his followers varies slightly from one denomination to the next, but that's the general basis of it all.

[snafu]

I don’t go to church and I don’t read the bible. I don’t like someone telling me how I should live my life. And the bible seems to be a long drawn out story of thou’s and thee’s.

When I pray I get a peaceful feeling. I thank God for my life, family and friends. I thank God for the life I’ve had. One of my prayers is something like " Thank you God for my life. If I die this second I will have had a good and full life".

My life wasn’t a perfect. I was the one that fucked it up, not God. I thank God that I was blessed with health. I look at these third world countries (like Australia ) and I thank God I was born in America.

[Quarky1.0]

Last weekend it was our state election here in south australia. A friend of mind had hurt his leg in a bike accient and was on crutches. As he was leaving the polling station he was approached by a member of the Family First Party (right wing christians), she asked him how he hurt his leg, he said he had a bike accident to that she ask if she could pray for him, but he thought she asked if she could touch it, so he said yes. The woman then went into some kind of quarzy trance and started to pray to christ to heal him, she was shaking and talking gibberish as per usual. Well there was no miracle healing and 6 days later his leg is still fucked up, and he is still on crutches. So much for the power of pray.

 

Also one of the ten commandments is 1: Do not worship any other Gods.

Umm Christ is the son of god and is not god, by worshiping christ above god, you are breaking the 1st commandment.

[skategreen]

I don't like religion. I prefer not to have people believing in it. I don't like its existance.

 

But it's something for people to believe in. It has led people to some very extraordinary and wonderful things (as well as many horrible things).

 

I am not going to say that religion is a crutch or sign of weakness, but some people need it. For some people, it gives them a purpose, strength, or ("false") a sense of security, or make them feel whole.

 

If it is something that people feel they need either out of comfort and/or rationality to themselves, then so be it.

 

I choose to see it as a security blanket, and I'd rather find my strength in tangible things around me. My friends are my god. They guide me, help me, share truth with me, and make me a better person.

 

Not everyone has a God, but I think everyone has a god.

 

99% of the time I follow the "respect the religious beliefs of others" rule. I don't knock someone's religion.... (well, not to their face) ... I'll get together with like minded folk and discuss things I disagree with in various religions. But overall, I'm all for someone having beliefs, morals, rules to live by, etc.

 

But I've itched to bitch about prayer and thus, finally indulged. I had fun with my thread starter. It's certainly not something I'd get up and announce to a group of Christians etc., simply on a manners point.

 

Thank Gawd for GF, I can indulge my dark side if moved to do so. It's fun to drop manners at times.

[manicmonday]

99% of the time I follow the "respect the religious beliefs of others" rule. I don't knock someone's religion.... (well, not to their face) ... I'll get together with like minded folk and discuss things I disagree with in various religions. But overall, I'm all for someone having beliefs, morals, rules to live by, etc.

 

But I've itched to bitch about prayer and thus, finally indulged. I had fun with my thread starter. It's certainly not something I'd get up and announce to a group of Christians etc., simply on a manners point.

 

Thank Gawd for GF, I can indulge my dark side if moved to do so. It's fun to drop manners at times.

 

 

I agree, it's nice to have GF, so you can drop manners, blow off steam, whatever. I use it for the same purpose. But I want to thank you for not making this a nasty debate, but an exchange of ideas. I won't engage in those. I don't the energy or time. But I wanted to thank you for turning this into that.

[skategreen]

I agree, it's nice to have GF, so you can drop manners, blow off steam, whatever. I use it for the same purpose. But I want to thank you for not making this a nasty debate, but an exchange of ideas. I won't engage in those. I don't the energy or time. But I wanted to thank you for turning this into that.

 

This morning I read my thread starter to my husband. He laughed his ass off. This was actually the point. I wanted to use humor to illustrate my head scratching on prayer.

 

Humor, was the real point!

 

and

 

You're welcome. My tail wags too freely to sustain any real nastiness.

[angie]

Also one of the ten commandments is 1: Do not worship any other Gods.

Umm Christ is the son of god and is not god, by worshiping christ above god, you are breaking the 1st commandment.

No, you're not. It's called the Holy Trinity. The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. They are seperate and yet the same.

[tizz]

kinetic or static?

 

 

I think perhaps both. Static to start but if enough static energy can be created it may become kinetic, reaching out to heal the body, soul or mind of someone. Unfortunately I believe negative energy can work in the same way and it seems easier for people to create.

[Quarky1.0]

No, you're not. It's called the Holy Trinity. The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. They are seperate and yet the same.

 

 

Yeah right, the ten commandments don't mention the holy trinity, it was a creation of the christian church. So by putting christ above god, christians are condemning themselves, just like the muslims and every other religion lol

[angie]

Yeah right' date=' the ten commandments don't mention the holy trinity, it was a creation of the christian church. So by putting christ above god, christians are condemning themselves, just like the muslims and every other religion lol[/quote']

Apparently the Holy Trinity is a creation of the Catholic Church. However I really don't think they put Jesus above God. I know they praise him for our salvation, but it was God who sacrificed his only Son so that we mortals may be saved. I don't know how other denominations look at it. It'd be interesting to hear their explanation. Any takers?

[Gallytuck]

Apparently the Holy Trinity is a creation of the Catholic Church. However I really don't think they put Jesus above God. I know they praise him for our salvation, but it was God who sacrificed his only Son so that we mortals may be saved. I don't know how other denominations look at it. It'd be interesting to hear their explanation. Any takers?

 

You'll never get a clear answer. They'll insist that Jesus and Jehovah are the same being. But they'll also defend to the death that Jesus was Jehovah's son. Don't expect much from sheeple.

[Lethalfind]

CES posted the following comments in another thread, I thought it also applied to the question of prayer...I saved it, I thought it was soooo good and sent it out in emails to friends that I know are like minded.

 

Originally Posted by Cogito Ergo Sum

Like fantasy? Enjoy reading exciting stories about fantastic things which defy the laws of physics and sensibility? Have a deep seated desire to become manipulated by fear and guilt because you think it might make you feel better? Do you feel somehow less than worthy? Do you love the thought of something more powerful than the Easter Bunny or The Great Pumpkin which you cannot see, touch, hear, feel or prove to exist as being real?

 

Then have I got a deal for you.

 

Read your Bible. It will cater to all of those weak minded foolish needs of yours and you too can live in the world of imagination and lies! Enjoy!

[Gallytuck]

CES posted the following comments in another thread, I thought it also applied to the question of prayer...I saved it, I thought it was soooo good and sent it out in emails to friends that I know are like minded.

 

Originally Posted by Cogito Ergo Sum

Like fantasy? Enjoy reading exciting stories about fantastic things which defy the laws of physics and sensibility? Have a deep seated desire to become manipulated by fear and guilt because you think it might make you feel better? Do you feel somehow less than worthy? Do you love the thought of something more powerful than the Easter Bunny or The Great Pumpkin which you cannot see, touch, hear, feel or prove to exist as being real?

 

Then have I got a deal for you.

 

Read your Bible. It will cater to all of those weak minded foolish needs of yours and you too can live in the world of imagination and lies! Enjoy!

 

The Great Pumpkin IS REAL!!!

[Feckless Wench]

Prayer offers those who believe the hope that their prayers will be answered. For some, hope is all they have. Life without hope is pretty dead.

[skategreen]

Prayer offers those who believe the hope that their prayers will be answered. For some, hope is all they have. Life without hope is pretty dead.

 

I would agree that life without hope is fairly bleak.

 

The best insurance for future happiness - achievement of goals - is the cultivation of ability.

 

I'd teach ability before I'd teach prayer.

[Gallytuck]

Prayer offers those who believe the hope that their prayers will be answered. For some, hope is all they have. Life without hope is pretty dead.

 

Unfortunately, their "hope" is really putting a huge fucking damper on getting this planet straightened out.

[Outlaw2747]

Unfortunately, their "hope" is really putting a huge fucking damper on getting this planet straightened out.

 

AMEN MY BROTHA!!!

[Lethalfind]

Let me see, life is shit, should I get down on my knees and ask some invisible force to take care of that or help me take care of that OR should I dedicate my time to some kind of positive action to take care of the problem I have identified?

 

I have learned not to lay my problems in someone else's lap to fix, I'll take care of that myself thanks...

[Quarky1.0]

I have to say I pray, but I don't follow any religion, I think religion is one of the truest forms of evil and besides that, my concept of God is more than a little different. God to me, is the universal life force, it is the manifestation of the higher mind being able to truly comprehend its own existence and come to terms with its own mortality. I also think death is not the end, we are but a splinter of our true selves and we have made the choice to live, suffer, love and die I also think the concept of free will is a manifestation of this, I look at it like this, if you were a character in a book, your actions within those pages would seam like free will to you, but to the author or reader, they know what is going to happen to you, before you do, its all about perspective. If you are standing on the ground floor of a skyscraper, how far can you see, a couple of hundred meters down the road? But go to the roof, your field of view increases, you can see much farther. This is what we really are and when die, all our life

[Gallytuck]

I don't believe we are mortal. Maybe in this world. But not in the grander scheme.

[Feckless Wench]

To me, people see prayer as a way of offloading their fuck-ups to a greater power. Once they start to sort out their own messes and not rely on an ethereal being to do so, the world will improve. Until then, we have little chance.

[eddo]

I have learned not to lay my problems in someone else's lap to fix, I'll take care of that myself thanks...

 

Once they start to sort out their own messes and not rely on an ethereal being to do so, the world will improve. Until then, we have little chance.

 

funny, I see it as that attitude (the ME ME ME ME ME!!! attitude) is this biggest problem in this world, and funny, so did Jesus...

 

People are to caught up in themselves to give a rats patoot about anyone else.

^^That folks is what is wrong with this world. and that includes those religios types that use religion to further their own causes.

[Feckless Wench]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lethalfind

I have learned not to lay my problems in someone else's lap to fix, I'll take care of that myself thanks...

 

 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feckless Wench

Once they start to sort out their own messes and not rely on an ethereal being to do so, the world will improve. Until then, we have little chance.

 

 

funny, I see it as that attitude (the ME ME ME ME ME!!! attitude) is this biggest problem in this world, and funny, so did Jesus...

 

People are to caught up in themselves to give a rats patoot about anyone else.

^^That folks is what is wrong with this world. and that includes those religios types that use religion to further their own causes..

 

I fail to see how EITHER of the comments you are referring to show a 'me me me' attitude. Rather more 'I accept the consequences of my own actions and it is up to me to sort them out'. Surely a 'me me me' attitude would expect another to sort them out due to the fact that 'me me me' is too busy.

[eddo]

I fail to see how EITHER of the comments you are referring to show a 'me me me' attitude. Rather more 'I accept the consequences of my own actions and it is up to me to sort them out'. Surely a 'me me me' attitude would expect another to sort them out due to the fact that 'me me me' is too busy.

 

 

it was the self indulgent pride interlaced within each comment

 

"I can do it all by myself" type of thing, well, as a people we are proving everyday that we cannot do it by ourselves.