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Atheist Forums › Community › Religion › Christianity v
Praying for others?

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Praying for others?
fr0d0 Offline
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#11
RE: Praying for others?
September 3, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Hmmm... I think I'm blending in a bit too well... or perhaps everyone is becoming Christian Smile

A Christian believes by faith that any genuine request will be answered. They have 'assurity' of that. There is no guarantee that what's requested shall be exactly so. If it is God's will then it will happen. If it isn't then it wont.
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Darwinian Offline
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#12
RE: Praying for others?
September 3, 2009 at 3:31 pm
(September 3, 2009 at 3:29 pm)fr0d0 Wrote: Hmmm... I think I'm blending in a bit too well... or perhaps everyone is becoming Christian Smile

A Christian believes by faith that any genuine request will be answered. They have 'assurity' of that. There is no guarantee that what's requested shall be exactly so. If it is God's will then it will happen. If it isn't then it wont.

Just like chance then?
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bozo Offline
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#13
RE: Praying for others?
September 3, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Or a wish Frodo?
HuhA man is born to a virgin mother, lives, dies, comes alive again and then disappears into the clouds to become his Dad. How likely is that?
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fr0d0 Offline
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#14
RE: Praying for others?
September 3, 2009 at 3:45 pm
(September 3, 2009 at 3:31 pm)Darwinian Wrote: Just like chance then?

That's how you have to see it from the outside. And it cannot ever be proved, to be consistent.
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LukeMC Offline
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#15
RE: Praying for others?
September 3, 2009 at 3:45 pm (This post was last modified: September 3, 2009 at 3:45 pm by LukeMC.)
(September 3, 2009 at 3:29 pm)fr0d0 Wrote: If it is God's will then it will happen. If it isn't then it wont.

Then the point in even bothering to pray is precisely 0
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Violet Offline
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#16
RE: Praying for others?
September 3, 2009 at 3:55 pm
If everything is God's will, then our choices do not exist. Period.
Please give me a home where cloud buffalo roam
Where the dear and the strangers can play
Where sometimes is heard a discouraging word
But the skies are not stormy all day
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Edwardo Piet Away
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#17
RE: Praying for others?
September 3, 2009 at 4:34 pm
As George Carlin puts it "Well if it's God's will, and he's going to do what he wants to anyway, why the fuck bother praying in the first place?" - perhaps somewhat paraphrased since it was from memory.

And I say, that if it isn't God's will, and he doesn't even exist, as I believe he doesn't...we still have no evidence for 'free choice', we're part of this universe and we're 'riding along on it/in it' as far as I'm concerned Wink

EvF
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Violet Offline
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#18
RE: Praying for others?
September 3, 2009 at 4:54 pm
I can choose anything, and nothing governs wether i can or not Smile I also do not have to pay for it usually, therefore free, except when restrictions apply. Smile
Please give me a home where cloud buffalo roam
Where the dear and the strangers can play
Where sometimes is heard a discouraging word
But the skies are not stormy all day
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Edwardo Piet Away
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#19
RE: Praying for others?
September 3, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Well I'm not going to go furher on the matter cos I'll completely derail the thread. I already created a thread ages ago called 'Why I don't believe in free will' or something like that, so I obviously disagree.

So either take it there or create a fresh thread if you wish to discuss it more, or contact me some other way. Because I don't want to derail this thread.

If you wish, we could even do it just by PM I guess.

Anyway, we should get back on topic. As I said, I'm particularly fond of Dan Dennett's response when he had had a heart attack, and his Christian friends announced that they were praying for him. I like how he resisted the urge to ask them "Did you also sacrifice a goat?" lol Tongue

EvF
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fr0d0 Offline
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#20
RE: Praying for others?
September 3, 2009 at 5:07 pm
(September 3, 2009 at 3:45 pm)LukeMC Wrote:
(September 3, 2009 at 3:29 pm)fr0d0 Wrote: If it is God's will then it will happen. If it isn't then it wont.

Then the point in even bothering to pray is precisely 0

(September 3, 2009 at 3:55 pm)Saerules Wrote: If everything is God's will, then our choices do not exist. Period.

No, that doesn't follow. That the future is known to God doesn't preclude human free will.
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Atheist Forums › Community › Religion › Christianity v
Praying for others?

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