Prayer/Meditation DOES make the world a better place

[IATIA]

(20th September 2011 23:46)padraic Wrote:  

(20th September 2011 21:21)Tiberius Wrote:  Correlation does not imply causation.

Well ,actually,it does imply (suggest) that and sometimes it's true. However,it does not allow that inference (conclusion) in and of itself.

Only if it is repeatable to a statistical level, otherwise it is only coincidence.

[Tiberius]

(20th September 2011 23:46)padraic Wrote:  

(20th September 2011 21:21)Tiberius Wrote:  Correlation does not imply causation.

Well ,actually,it does imply (suggest) that and sometimes it's true. However,it does not allow that inference (conclusion) in and of itself.

No, correlation never automatically implies causation.

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e..._causation

Correlation at best is a hint towards causation, but it is by no means a rule.

[edk141]

Correlation isn't a hint, it's a requirement. If two things don't correlate one doesn't cause the other.

[KichigaiNeko]

(20th September 2011 21:09)TheouLive Wrote:  http://www.istpp.org/crime_prevention/

Just a response to an argument that many atheists make concerning prayer, like this one

http://atheists.org/blog/2011/09/12/pray...-hypocrisy

Meditation (OFTEN confused with prayer) DOES have in impact on nations and cities. It has been well documented that group meditation can lower crime rates in America. So good for the Christians praying to God! Sure, Maybe they are a little misguided at times, and all have their own focus with prayer (which why it doesn't work on a massive level). However if Christians or anyone of any faith just concentrated on one goal, more things like the lowering of the crime rate in Washington would happen!

Ah yes the whole "If EVERYONE did the SAME thing at the SAME time"...this will have a Physical impact??

Sorry mate calling fallacy on this one.

Meditation only has an impact on the practitioner alone. Very beneficial for those going through stressful times like chemo therapy and the like. Meditation really DOES assist (emphasis on Assists!!) in relaxing the patient and "leading to a more positive outcome from all the intrusive therapy"

xtians have been praying for millennia...I do not see any miraculous outcomes as yet.

[frankiej]

The past 2 weeks has been quite something for these bizarre fellows flocking in here.

Annnnyyywwaaaayyyy.... Prayer doesn't work. If you say that it does, then I call bullshit

[Rhythm]

Prayer and meditation have been tested over and over. The claims are bunk. Even the idea that prayer or meditation could have a benefits for the practitioner stops cold when the practitioner prays or meditates for death.

[Cinjin]

(20th September 2011 21:09)TheouLive Wrote:  However if Christians or anyone of any faith just concentrated on one goal, more things like the lowering of the crime rate in Washington would happen!

I need clarification. Are you saying that if Christians all prayed for the same thing and focused their hocus pocus mind rays to god - that they could actually make the crime rate lower???


IF that's what you're implying than I have one more question for you:

How stupid are you?

[downbeatplumb]

Of course we all know that the lack of pirates causes global warming

Quote:Pirates and global warming
A chart, included in the open letter, illustrating the relationship between pirates and global temperatureAccording to Pastafarian "beliefs", pirates are "absolute divine beings" and the original Pastafarians.[4] Furthermore, Pastafarians believe that pirates' image as "thieves and outcasts" is misinformation spread by Christian theologians in the Middle Ages and by Hare Krishnas. Instead, Pastafarians believe that they were "peace-loving explorers and spreaders of good will" who distributed candy to small children, adding that modern pirates are in no way similar to "the fun-loving buccaneers from history". In addition, Pastafarians believe that ghost pirates are responsible for all of the mysteriously lost ships and planes of the Bermuda Triangle. Pastafarians celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19.[33]

The inclusion of pirates in Pastafarianism was part of Henderson's original letter to the Kansas State Board of Education, in an effort to illustrate that correlation does not imply causation.[34] Henderson presented the argument that "global warming, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters are a direct effect of the shrinking numbers of pirates since the 1800s."[4] A chart accompanying the letter (with numbers humorously disordered on the x-axis) shows that as the number of pirates decreased, global temperatures increased. This parodies the suggestion from some religious groups that the high numbers of disasters, famines and wars in the world is due to the lack of respect and worship towards their deity. In 2008, Henderson interpreted the growing pirate activities at the Gulf of Aden as additional support, pointing out that Somalia has "the highest number of pirates and the lowest carbon emissions of any country."[35]

[padraic]

Quote:Correlation at best is a hint towards causation,

'hint'='suggests' (implies)


OK, I stand corrected;correlation MAY imply causation.

I think we may be arguing over semantics: We agree that correlation does not not infer causation.

[IATIA]

(20th September 2011 21:09)TheouLive Wrote:  However if Christians or anyone of any faith just concentrated on one goal, more things like the lowering of the crime rate in Washington would happen!

Yes, if everyone in Washington prayed together at the same time, the crime rate would stop, but only until the prayers were over, then back to business.