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Just because 'you just feel' something, doesn't make it true, right MontanaGuy...well...at least I think that's what you guys usually tell us believers.....
You're right, I'm just saying what I think but I can't prove anything. I'm very set in my ways and I feel strongly about my convictions but I couldn't lay out evidence in a court of law anymore than a believer could. For whatever reason people seem to be drawn to one philosophy or another. I do believe in the scientific method and rational thought. I don't want to believe in the philosophy or religion that feels the best, I want to know what's really true. That's why I feel that science is the best choice for humanity because it doesn't have a goal in mind, it just goes where the evidence leads. This makes sense to me.
im starting to think that prayer is a COMPLETE waste of time yet believe in the power of positive thinking (that might be a crock of crap also but...).
im thinking (hoping) that if i stay positive and put positive vibes out there into the atmosphere that i will also attract positive things.
You're right, I'm just saying what I think but I can't prove anything. I'm very set in my ways and I feel strongly about my convictions but I couldn't lay out evidence in a court of law anymore than a believer could. For whatever reason people seem to be drawn to one philosophy or another. I do believe in the scientific method and rational thought. I don't want to believe in the philosophy or religion that feels the best, I want to know what's really true. That's why I feel that science is the best choice for humanity because it doesn't have a goal in mind, it just goes where the evidence leads. This makes sense to me.
I believe in science and rational thought too though, MG. What we disagree on....rather what we're at opposite ends of the spectrum on is what is rational thought. You think certain aspects of my beliefs are irrational and I think certain aspects of your beliefs are irrational.
That's interesting to me. I mean, we (believers and non-believers) appear to look at the exact same scenarios with completely different lenses and both of us think we're rational and the other is irrational. Weird.
im starting to think that prayer is a COMPLETE waste of time yet believe in the power of positive thinking (that might be a crock of crap also but...).
im thinking (hoping) that if i stay positive and put positive vibes out there into the atmosphere that i will also attract positive things.
Praying to God is the same as putting God in a box to label Him.
We praise Him when our prayers come true and we (secretly) curse Him when they don't. Just like the genie in a bottle, we treat God as our own personal miracle worker and all we need for the miracles to work is to have faith.
At least that is what the miracle workers tell us, right?
The problem with this is that Christian hope is not an objective form of hope, but more of an expectation. God should make their hope come true, why else do Christians believe in God? They have faith that God will grant them their wish. Just hoping that something will happen is just too passive for me, I'd rather work to make it happen.
Heaven is a hope, luckily I don't believe in an afterlife so there is no need for me to pray that I'll enter heaven. I do not hope or expect to end up in heaven.
Or in hell. I just concentrate on trying to do good now and not in an afterlife.
Praying to God is the same as putting God in a box to label Him.
We praise Him when our prayers come true and we (secretly) curse Him when they don't. Just like the genie in a bottle, we treat God as our own personal miracle worker and all we need for the miracles to work is to have faith.
At least that is what the miracle workers tell us, right?
The problem with this is that Christian hope is not an objective form of hope, but more of an expectation. God should make their hope come true, why else do Christians believe in God? They have faith that God will grant them their wish. Just hoping that something will happen is just too passive for me, I'd rather work to make it happen.
Heaven is a hope, luckily I don't believe in an afterlife so there is no need for me to pray that I'll enter heaven. I do not hope or expect to end up in heaven.
Or in hell. I just concentrate on trying to do good now and not in an afterlife.
Your post is 100% in wrong.
Someone has really skewed your views on prayer and Christianity.
You did a great job explaining carnal Christians. You need to get out more.
Your genie analogies are insulting and your sweeping comment about Christians cursing God when prayers aren't answered are misrepresentations and frankly, offensive to me as a Christian.
Someone has really skewed your views on prayer and Christianity.
Nope, because Christians only ask what they believe God would give them. If you only ask things you are sure you are going to get, than you are not really asking at all, but rather expecting it. Asking is knowing that you can get no as an answer, while expecting is not accepting no as an answer.
It certainly is true that in my experience, when Christians ask me to do something, they do not ask but rather expect that I do what they have ’asked’ me to do. This is why Christians have so much faith, they do not consider the possibility that they could be wrong, or that they might be asking for the wrong thing.
Quote:
Your genie analogies are insulting and your sweeping comment about Christians cursing God when prayers aren't answered are misrepresentations and frankly, offensive to me as a Christian.
You have the right to feel offened by my opinions as I have the right to feel offended by yours.
It still won't change my opinion of Christians though, because it has not changed my experience with Christianity in general.
Only a few Christians accept me the way that I am, but that is just a very tiny minority. Unfortunately they are more the exception that proves the rule.
Last edited by Tricky D; 12-16-2007 at 06:03 AM..
Reason: spelling
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Praying to God is the same as putting God in a box to label Him.
Just like the genie in a bottle, we treat God as our own personal miracle worker and all we need for the miracles to work is to have faith.
Just hoping that something will happen is just too passive for me, I'd rather work to make it happen.
I just concentrate on trying to do good now and not in an afterlife.
You have the right to feel offened by my opinions as I have the right to feel offended by yours.
Unfortunately they are more the exception that proves the rule.
