One of those comments that from the god page that Min. posted says, "My family and I are in hard times(as you know) and we will be praying later. I pray you hear us."

Now you have to pray for your prayer to be heard?

(April 24, 2012 at 10:31 pm)Cinjin Wrote: .... yeah .... fuck your god (and your stupid cliche explanations)

The situation you described would be very painful. I would never offer that phrase as advice for someone in such horrible circumstances. I wouldn't even tell them I was praying for them unless specifically asked to do so. Hopefully you are not speaking from experience, but if you are you have my greatest sympathy.

Who gives a shit about your sympathy? Can your sympathy provide what my wife prayed for? You wouldn't offer that phrase to someone in such horrible circumstances? Why, does the phrase become more or less true, more or less palatable depending on how much like an ass it makes someone feel when saying it?

God said no to my wife, by your estimation, did he not? What is it about the explanation you've offered (or any explanation ever offered by the faithful for anything whatsoever) that makes it so satisfying to say, and then so easy to retreat from when pressed? Fucking shithouse theology with it's trite response to genuine anguish and suffering. Nevermind, I don't give a fuck what you think your god said yay or nay to.

Well Min, only 2008 people "Like" god and only 11 people are talking about this so far. I just checked.

I wonder If I should post this to my Christian friends just for fun (It's a joke FB page for those who haven't checked it out).

Rhythm, compassion is part of what makes us human regardless of one’s personal beliefs about God or the lack thereof. Few people live a life without pain or tragedy. Extending kindness and aid to those who suffer is only right and proper. If religion gives people comfort in their times of distress, who are you to take that away that from them in your bitterness and anger?

What am I taking away? Nothing.

Platitudes do not equal compassion. They are an insult to compassion, and to those whom you offer them to as explanations (but lets be frank, it would be more apt to use the word "excuses").

There is no bitterness or anger in my daughters situation UNTIL someone invokes your fairy overlord. Here in the real world, unfortunate shit happens, but there isn't anyone or anything to be mad at, no focus for any bitterness (beyond, in this case, the doctor who botched the delivery and was held accountable for it), you just have to deal with it. In your world, a douche ignored or flat out denied my wife's prayers both before and after my daughters birth, and the result of this is permanent and terrible. Strangely, no ones looking to hold this douche accountable (or at least you don't seem to be interested in the least).

You do realize that you just went from your sympathy going out to me, to invocations of my anger and bitterness, and how I'm trying to take comfort away from people in unfortunate situations (such as my daughters). Couldn't even keep your compassionate shit together long enough to avoid beginning the insults and attacks on character could you? Or did you not even realize how quickly you'd taken it to that place? Why, because I pointed out that your god and your explanation were both vacuous and cruel? Well, they are. False humility, false compassion, false piety, ever the hallmark of the observant believer.

Religion offers false hope and nothing else.

I always liked the line:

"A thousand pairs of hands folded in prayer accomplish less than a single pair working to help."

Hands folded in prayer accomplish NOTHING.

Prayer has never been considered a substitute for kindnesses. While it may be polite to invite them to ask for what they might need, few will ever call on you for assistance. One way to help others through difficult times is to make them a home cooked meal to take home to either eat right away or freeze. No one has turned that it away yet, although given my cooking, they might have tossed it when they got home.