Personal relationships with deities

[houseofcantor]

Was that supposed to be a contradiction?

Comedy, I'm thinking. Gives you the "lord's prayer," then criticizes you for using it.

[Hmmm?]

I'm sorry I didn't see this sooner...  here's one:  (like Rhonda said, even one is too many)  ...to pray or not to pray?

Mat 6:7-8, Ecc 5:2, But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Luke 11:8, 18:1&7 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint ...and shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

we're in this together, pops   *thumbs up to Faith in selfless Unity for Good  ...smiles and blessings to you, my friend :•)

https://youtu.be/eaTA_PoayFc

Was that supposed to be a contradiction?

Perhaps I'm wrong, I assure you it wouldn't be the first time

[ignoramus]

Pops in back! keep fighting the good fight!

[Whateverist]

Does one confess on a first date with a new deity, I wonder.

[popsthebuilder]

Does one confess on a first date with a new deity, I wonder.

Confession is for the sake of man as God knows all. It is admittance and as such, acknowledgment that one is wrong, opening the door for repentance and forgiveness and new direction leaving the sin behind

Faith in selfless Unity for Good.

[miaharun]

The latest i heard from a dear friend is "I can't prove that God exists to you but i know he is very much alive" "He has helped me in so may ways" "I didn't study much for my exams but i passed and my prayers were answered" See in the last example, people actually don't believe in themselves , most of them will never know how capable they are.

God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are the most important things for them to their lives. Even on top of family (Parents, spouse and maybe children). I asked "when you pray what does God say to you" There is no answer for that just blank and smile. At least they are not that gullible to think of imaginary words. I as a Buddhist believe in forces like Karma. But thats only for me to keep doing whats right. I don't try to interact.

[The Grand Nudger]

Keep making excuses for your own irrationality while you criticize another for precisely the same.  Poor buddhists, guys don't believe in themselves, most will never know how capable they are. They seem to think that some magical force is affecting their life outcomes.......and keeping them from pushing old ladies into the street..............

[miaharun]

Good to see you again Sir , The OP was about relationships with deities. i don't have any relationship with any deity. No conversation, no interaction. I still fail to see why you think both beliefs are the same.

I agree with you about it being magic or nonsense. Quite frankly i don't care if Karma its there or not. I like to believe in it so that it keeps me doing the right thing. Rather than "I did something bad, Thats ok, God will forgive"

[The Grand Nudger]

Precisely, it's....

helped me in many ways

....eh?  If you're the kind of guy who'd push old ladies in the street, or skullfuck a toddler...and buddhism is what keeps you from doing that....then go for it. This, and any criticism of this must be shared by both yourself, and the god believers who offer the same explanation. Validity for either notion is based upon pragmatism in your example. Either ridicule of the one applies to the other, or you have settled for inconsistency in your comments.

[robvalue]

I think it amounts to an explanation to ones' self as to why one doesn't do such things.

Just like religion, it mistakenly assumes that it isn't generally in our evolved nature to behave with empathy.

I've heard from many people who have left religion, after being convinced that their beliefs were all that was stopping them murdering people, that they discover, "Oh. Actually, I don't want to murder anyone anyway."