I don't pray, but the women under me usually do, "Oh God! Oh God!"
Sorry, I had to say it.
But on a serious note, I read in a Nietzsche book once that prayer could be a sign of someone actually losing their faith a little in their god. It's as if the praying person is shooting up a reminder to make sure everything goes smooth. If you have absolute faith in your deity of choice you shouldn't have to remind them to help you. It would be like being in a marriage and telling your spouse every morning, "have a good day and don't cheat on me." Surely if you have faith in your spouse, you shouldn't have to remind them to not cheat. If you have faith in your god you shouldn't have to remind them to help you.
Also, something else to consider. You're watching a football game. The home team is down by 5 with 45 seconds left and they are making a drive down the field. On one side of the field the away team is praying that they keep the lead and win. On the other side of the field the home team is praying they complete the drive and score a touchdown. One team will have their prayers answered. Who or what decides whose prayers should be answered on that day?
One team will have their prayers answered. Who or what decides whose prayers should be answered on that day?
Whoever wishes the hardest,
Prayers and thoughts are energy. That energy has to go somewhere, once energy is created it can not be dismantled. Collective thoughts produce active outcomes. So we all have to be careful for what we wish for.
I can so see this Thread turning to shit over beliefs.
I am so twisted with my beliefs. I use to seek out a higher being belief system that I could fall for. I studied many religions. To me, none of them make sense. At one pont I was very religious or higher being minded and did pray. Then I realized the prayers that seemed to be answered were the ones for strength and stuff like that. Well, now I understand that it was my faith in my prayer that made me able to conjur up the strength I already had. So, now I am agnostic and if I need things like strength, I know its within me already and I can conjur it up, prayer never really did it to begin with.
But, because of years of being raised to believe and living in a society that believes, when things get really tough I find myself wanting to pray. If it use to work, it will work now, I think. Even though I know anything I need to pray for I already have within me.
Its ridiculous to pray. Most of this world has it way worse than I. Why would my prayers be answered and those people left to suffer as they do. So, I don't pray. I try to be strong enough to remember all I need is within me anyway.
Its so twisted. Maybe I want to pray to not feel alone with my pain. Maybe I want to pray to be able to put my thoughts and feelings into something understandable.
All I know is I have no right to ask for anything when I live as I do and so many suffer. So if I was to believe and pray it would only be to give thanks, which is twisted 'cuz why would I believe and thank some higher being for treating me better than he does his other children.
So if you know someone who is sick how do you wish for them to get better by saying or thinkin what :?: :?: ..
So am I suppose to say I'll pray for them when I don't believe in that? Also, if I pray for them it may make them feel better emotionally, but the prayer will not be answered, look at Darfur (sp?). So, I say my thoughts are with them, or I hope you get better, etc. There are many expressions that mean as much as I'll pray for you. many expressdions mean more since everyone says I'll pray for you.
BTW: I was gone from my computer the last hour 'cuz the old lady, my friend, next door had a heart attack. I had left my computer to get coffee and decided I'd run over there for a second then come back to the computer, 'cuz I hadn't seen her in a few days. She started to talk to me and had a heart attack. No one has ever had a heart attack in front of my eyes. Wow, it was weird.
So, they took her to hospital and she knows I will be thinking of her, and better yet, taking care of her cats and her other responsibilities. That is better than "I'll pray for you". She needs more than a prayer.
Comments
Sorry, I had to say it.
But on a serious note, I read in a Nietzsche book once that prayer could be a sign of someone actually losing their faith a little in their god. It's as if the praying person is shooting up a reminder to make sure everything goes smooth. If you have absolute faith in your deity of choice you shouldn't have to remind them to help you. It would be like being in a marriage and telling your spouse every morning, "have a good day and don't cheat on me." Surely if you have faith in your spouse, you shouldn't have to remind them to not cheat. If you have faith in your god you shouldn't have to remind them to help you.
Also, something else to consider. You're watching a football game. The home team is down by 5 with 45 seconds left and they are making a drive down the field. On one side of the field the away team is praying that they keep the lead and win. On the other side of the field the home team is praying they complete the drive and score a touchdown. One team will have their prayers answered. Who or what decides whose prayers should be answered on that day?
Whoever wishes the hardest,
Prayers and thoughts are energy. That energy has to go somewhere, once energy is created it can not be dismantled. Collective thoughts produce active outcomes. So we all have to be careful for what we wish for.
I can so see this Thread turning to shit over beliefs.
But, because of years of being raised to believe and living in a society that believes, when things get really tough I find myself wanting to pray. If it use to work, it will work now, I think. Even though I know anything I need to pray for I already have within me.
Its ridiculous to pray. Most of this world has it way worse than I. Why would my prayers be answered and those people left to suffer as they do. So, I don't pray. I try to be strong enough to remember all I need is within me anyway.
Its so twisted. Maybe I want to pray to not feel alone with my pain. Maybe I want to pray to be able to put my thoughts and feelings into something understandable.
All I know is I have no right to ask for anything when I live as I do and so many suffer. So if I was to believe and pray it would only be to give thanks, which is twisted 'cuz why would I believe and thank some higher being for treating me better than he does his other children.
BTW: I was gone from my computer the last hour 'cuz the old lady, my friend, next door had a heart attack. I had left my computer to get coffee and decided I'd run over there for a second then come back to the computer, 'cuz I hadn't seen her in a few days. She started to talk to me and had a heart attack. No one has ever had a heart attack in front of my eyes. Wow, it was weird.
So, they took her to hospital and she knows I will be thinking of her, and better yet, taking care of her cats and her other responsibilities. That is better than "I'll pray for you". She needs more than a prayer.
I do always take count of my blessings though. I am 35 and I have never had to encounter much hardship at all in my life.
I have 3 healthy, wonderful kids, a great wife, a nice house and my career is exactly where I want it to be.
★ 2009 - Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Christchurch ★
★ 2011 - EV Newcastle, Melbourne 1, Melbourne 2 ★