it is deffo not only the "asking God for favors" type of prayer we should be discussing, as I see it. I guess that subtly says something about people that that is usually what first comes into most people's heads when the subject comes up. The thing is that no matter what the reason one might be praying it comes down to pretty much the same two things, (1) you are a believer, so of course you are going to believe that this is a good thing to do, or (2) You do not believe, so what would be the point?
When I was still a believer, of various descriptions along the way until I shut myself of the whole business, I routinely attended services much of the time, and usually said grace before meals. Why? Because I wanted to, it felt good, it was the right thing to do - to my way of thinking at the time. There is a whole lot to it for you IF you believe. It is far from being just about "asking God for favors". I never liked doing that anyway.
But for a good while now I've been free from that "Cosmic North Korea" Hitchens talked about. And he was right about it, for that was what was going with me. I just didn't not see it in that way. But then I could no longer deny what was going on and that was why none of this was working for me no matter which branch of the religious tree I shook or how hard I shook it. There was nobody up there to hear my prayers, pure and simple. It was kind of scary at first, but then I grokked that Hey! What this really means is I'm free! I'm an autonomous agent who is worth just as much as anyone else! It's up to me, and me alone. Nothing has ever felt righter, for want of a better way to put it.
When I was still a believer, of various descriptions along the way until I shut myself of the whole business, I routinely attended services much of the time, and usually said grace before meals. Why? Because I wanted to, it felt good, it was the right thing to do - to my way of thinking at the time. There is a whole lot to it for you IF you believe. It is far from being just about "asking God for favors". I never liked doing that anyway.
But for a good while now I've been free from that "Cosmic North Korea" Hitchens talked about. And he was right about it, for that was what was going with me. I just didn't not see it in that way. But then I could no longer deny what was going on and that was why none of this was working for me no matter which branch of the religious tree I shook or how hard I shook it. There was nobody up there to hear my prayers, pure and simple. It was kind of scary at first, but then I grokked that Hey! What this really means is I'm free! I'm an autonomous agent who is worth just as much as anyone else! It's up to me, and me alone. Nothing has ever felt righter, for want of a better way to put it.
“To terrify children with the image of hell, to consider women an inferior creation—is that good for the world?”
― Christopher Hitchens
"That fear first created the gods is perhaps as true as anything so brief could be on so great a subject". - George Santayana
"If this is the best God can do, I'm not impressed". - George Carlin
― Christopher Hitchens
"That fear first created the gods is perhaps as true as anything so brief could be on so great a subject". - George Santayana
"If this is the best God can do, I'm not impressed". - George Carlin
