The problem with prayer

[Eilonnwy]

Where you at a Catholic school or public?

I went to a Catholic school and was an atheist by 16. So I had to deal with morning prayers and stuff, but I didn't have much of a leg to stand on in protesting it, and I recognized it so I remained silent. But I would get chastised sometimes for not speaking the prayer or the pledge and I wasn't being disruptive I didn't participate.

[CoxRox]

I was a Roman Catholic and attended a RC school until I was 11. We moved to another town and there wasn't a nearby RC secondary school so I went to a local 'comprehensive' school which wasn't particularly religious, but did offer RE (Religious Education) and prayers in assembly. It would have been very different if I'd gone to the RC secondary school run by nuns. Would I have been so brave? Somehow I don't think so....

[Eilonnwy]

I had some nuns teaching, and other times just regular teachers. My school was a weird mixed bag, but I usually got chastized the most for my atheism by the nuns of course. ^^()

Interestingly enough I'm listening to an old podcast of the Non-Prophets where they read a section of Daniel Dennetts letter from after a very life threatening surgery he had. They read a specific section on prayer which I thought is very relevant to the conversation. It's linked here: http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/dennett0...index.html

The specific section on prayer is the 9th paragraph if you want to skip over the rest but I recommend reading it in entirety. Good stuff.

[bozo]

I had some nuns teaching, and other times just regular teachers. My school was a weird mixed bag, but I usually got chastized the most for my atheism by the nuns of course. ^^()

Interestingly enough I'm listening to an old podcast of the Non-Prophets where they read a section of Daniel Dennetts letter from after a very life threatening surgery he had. They read a specific section on prayer which I thought is very relevant to the conversation. It's linked here: http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/dennett0...index.html

The specific section on prayer is the 9th paragraph if you want to skip over the rest but I recommend reading it in entirety. Good stuff.

Nuns scared me shitless when I was a child. My family was not catholic, but my mum used to send laundry to a local MAGDALENE prison, where " fallen women " were sent to work as slaves under the iron heel of those nuns. I had to go and collect the washing. The building was a gothic monstrosity. I was full of dread and trepidation as I walked hesitantly over the cobbled stones to knock on huge, locked sliding doors, knowing that when pulled back, there to greet me would be a vile penguin-like creature. The smell from inside was also vile...washing smells, but not pleasant and I gaped in wonder at the piniform-wearing females with gaunt faces, slaving away in mountains of dirty product. I didn't know at the time what that regime represented, but I sensed the evil from those nun creatures!

[CoxRox]

I had some nuns teaching, and other times just regular teachers. My school was a weird mixed bag, but I usually got chastized the most for my atheism by the nuns of course. ^^()

Interestingly enough I'm listening to an old podcast of the Non-Prophets where they read a section of Daniel Dennetts letter from after a very life threatening surgery he had. They read a specific section on prayer which I thought is very relevant to the conversation. It's linked here: http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/dennett0...index.html

The specific section on prayer is the 9th paragraph if you want to skip over the rest but I recommend reading it in entirety. Good stuff.

Have just read the article. Very interesting. I completely understand the points he makes. Thanks for that.

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Nuns scared me shitless when I was a child. My family was not catholic, but my mum used to send laundry to a local MAGDALENE prison, where " fallen women " were sent to work as slaves under the iron heel of those nuns. I had to go and collect the washing. The building was a gothic monstrosity. I was full of dread and trepidation as I walked hesitantly over the cobbled stones to knock on huge, locked sliding doors, knowing that when pulled back, there to greet me would be a vile penguin-like creature. The smell from inside was also vile...washing smells, but not pleasant and I gaped in wonder at the piniform-wearing females with gaunt faces, slaving away in mountains of dirty product. I didn't know at the time what that regime represented, but I sensed the evil from those nun creatures!

I must say that my experience of nuns on the whole is a positive one. Maybe this is because they were nuns who lived in the community. There was a convent near the park where I used to play when I was little and I hurt myself once and went and knocked on the door. A rosy cheeked sister answered (I can see her now in my mind's eye) and ushered me in with soothing sounds and tended to my cut forehead and said I was a sensible girl to seek help. She sent me on my way with a hand full of sweets. It's amazing how some of them were so sadistic- the ones I've read about in the 'homes' in Ireland. I also had a pen pal who was a nun in Birmingham. She wrote lovely letters to me. They weren't all bad.

[chatpilot]

That was a great article by one great author! I am actually half way through his latest book 'Breaking the spell' so far an excellent read.It's funny how he thanks science and the people that surround him during his recovery.I tend to do the same thing.Once my brother came to my house and I prepared a meal for us and when he sat down to eat he said 'this looks good,thank God for this meal",I corrected him and told him to thank me because if he waited on God he would die of hunger.I like Dennett see religion as myth and tradition and therefore do not give God any credit for any good or evil that I may experience in my life.I dont pray because like Dennett I feel it is a waste of time and energy there are so many other ways that we can make this world a better place by simply becoming active participants within it.