Christianity works exactly like a virus with its virulent message of death and destruction without Jesus (salvation, gospel)
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What if we like praying, going on pilgrimages, and being generous with our material abundance? What's the harm to myself or to humanity if I want to do those things? They only lead to a net increase in goodness and joy in the world.
So you want us to be able to lust after our peers without feeling any guilt about it? How is that fair to the one being objectified by said lust? Is that the path to a fuller vision of humanity, or does that make us no better than an animal? There's a better way.
Let me address these two points:
Prayer doesn't do a bit of harm to anyone because it is a benign activity. It hurts no one and affects no one outside of yourself. According to the studies, praying for someone sick can actually harm them. In a study on prayer's efficacy some sick people who found out they were being prayed for actually got worse. Christians, don't criticize the news sources. The Scotman is only reporting what hundreds of reputable news sources reported when this study came out:
"Health warning: Praying for the sick makes them feel even worse
PRAYING for hospital patients can make their illnesses worse and lead to significant post-operative complications, new research has found.
...heart surgery patients who knew people were praying for them ended up with a higher rate of post-operative complications, such as abnormal heart rhythms. Researchers suggested this was perhaps due to the anxiety of knowing others were praying for their recovery."
But if praying makes you feel good, like listening to beautiful music then by all means pray. I'd rather see people praying because a person praying is not going to be going out and breaking into my home and putting my family in danger. So pray! All I'm saying is don't expect to get any tangible results from it outside of yourself.
And I didn't mean for people to deliberately go out and peer at men or women to get a sexual thrill. What I meant was if you feel lust when you look at someone don't feel guilty about it and if you enjoy the feeling then engage in it. Just don't carry the feeling beyond that. Lusting after someone doesn't harm them or you and it's a sign of a healthy interest in attractive people. It's a stupid STUPID command Jesus gave and there's absolutely no point to it except to get normal sexually healthy people all hung-up psychologically about sex.
Jesus said a lot of wise stuff but he also said a lot of stupid stuff too.
I feel I'm making a contribution here--a worthwhile one, AAMOF. Let's see if I get this: you'd have nothing to discuss because I am in opposition to religion. Does that mean you're united with religion? Do you think religion provides mankind with something value? What exactly? Do you not see the damage and destruction Christianity brings to millions of lives--people who leave it after a foray into its darkened dungeons and live to tell their stories on hundreds of ex-Christian websites? You stand united with this?
Obviously I'd have nothing to discuss, since I realize any sort of discussion with you isn't one where you'd want to do anything but deride and sneer at beliefs.
The thing I see you doing, is pointing out the evils of people who abused power. Religion has value, but you're not looking for it. I can't remember the group that did a study about those who are "Saved"
By their standards (which was the bible) they estimated 4-5% worldwide are saved. That's pretty telling isn't it?
"Health warning: Praying for the sick makes them feel even worse
PRAYING for hospital patients can make their illnesses worse and lead to significant post-operative complications, new research has found.
...heart surgery patients who knew people were praying for them ended up with a higher rate of post-operative complications, such as abnormal heart rhythms. Researchers suggested this was perhaps due to the anxiety of knowing others were praying for their recovery."
That's some serious grasping at straws. Spiritual forces aren't real and prayer is pointless and fake, but the gods will be angry and make the person sicker if you pray for them. LOL
Quote:
Originally Posted by thrillobyte
So pray! All I'm saying is don't expect to get any tangible results from it outside of yourself.
The only "tangible results" I'm hoping for when I pray is a better conformity of my will to God's.
Quote:
Originally Posted by thrillobyte
And I didn't mean for people to deliberately go out and peer at men or women to get a sexual thrill. What I meant was if you feel lust when you look at someone don't feel guilty about it and if you enjoy the feeling then engage in it. Just don't carry the feeling beyond that. Lusting after someone doesn't harm them or you and it's a sign of a healthy interest in attractive people. It's a stupid STUPID command Jesus gave and there's absolutely no point to it except to get normal sexually healthy people all hung-up psychologically about sex.
Jesus said a lot of wise stuff but he also said a lot of stupid stuff too.
You're conflating "lust" and "sexual desire", which is a common mistake people make. Your first sentence, what you rightly condemn, is actually the very definition of lust in Christianity. The "feeling" you described in your second sentence is just sexual desire. It's biological and is not sinful at all, though it can of course lead to sin or become disordered.
If you made an effort to understand these nuances and distinctions, you may be able to overcome your confusion and psychological hang-ups with regard to sex.
Obviously I'd have nothing to discuss, since I realize any sort of discussion with you isn't one where you'd want to do anything but deride and sneer at beliefs.
The thing I see you doing, is pointing out the evils of people who abused power. Religion has value, but you're not looking for it. I can't remember the group that did a study about those who are "Saved"
By their standards (which was the bible) they estimated 4-5% worldwide are saved. That's pretty telling isn't it?
Noted. Thanks for chiming in.
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That's some serious grasping at straws. Spiritual forces aren't real and prayer is pointless and fake, but the gods will be angry and make the person sicker if you pray for them. LOL
