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RE: Prayer does not work
November 19, 2013 at 7:02 pm
(This post was last modified: November 19, 2013 at 7:04 pm by Brian37.)
(November 19, 2013 at 6:23 pm)Jacob(smooth) Wrote: (November 19, 2013 at 5:57 pm)Brian37 Wrote: Yes, but even as an atheist I still think and "hope" for things that don't transpire, like the Redskins not sucking, and people appreciating ABBA like I do.
But at least when I waste my time I know I have no tin foil hat or magic bat phone to some sky pixy that will make the Redskins Superbowl champs or make the world love ABBA. Abba. Seriously?!
Yeah, the above makes you a more rational and thoughtful person, more likely to assess what you do and improve it to get better results (and no that's not sarcasm) Aside from the Abba thing. Which really doesn't. 
Hey guys, I know I said I wouldn't tell anyone here they are going to hell but could I have this one? PLEEEEEASE
Yes motherfucker I said ABBA, deal with it! 
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RE: Prayer does not work
November 19, 2013 at 7:20 pm
Shudders...
"Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken."
Sith code
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RE: Prayer does not work
November 19, 2013 at 11:43 pm
(November 19, 2013 at 6:55 am)Jacob(smooth) Wrote: However the fact remains that under some circumstances prayer DOES work. Maybe not in the way some people believe, but in certain circumstances it can have the desired effect.
I'm not sure we are actually disagreeing in Principle, just on the wording.
Oh yeah, it works. Power of suggestion combined with placebo applied toward self limiting or accomplishing desires can have a desired outcome.
The belief that one can achieve result through prayer is enough to create the result through that belief. There's nothing divine about it.
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RE: Prayer does not work
November 20, 2013 at 12:05 am
Jumping in from the title O.P.: Maybe you're not doing it right. Try praying for sure things.
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RE: Prayer does not work
November 20, 2013 at 12:06 am
If one is open to prayer (not the prayer of want so much), then it will work for them.
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.
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RE: Prayer does not work
November 20, 2013 at 12:07 am
(This post was last modified: November 20, 2013 at 12:09 am by Whateverist.)
(November 19, 2013 at 7:20 pm)Jacob(smooth) Wrote: Shudders...
I'm going to suggest we pray for Brian that he loose his Dancing Queen fixation .. not that there's anything wrong with that!
Almost edited to:
I'm going to suggest we pray for Brian that he lose his Dancing Queen fixation .. not that there's anything wrong with that!
But it kind of works either way.
(November 20, 2013 at 12:06 am)Polaris Wrote: If one is open to prayer (not the prayer of want so much), then it will work for them.
Do you find incense to be helpful? Perhaps a nice chant? Eye of newt?
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RE: Prayer does not work
November 20, 2013 at 1:34 am
Prayer only seems to work when praying for something ambiguous (such as wishing someone luck) or for something that would likely happen anyway (such as someone recovering from illness), in which case the rate of success is comparable to chance alone operating as a factor, all else being equal. Pray for something specific, that can only have one explanation, and it never works. Throw in the "sometimes the answer's no" fudge factor and all bets are off, because now you have a game so rigged that the house can never lose and even an outcome diametrically opposed to the one invoked in prayer becomes a hit. The phrase "the operation was a total success but the patient died" could have been coined especially for that.
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
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RE: Prayer does not work
November 20, 2013 at 3:52 am
(November 20, 2013 at 12:07 am)whateverist Wrote: (November 19, 2013 at 7:20 pm)Jacob(smooth) Wrote: Shudders...
I'm going to suggest we pray for Brian that he loose his Dancing Queen fixation .. not that there's anything wrong with that!
Almost edited to:
I'm going to suggest we pray for Brian that he lose his Dancing Queen fixation .. not that there's anything wrong with that!
But it kind of works either way.
(November 20, 2013 at 12:06 am)Polaris Wrote: If one is open to prayer (not the prayer of want so much), then it will work for them.
Do you find incense to be helpful? Perhaps a nice chant? Eye of newt? Definitely.
We know that the placebo effect is modified by many things, the colour of the pills, pills vs injections, the level of pomp and theatre, the perception of the person administering it, the perceived cost of the placebo etc.
Stands to reason that those sorts of things will also make certain types of prayer more effective. So yes, all the runny candles bells and smells.
"Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken."
Sith code
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RE: Prayer does not work
November 20, 2013 at 10:05 am
(November 20, 2013 at 12:07 am)whateverist Wrote: (November 19, 2013 at 7:20 pm)Jacob(smooth) Wrote: Shudders...
I'm going to suggest we pray for Brian that he loose his Dancing Queen fixation .. not that there's anything wrong with that!
Almost edited to:
I'm going to suggest we pray for Brian that he lose his Dancing Queen fixation .. not that there's anything wrong with that!
But it kind of works either way.
(November 20, 2013 at 12:06 am)Polaris Wrote: If one is open to prayer (not the prayer of want so much), then it will work for them.
Do you find incense to be helpful? Perhaps a nice chant? Eye of newt?
If one more time someone refers to Dancing Queen and ABBA I am going to fucking go on a killing spree!
LOOK UP
WATCH OUT
HEY HELEN
SO LONG
THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL
There is more to ABBA than Dancing Queen! It is a great dance song but it DOES NOT define ABBA.
KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL!
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RE: Prayer does not work
November 20, 2013 at 11:37 am
(This post was last modified: November 20, 2013 at 11:38 am by Whateverist.)
You're kind of cute when you get all ruffled up like that, Brian. Hey they have a few catchy tunes. But did you ever hear the Ten Tenors do their cover of Dancing Queen? Interesting.
http://youtu.be/prUIXmd8xns
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