Our server costs ~$56 per month to run. Please consider donating or becoming a Patron to help keep the site running. Help us gain new members by following us on Twitter and liking our page on Facebook!
Current time: November 28, 2024, 3:55 am
Atheist Forums › Community › Religion › Christianity v
Praying for others?

Thread Rating:
  • 2 Vote(s) - 5 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Thread Modes
Praying for others?
fr0d0 Offline
H0ary H0bbit
Religious Views: “Never to suffer would never to have been blessed.” - Edgar Allan Poe
Posts: 14259
Threads: 48
Joined: March 1, 2009
Reputation: 80
#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.
Find
Reply
Darwinian Offline
Original Admin - Retired
*****
Religious Views: Hoopy Frood
Posts: 4349
Threads: 385
Joined: August 25, 2008
Reputation: 57
#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?
[Image: cinjin_banner_border.jpg]
Find
Reply
bozo Offline
in the gutter, looking at the stars
***
Religious Views: atheist, what else!
Posts: 1446
Threads: 77
Joined: October 1, 2008
Reputation: 11
#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?
Find
Reply
fr0d0 Offline
H0ary H0bbit
Religious Views: “Never to suffer would never to have been blessed.” - Edgar Allan Poe
Posts: 14259
Threads: 48
Joined: March 1, 2009
Reputation: 80
#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.
Find
Reply
LukeMC Offline
Annual Poster
*****
Religious Views: Gandhi Mate, Gandhi
Posts: 628
Threads: 13
Joined: December 1, 2008
Reputation: 13
#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
Find
Reply
Violet Offline
Buffalo and Bee Lover
*****
Religious Views: There are beeautiful cloud buffalo in the sky.
Posts: 15755
Threads: 194
Joined: May 15, 2009
Reputation: 145
#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
Find
Reply
Edwardo Piet Away
Devil's Supercardo.
Religious Views: Atheistic panexperientialism
Posts: 43162
Threads: 720
Joined: September 21, 2008
Reputation: 133
#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
Find
Reply
Violet Offline
Buffalo and Bee Lover
*****
Religious Views: There are beeautiful cloud buffalo in the sky.
Posts: 15755
Threads: 194
Joined: May 15, 2009
Reputation: 145
#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
Find
Reply
Edwardo Piet Away
Devil's Supercardo.
Religious Views: Atheistic panexperientialism
Posts: 43162
Threads: 720
Joined: September 21, 2008
Reputation: 133
#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
Find
Reply
fr0d0 Offline
H0ary H0bbit
Religious Views: “Never to suffer would never to have been blessed.” - Edgar Allan Poe
Posts: 14259
Threads: 48
Joined: March 1, 2009
Reputation: 80
#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.
Find
Reply


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

Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Brazilian woman has spent years praying to Lord of the Rings doll Cyberman 41 6676 January 8, 2017 at 2:27 pm
Last Post: brewer
  Discount for Praying? Minimalist 26 4311 August 2, 2014 at 8:41 pm
Last Post: Thumpalumpacus
  Is hell anything like -- do unto others and love the sinner? Greatest I am 11 10560 May 26, 2012 at 12:53 am
Last Post: Godscreated
  Have all of the Atheists and some others on like forums comited the unforgivable sin? Pel 41 14962 February 10, 2012 at 2:51 am
Last Post: The Grand Nudger
  Does God ---- Do unto others? Greatest I am 18 8384 January 24, 2012 at 2:48 pm
Last Post: Aegrus
  No wonder Muslims and others distrust US' motives BethK 0 1378 November 12, 2011 at 12:28 am
Last Post: BethK
  Told Bro-in-law to tell Gov. Perry to quit praying for rain. Anymouse 12 4869 September 9, 2011 at 7:20 pm
Last Post: Minimalist
  Rev. Pat Robertson not praying right Anymouse 0 1609 August 26, 2011 at 2:04 pm
Last Post: Anymouse
  Praying for cheaper gas. Jaysyn 18 5003 April 25, 2011 at 3:04 pm
Last Post: Napoléon
  If your a Christian is it worth praying? Captain Scarlet 32 12654 September 2, 2010 at 11:21 pm
Last Post: Entropist



Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)