Experiences with Prayer

[Ace Otana]

When it came to the reading the bible bit, I believe Satan not the Holy Spirit was working through me, unles God is really the bad guy and Satan the just rebel.

I know a good friend who turned to Satanism and not god because he read the bible. Satan is the good guy. He rebels against god, frees adam and eve by giving them knowledge and constantly stands against god again and again. If a christian did convince me of a god, I'd rather go with Satan. He seems to be the good one.
Anyway, you always hear of it from one side of the story. Aren't you supposed to listen to both sides before taking a side?
What's god hiding? (Apart from himself )

[Edwardo Piet]

Has anyone had any experiences with prayer before?

When I was a kid and fucking stupid enough to half-believe it I attempted it just to get the toys and computer games I wanted. I never seriously believed in that stupid fucking shit even when I was a child. I kind of 'hoped' it would work. I was still mostly sure it was absolute fucking nonsense (and it is).

[solja247]

Yeah prayer is delusion. So what ?

Are you sure about that?

[Darwinian]

If god is the alpha and the omega. The begining and the end, knows what has passed and what is to come, like it states in the bible, why do people pray and think it will make any difference.

Mark Fairclough

[Welsh cake]

Has anyone had any experiences with prayer before?

I know there was this one time I prayed for Peace in the Middle East...

Oh oh! I know the punchline to this one!

"...and my prayers weren't answered."

[Jonah]

If god is the alpha and the omega. The begining and the end, knows what has passed and what is to come, like it states in the bible, why do people pray and think it will make any difference.

Mark Fairclough

That's what I don't get. It's not like God really gives a rip if I ask him to help me pass a test. If he knows whether or not I'll pass the test, wouldn't it be better for me to just study for the damn thing and hope for the best?

I guess prayer helps people feel like they have control over an out-of-control situation because they can ask a deity to intercede on their behalf. But, if God answers the prayers of your enemy, couldn't it be said that Satan was working against you?

It's all about self-deception in my opinion.

[Anomalocaris]

If god is the alpha and the omega. The begining and the end, knows what has passed and what is to come, like it states in the bible, why do people pray and think it will make any difference.

Mark Fairclough

That's what I don't get. It's not like God really gives a rip if I ask him to help me pass a test.

I guess prayer helps people feel like they have control over an out-of-control situation because they can ask a deity to intercede on their behalf. But, if God answers the prayers of your enemy, couldn't it be said that Satan was working against you?

It's all about self-deception in my opinion.

Yeah, if you need god answering your preyers to pass an exame, that means you need god to act like a Satan and screwed all the people who really knew the stuff by tempering with the score curve in your favor. But the cognative dissonance that allows a person born in the scientific age to believe in the literal truth of the bible probably wouldn't allow them to think too effectively about this quandray.

I can just hear the juicy obscurantist obfuscation now.

[Minimalist]

Prayer is real, I know I've experienced it's reality and no one can say anything to take that away from me.I know what's coming, the same junk as before, so bring it have your laugh so it can be done with.

Humanity has always been capable of self-delusion.

[Jonah]

Yeah, if you need god answering your preyers to pass an exame, that means you need god to act like a Satan and screwed all the people who really knew the stuff by tempering with the score curve in your favor. But the cognative dissonance that allows a person born in the scientific age to believe in the literal truth of the bible probably wouldn't allow them to think too effectively about this quandray.

I can just hear the juicy obscurantist obfuscation now.

According to Christian beliefs, isn't it unethical to ask God to play the role of Satan on your behalf? Would that qualify as tempting God? If it does, then God wouldn't intercede in the matter anyway.

And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

[Anomalocaris]

Yeah, if you need god answering your preyers to pass an exame, that means you need god to act like a Satan and screwed all the people who really knew the stuff by tempering with the score curve in your favor. But the cognative dissonance that allows a person born in the scientific age to believe in the literal truth of the bible probably wouldn't allow them to think too effectively about this quandray.

I can just hear the juicy obscurantist obfuscation now.

According to Christian beliefs, isn't it unethical to ask God to play the role of Satan on your behalf? Would that qualify as tempting God? If it does, then God wouldn't intercede in the matter anyway.

And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

So either there is no god, or god won't listen to you. All of a sudden it seem like Pascal's hustler wager is not just a flip of a coin anymore, is it.