The danger of religion. .

[Disciple]

Stimbo- good day to you my friend..

Ave! It die bene, Deciple?

Yes it appears that the side that was prayed over in that particuliar study didnt fare to well indeed.

One possible reason for that, or at least a putative explanation, is that there might have been a form of 'performance anxiety' at play. Essentially, a person recovering from heart surgery learns that they're being prayed for, then starts to wonder what could be so wrong with them that prayers are being said... resulting in their condition getting worse. It's like a fledgling actor knowing his parents are in the audience; it could tend to throw him off-balance.

Regardless, the point of the study was to analyse the effect, if any, of prayer. Whatever god or gods were being invoked either didn't want these patients to do as well as others in the study, didn't want to play (or was too scared to play), or didn't exist. Note that the Templeton Foundation who ran the study was hoping (and praying?) for a positive result.

We also have to take into consideration that person or persons that were doing the praying and the people that were prayed for. God will not hear the prayers of the non believer.

This is known as a rationalisation, putting a positive spin on what is usually an uncomfortable position. It's also an assertion that attracts that old nemesis of the theist, the burden of proof. Why would the belief status of the person praying make a difference? Does 'God' have a "naughty and nice" list? And does 'he' check it twice? It puts me in mind of the early days of fire insurance we used to have over here; basically, your house caught fire and the firemen would turn up, but if you didn't have a plaque on the wall indicating you'd got insurance, they'd simply stand around and watch your house burn down.

And before that sets of a firestorm let me explain a wee bit. He will in fact hear a prayer of repentence then the person is "born again" then all prayers are heard. I dont know if thats the deal in that specific case

Remember that the Templeton Foundation isn't just your average bunch of research scientists with nothing better to spend their grant money on. They are actively seeking to legitimise religion by riding the coattails of science. Their annual $1.5 million Templeton Prize is given, to quote Richard Dawkins, "usually to a scientist who is prepared to say something nice about religion." Now the ball's back in your court; "God" should have no excuse not to hear their prayers. See, it's all very well making these claims but then you have to bite the bullet and back them up.

I wont pretend to know why God does all the things he does. Im ok with that.

What things does 'God' do?

Stimbo- i could talk to you all day brother I love you. And wow what good questions. Really making me think on this one arent you. Let me start with when you asked if God has a naughty and nice list haha. that is actually funny man I think you may be mixing him up with saint nick there. If we have to take everything so serious, especially ourselves life becomes unfun. In my own experience anyway. And yes unfun is a word because i just said it and you know what it means . No he does not have a naughty and nice list. One of his names is the good shepherd and that would make us (free ammo for everybody here) his sheep. If a person is not one of his sheep or much less in the green pasture there is no way he can hear them when they call.

Now lets look at the people in the study. We have the people that were doing the praying and the prayees. Just because sombody works for that organization, dosent make them qualified to talk to God. Jobs are scarce and most people will put whatever on their resume to get hired. Could be that the people on both sides had little to no faith that it would actually work. Its written in our bible that faith without works is dead. I can safely determine from that that prayer without faith is nothing more than talking into the air.

Now what about the prayees in the study. What if they were total god-haters. or just didnt believe, or did believe but didnt think he would help them for whatever reason. God cannot be looked at as a lapdog that will do tricks for man whenever asked.

Stimbo you are a credit to your atheist "family" for lack of a better word. Its sad more cant be like you. Looking forward to hearing from ya man. Peace.

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Minimalist- I said I was a christian. That does not make me a bible authoritarian. What I was talking about was pretty close so sue me if they werent romansTongue
I wasnt trying to show how much I know about the sacred scriptures just giving a case where Christ healed an amputee because thats what I was asked about.

That simply makes you a gullible fool.

Sorry but your circle illustration does not apply here. Other examples were given as well and were not accepted. Just because they were not accepted dosent mean they were not given. And the quote from me that you selected was merely stating that the story i cited about the "guard" getting his ear removed and re attached was accurate. Its just that it was a high priest instead of a roman guard. excuuuse me.