Lets Be Honest About Praying

[falcon9]

I believe prayer can be as simple as talking aloud wherever you are. God always listens and hears everything we say.

This remains a "belief" and as such, has no basis in efficacy.  Such "prayers" are essentially magical intercessory rituals allegedly intended to invoke a supernatural entity whose existance has no evidence.

"The Christian god can easily be pictured as virtually the same god as the many ancient gods of past civilizations. The Christian god is a three headed monster; cruel, vengeful and capricious. If one wishes to know more of this raging, three headed beast-like god, one only needs to look at the caliber of people who say they serve him. They are always of two classes: fools and hypocrites."
-- Thomas Jefferson

[Abrupt]

Prayer is useless, an empty thought in your mind that you hope will affect something happening in this world. The truth is, you are the maker of destiny, not prayer. If you want to help someone going through hard times, just being their friend and confidant will make a difference. People who believe prayer works don't get that reguardless of what they hope for, people will do what they want, feel how they want, and make their own paths and decisions. Its selfish, because It just makes you feel better about witnessing the suffering of others, and it doesn't make any difference whatsoever!

Avoiding the religious references, you surely must realize the importance of something as simple as a thought in your head.  

Doubtless you'd prefer to avoid religious references however, the subject matter directly regards so-called "prayer" and the inherent religious references directly pertain.  With that in mind, (the use of that phrase was chosen for a purpose), the thoughts in one's head are not quite parallel to "prayer".  First, "prayer" is supposedly intended to go beyond being just thoughts in someone's skull and consists of a few variants of 'intercessory ritual invocation'.

Directing an intercessory invocation to a hypothetical supernatural entity is not the same as thinking other, non-delusional thoughts.

Your brain can also be prompted to get out of the way with its doubts and uncertainties. 

If that's a reference to using self-deluding religious propaganda to 'prompt' reason/rationality to "get out of the way" so that irrationality can take hold instead, no thanks.

The subject is more complex than that, of course, but the proof is evident that "thoughts in your head" do have a significant effect upon yourself and your surroundings.

Yes however, there is no evident proof that religious prayers have any effect whatsoever on one's surroundings, (and any placebo effects on one's on body/mind are not significantly-valid evidence beyond the placebo effect).

I avoided referencing religion so as to stick solely to elements that could be discussed in a manner that would not promote ideology.  I have chosen this path recently because of statements made to me by Falconer02.  This was done out of respect, but I also wish the same demands were put to you.  Of course that seems to have failed, as your steadfast adherence to your venomous beliefs has prompted you to inject it into your reply to me where I avoided it altogether.  Since I addressed the specific point of the efficacy of a thought in ones head and not the particulars of direct divine intercession in prayer, your reply is is nothing more than another of your attempts to troll.  Your reply is without value and addresses nothing I have said.  It is laden with pitiful attempts to insult and belittle and to draw my ire.  I suppose you are simply begging for another spanking but I should direct you to look up a local establishment that can cater to your needs more directly.  Perhaps you can request a gag ball too while you are at it.

[falcon9]

I avoided referencing religion so as to stick solely to elements that could be discussed in a manner that would not promote ideology. 

Then the discussion which followed had nothing to do with "prayer" and concerned the concept of 'thoughts-into-actions', sans any religious references.

I have chosen this path recently because of statements made to me by Falconer02.  This was done out of respect, but I also wish the same demands were put to you.  Of course that seems to have failed, as your steadfast adherence to your venomous beliefs ... 

Reasoning and logic in opposition to religious beliefs are not religious beliefs themselves, "venomous" or otherwise mislabeled by a religious adherent.  Others chose the form of their own replies and I'm under no obligation to comply with any religiously-based demands.

Since I addressed the specific point of the efficacy of a thought in ones head and not the particulars of direct divine intercession in prayer, your reply is is nothing more than another of your attempts to troll. 

My reply was within the context of this thread and the subject of this thread, (in case you've forgotten that context).  Falsely characterizing a contextual reply as 'trolling' is disingenuous of you and is a false accusation, (direct lie).

Your reply is without value and addresses nothing I have said.  

On the contrary, your shallow attempts at misdirection and redefining context are hallmarks of a low-brow troll. Again, my remarks addressed your standard pattern of trying to redefine context to suit your so-called arguments.  These were summarily rejected and the actual context was addressed.  That context regards attempts to equate secular "thoughts" with religious "prayers" in the same manner as equating the content of arsenic with pizza on the basis of subatomic energy similarities.  Essentially, a "prayer" would nominally be a subset of "thought" without any cause/effect implication other than an internal synaptic one.

Your other troll-flaming remarks were snipped as the specious twaddle of a spiteful xtian fundie.

[raepadilla123]

I dont have specific times or days i pray i just know i have faith and believe in one god and one god only he sees me and hears me there r no rules to believing or praying etc.

[falcon9]

I dont have specific times or days i pray i just know i have faith and believe in one god and one god only he sees me and hears me there r no rules to believing or praying etc.

True, there are no specific "rules" to being irrational or holding specious religious beliefs.

"The family that prays together...is brainwashing their children."
-- Albert Einstein

[jcribb16]

I dont have specific times or days i pray i just know i have faith and believe in one god and one god only he sees me and hears me there r no rules to believing or praying etc.

Thank you for sharing what you feel.  Please don't let "anyone" deter you from what you feel, know, and believe.  {{Hugs}}

[Abrupt]

Your other troll-flaming remarks were snipped as the specious twaddle of a spiteful xtian fundie.

And I snipped every thing you said other than this.  You are the one showing the spite.  Because you revealed your pathetic and dishonest nature in your pitiful attempts to debate me you now are reduced to nothing more than a trifling troll.  I exposed you as the liar you are and now you can only show yourself as the troll you are.  You are insignificant and of no relevance to anything.  Your dialog is repetitious and entirely boring.  Your method and manner are completely irrational to the position you claim to portray and you are entirely blinded by your beliefs and insecurities and mental limitations to ever recognize this.  You are an irrational and biased hypocrite on a crusade that you claim is purposed to show the irrationality of the beliefs of others.  That alone is hilarious and that you cannot even begin to see this is even more so.  You can now only make me laugh with your stumbling -- God bless you!

[falcon9]

And I snipped ...

Your lies, (fabricated nonsense), were snipped in turn, troll.

[momoney555]

AMEN.....abrupt.........AMEN......Prayer is powerful....I know from experience alone...

[falcon9]

AMEN.....abrupt.........AMEN......Prayer is powerful....I know from experience alone...

That's merely a knee-jerk xtian reaction which consists of hearsay in lieu of actual evidence to support the contention.  Btw, "amen" is a xtian plagiarization of the original Egyptian "Amon" neteru, (or 'deity' to you).

[ajami]

If you believe in praying than it works.  You have to absolutely believe in something for it to happen.

[falcon9]

If you believe in praying than it works.  You have to absolutely believe in something for it to happen.

I believe that you're incorrect ... did it work?

[Abrupt]

I believe that you're incorrect ... did it work?

--- Hey look!  A turd!

                                    Well how the heck did that get there?  ---


--- I don't know, some arsehole must have come by and left it there I guess.

[falcon9]

--- Hey look!  A turd!
                                  Well how the heck did that get there?  ---
--- I don't know, some arsehole must have come by and left it there I guess.

This self-criticism of yours is more refreshing than your usual self-centered narcissisms.

[jcribb16]

AMEN.....abrupt.........AMEN......Prayer is powerful....I know from experience alone...

I have seen how powerful prayer is, too.  I've experienced answers to prayers, myself.   

James 5:16

King James Version (KJV)

16 "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."