Question to Theists

[reality.Mathematician]

Would it be better to help poor people? or to pray non-stop without any reason?

[Jackalope]

Would it be better to help poor people? or to pray non-stop without any reason?

Kind of a loaded question, don't you think?

[ShaMan]

Would it be better to help poor people? or to pray non-stop without any reason?

(bold added by me)

I'm no theist, but I think it would be best to meditate on how, when, and where to best help poor people - and then do it.

[fr0d0]

Why would a theist pray for no reason? I guess you're making an assumption for us.

I'm a believer in practical support and so is my church. What motivates us is our faith, and prayer is part of that.

[Rampant.A.I.]

Dunno, why do you?

[Welsh cake]

All depends on what you mean by 'help', reality.

I once gave a ragged homeless man all the money I had on me, because I felt really and truly sorry for him and his current circumstance.

The exhibition group at University I was with had just proceeded to stuff their fat faces full of rich food, steak pies, cakes, scones, pastry, you name it. It was a bitterly cold winter's day outside. Everyone walked past him for the train home. No one gave a shit about the man. It was starting to come to rain, making it even colder.

I gave so much, but I wouldn't have had to, because if everyone gave just a little I know he'd have been alright. I hoped he'd have somewhere warm to stay the night at least.

About a week later, I see him again, and he's drunk himself absolutely silly. Another week later and he's gone. I can't assume it ended well for him.

You can 'help' people, lend a hand, get some assistance, but what good is any of it when they can't help themselves? When they want to destroy themselves through drink and drug abuse?

[reality.Mathematician]

All depends on what you mean by 'help', reality.

I once gave a ragged homeless man all the money I had on me, because I felt really and truly sorry for him and his current circumstance.

The exhibition group at University I was with had just proceeded to stuff their fat faces full of rich food, steak pies, cakes, scones, pastry, you name it. It was a bitterly cold winter's day outside. Everyone walked past him for the train home. No one gave a shit about the man. It was starting to come to rain, making it even colder.

I gave so much, but I wouldn't have had to, because if everyone gave just a little I know he'd have been alright. I hoped he'd have somewhere warm to stay the night at least.

About a week later, I see him again, and he's drunk himself absolutely silly. Another week later and he's gone. I can't assume it ended well for him.

You can 'help' people, lend a hand, get some assistance, but what good is any of it when they can't help themselves? When they want to destroy themselves through drink and drug abuse?

I'm poor too. My love is "Cigarette" "Peace"

[Welsh cake]

I'm poor too. My love is "Cigarette" "Peace"

....

...what?

[zanOTK]

Most theists (myself included) don't consider prayer pointless. We pray for guidance, we pray for help, we pray just to talk to God. It's pointless in the eyes of somebody that doesn't believe in God, but not for somebody that does.

Also, helping the poor is a central practice in many, if not all, religions. So the question is presenting a false dichotomy. For theists it isn't "help poor people" OR "pray", it is "help poor people" AND "pray."

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Fuxxake, reality. Why don't you simply ask theists, 'Have you stopped beating your wife?' Sheesh.

Boru