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If my views or beliefs don't matter, then the very act of praying wouldn't make a difference either. The whole purpose of prayer to the believer is having a genuine conviction in one's mind that praying makes a difference in the outcome of the scenario. Since I hold no such belief, I wouldn't pray. And since many people have already died, obviously prayer hasn't helped the outcome, so my prayer, as a nonbeliever, wouldn't help either.
so that is a no. thank you you Scooby for responding
Even as an Agnostic, I have a deep respect for the role faith and prayer play in helping people cope with difficult life situations, but the scenario you've created is patently ridiculous and nonsensical. I do not believe in a malevolent sky fairy who will save humankind if I drop to my knees with my hands folded beneath my chin. I do believe that prayer calms people in the midst of crisis, which may lead them to act in a way that improves the outcome of a crisis, but that is entirely different from what you proposed in your initial post.
I've heard that the brain waves of people in meditation and prayer are almost identical, so the calming effects of each most likely are too.
I am trying to decide whether having gone to the grocery store for ham, and finding that they are out of ham, if I would go to the hardware store for ham as a last resort.
I am trying to decide whether having gone to the grocery store for ham, and finding that they are out of ham, if I would go to the hardware store for ham as a last resort.
good question
if your family was starving due to a food shortage and riots and looting, and the neighbor down the street said there was ham at the hardware store because someone had hidden some there in a safe place, would you check it out as a last resort because you don't want your family to starve, and you're willing to try anything due to the crisis and your concern for your loved ones?
Last edited by Tzaphkiel; 12-21-2015 at 08:32 AM..
if your town, country, city, nation, family were under attack, and peaceful innocent people were being slaughtered and killed right and left, and someone said the only thing that can save them is prayer, would you pray? It would mean saving the lives of not only you and your family, but those in your town and nation as well. Would you pray? Or would you be willing to let others suffer and die because it is not something you believe would have any effect whatsoever?
in this scenario, the fate of your family and good people everywhere rests with what the atheists and agnostics decide to do. They are the "swing vote" that determines whether more people are killed, or whether goodness and kindness prevail to give peace a chance. Let's say 40% of the world is already praying for peace, 40% of the world are engaged in vicious brutality and seeks to destroy humankind, and the remaining 20% are atheists and agnostics.
If the 20% does not pray, then darkness wins, you and your neighbors are killed. If the 20% does pray, the vicious attackers are defeated, and peace returns. What you do literally determines the outcome. Would you pray for peace? This does not require you to join a religion or hold any beliefs about God, it is simply praying out loud and in your heart, "Help! Send us peace."
yes, no, why or why not
thank you everyone for your input
Would you be willing to denounce your belief in God, and turn to a different god, or non belief if it would save people? Would you be willing to do a few human sacrifices in the name of another god? Would you be willing to end religion in your country? I mean, as a last resort and all?
You have been asked a few questions about things like this, and you just ignore them, so let's see if the trend continues, shall we?
Would you be willing to denounce your belief in God, and turn to a different god, or non belief if it would save people? Would you be willing to do a few human sacrifices in the name of another god? Would you be willing to end religion in your country? I mean, as a last resort and all?
You have been asked a few questions about things like this, and you just ignore them, so let's see if the trend continues, shall we?
thank you for your thoughtful response, please see post #62
had this stayed in Religion and Spirituality where it originated, other topics could be addressed; however since the moderators have moved the topic to Atheism and Agnosticism, it is not permitted to discuss other religions and belief systems.
good question
if your family was starving due to a food shortage and riots and looting, and the neighbor down the street said there was ham at the hardware store because someone had hidden some there in a safe place, would you check it out as a last resort because you don't want your family to starve, and you're willing to try anything due to the crisis and your concern for your loved ones?
Someone is telling me there is hidden ham at the hardware store. How am I to find the hidden ham? And if my family was starving, why would I not buy something else to eat at the grocery store. This is absurd. Not sure what the point is.
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