Author Topic: Prayer threads (Read 1175 times)

NUKE · « **Reply #30 on:** August 09, 2004, 10:33:46 PM »

I wonder what the most common phrase or thoughts uttered by people who know/believe they are about to die is? I'd bet that most humans call out to God or Jesus to save them when all the chips are down.

TweetyBird · « **Reply #31 on:** August 09, 2004, 10:51:57 PM »

One thing I find intersting is faith and how some put faith in God and some put faith in science - and I guess some, both (e.g., science is a gift from God).

Where ever the faith lies, it doesn't seem to be a rational choice. Most people who place their faith in God have never seen a miracle or anything devine, yet they chose God to order existance.
Most who place their faith in science have never seen a neutron, evidence of evolution, or been outside of the atmosphere, yet they choose science to order existance.

I guess thats why its called faith - but it is interesting that the choice seems irrational. I don't think it is really irrational, but decided in a part of the mind we can't access directly (parlty subconcious, partly not). A few scientists are studying the God center of the brain. And a guess a few theologans are studying the God center of the soul

NUKE · « **Reply #32 on:** August 09, 2004, 10:59:29 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by GScholz
You are correct that faith or belief is not a rational decision. You can't chose to believe, it's a subconscious process; you either believe or you don't.

How do you know if it's rational or not? I mean, do you really know?

TweetyBird · « **Reply #33 on:** August 09, 2004, 11:18:08 PM »

>>you either believe or you don't.<<

Now I believe that!

Thats the problem I have with people trying to "save" others. I mean if there is an all omniscient God, he would know if I was hedging my bet to avoid fire and brimstone. So its stupid to claim I believe something I don't trully believe.

I tend to believe - hope - have faith in - lead my life accordingly - that there is sense to it all. Just as science shows, no matter in the universe can be destroyed (though I personaly have done no experiments to *prove* it), I hope this principle crosses the spiritual devide, and we are pieces of something that always exists. But I have no idea what the big picture is, and I'd be an idiot to pretend I do. I guess that makes me agnostic?

I think the prayer helped Blammo's son - but I sure as heck don't *know* how.

Octavius · « **Reply #34 on:** August 09, 2004, 11:24:59 PM »

Interesting theory GS. Have any studies been conducted or was this something you came up with?

Octavius · « **Reply #35 on:** August 10, 2004, 12:02:02 AM »

I have my own theory(ies), but I choose not to believe any of them.

I'll save'em for another thread... some may be offended with one variation.

Saurdaukar · « **Reply #36 on:** August 10, 2004, 12:06:05 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by GScholz
I don't think this has anything to do with nationality. Overly religious Christians behave in much the same way here.

I was moving more along the lines of accepted social behavior. Had Blammo, for example, claimed credit for finding his son instead of (insert heavenly being of choice here) it wouldnt have come off well in this country at all.

Its just something you do in this country when fortune finds you - no matter the circumstances surrounding the event.

Failure to 'give thanks' is considered very bad form here. Dont ask me why - but that seems to be the case.

Octavius · « **Reply #37 on:** August 10, 2004, 12:15:58 AM »

thank god saur clarified that... lol

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #38 on:** August 10, 2004, 12:35:45 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Delirium
I see the Prozac in Beetle's water is working!

Yes but the lead paint is having a stronger effect.

J_A_B · « **Reply #39 on:** August 10, 2004, 01:09:38 AM »

"you either believe or you don't."

Or---you lack the information to make a supportable claim either way. This is where the Agnostics fall.

J_A_B

midnight Target · « **Reply #40 on:** August 10, 2004, 07:22:17 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by demaw1
Well, yes God did , you see he told enoch the measurement of the world, and guess what waaayyyyy back then God used the British Imperal inch....And you know what, midnight and tweety...ancient egypt and ancient babalonia would disagree with you .

The measurement of the earth would take a lotttt of time and study to prove...Maybe there might be someone on much more learned than me who could help.

I am surprised you didnt just say God didnt tell isaiah,darn, oh well.

Ravells...there is a small amount of truth in what you say but gees you paint with a large paint brush. History is far from that cut and dried.

If you are really curious here is how Eratosthenes did it. (from memory, so verify if you wish)
He noticed (or was told) that at it's highest point in the sky, the sun shone all the way down to the bottom of a well in a certain town in central Egypt. He also noticed that in Alexandria a stick in the ground cast a small shadow at the same time.
If you were to assume that the sun was in the same relative position for the 2 places (a valid assumption based on it's distance) the only conclusion would be that the earth is curved.
Eratosthenes actually paid a guy to pace off the distance between the 2 cities. He then took the angle of the shadow at Alexandria and using that as the portion of the arc of a circle (sphere) calculated the circumfrence of the earth to a pretty high rate of accuracy.
In fact, Ptolemy (the astronomer not the Pharoe) came up with a much smaller figure a few hundred years later. Columbus chose to believe Ptolemy instead of Eratosthenes. This is why he (Columbus) thought he reached Asia.

myelo · « **Reply #41 on:** August 10, 2004, 07:53:23 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by GScholz
Science is still against their interests. It's not like Darwin is the most popular name in the Vatican these days.

Yeah, the names Jesus, Mary, and God are probably more popular.

Nevertheless, in 1996 Pope Paul II accepted biologic evolution as a "an effectively proven fact."

storch · « **Reply #42 on:** August 10, 2004, 08:03:22 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by myelo
Yeah, the names Jesus, Mary, and God are probably more popular.

Nevertheless, in 1996 Pope Paul II accepted biologic evolution as a "an effectively proven fact."

WTG beet1e, good haul.

beet1e · « **Reply #43 on:** August 10, 2004, 01:30:26 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by storch
WTG beet1e, good haul.

What I said was entirely in keeping with my own beliefs. But yes, threads like this have a good ENY value.

AKS\/\/ulfe · « **Reply #44 on:** August 10, 2004, 01:34:49 PM »

Prayer threads make baby Jesus cry.
-SW