|
Post by advancedatheist on Apr 27, 2004 23:04:58 GMT -5
How do people know that their "prayers" are reaching a god? I have always found this "praying" business weird, if not downright foolish, considering that it just doesn't work in the real world the way it's portrayed in religious literature. That is, often when some character in the Bible prays, almost immediately he receives some kind of tangible response, "miracle" or whatever that leaves no doubt as to the prayer's supernatural reception and reply.
Indeed, when I see people praying in public, I'm tempted to go up to them and ask, "Excuse me, who are you talking to? We're not on The Truman Show!"
Even Shakespeare hints in Hamlet that he thought prayer is irrational. Hamlet listens in on his uncle's prayer and doesn't find such behavior out of the ordinary. But later when Hamlet's mother sees Hamlet talking to his father's ghost, invisible to her, she thinks Hamlet is insane. What is the difference between the two situations?
|
|
|
Post by Aeturnus on May 1, 2004 13:23:21 GMT -5
"Even Shakespeare hints in Hamlet that he thought prayer is irrational. Hamlet listens in on his uncle's prayer and doesn't find such behavior out of the ordinary. But later when Hamlet's mother sees Hamlet talking to his father's ghost, invisible to her, she thinks Hamlet is insane. What is the difference between the two situations? "
Only one thought to this.... What bearing does Shakespeare's view on theology have on anything? Do you mean to imply that Shakespeare's theological beliefs are some great metric for measuring rationality? I must disagree implicitly.
As to the other part of your post....
Your condescending tone is rather abhorrent. I suggest you take a more pluralistic and less insulting approach to differing views on theology regardless of what your own personal beliefs may be. Or whatever Shakespeare may say for that matter...
|
|
|
Post by advancedatheist on May 1, 2004 16:56:30 GMT -5
Your condescending tone is rather abhorrent. I suggest you take a more pluralistic and less insulting approach to differing views on theology regardless of what your own personal beliefs may be. Or whatever Shakespeare may say for that matter... So when you pray, what exactly happens? Do you get immediate, unambiguous and tangible results like in the Bible?
|
|
|
Post by A Souless Demon on Dec 13, 2004 0:35:53 GMT -5
there is no god to pray to, thats why your prayer doesnt reach "god"
|
|
|
Post by EvenThen on Dec 13, 2004 0:40:23 GMT -5
This is of course under the assumption there is a God, Souless Demon.
I believe that prayers are answered. They're not always answered in the way, shape, form, or time that I want, but I believe every prayer is answered eventually. And yes, sometimes there can be immediate, unambiguous and tangible results.
|
|
|
Post by A Souless Demon on Dec 13, 2004 0:50:50 GMT -5
ok, then i will pray for a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, and for my pet rock to speak his first word by tomorrow... i bet it wont happen
|
|
|
Post by EvenThen on Dec 13, 2004 0:51:41 GMT -5
I also believe that God doesn't always give you everything you want, but rather what you need.
|
|
|
Post by A Souless Demon on Dec 13, 2004 0:52:47 GMT -5
i do need a pot of gold.
|
|
|
Post by EvenThen on Dec 13, 2004 0:53:49 GMT -5
*sighs* This is like arguing with my 9 year old sister. I think I'm done.
|
|
|
Post by A Souless Demon on Dec 13, 2004 0:55:50 GMT -5
a theist is not worth my precious time!
|
|
|
Post by vertigo on Dec 13, 2004 15:12:58 GMT -5
I wonder what the people stuck on the upper floors of the world trade center prayed for, and if those prayers were answered...
|
|
ToxicMoon
Seasoned Citizen
Delusional One
Posts: 129
|
Post by ToxicMoon on Dec 13, 2004 15:15:46 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure the thought was more along the lines of "Fuck!" more than anything else. At least that would have been my thought.
|
|
|
Post by A Souless Demon on Dec 13, 2004 18:41:17 GMT -5
some of those people on the upper floors committed suicide, rather than bear the unknowing of what would happen next. (if you watch some of the videos you can see people jumping out the windows) and i doubt those people who jumped 50 stories survived...
also, those people on the 747... when they were forced to call their family and tell them they were going to die.. i wonder how hard they prayed to get out of this alive... instead, they ended up instantly vaporized... where was your god when you needed him the most? you claim that he would help you miracuously get their hearing back or their vision perfect... but what about saving innocent lives? if there was a god, he would be totally corrupted.
|
|
Filter
Seasoned Citizen
An opposing thumb has made all the difference!!
Posts: 221
|
Post by Filter on Dec 13, 2004 19:33:31 GMT -5
I wonder what the people stuck on the upper floors of the world trade center prayed for, and if those prayers were answered... I often think of asking this in real life, but never do. Can you imagine the number of people praying that day before the towers collapsed. Must've been millions!!!
|
|
|
Post by A Souless Demon on Dec 13, 2004 19:40:04 GMT -5
and look what your supposed god did EvenThen... sat back with a bucket of the kernels chicken and watched the fun.
|
|