Why do you pray?

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rydawg5

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2,639 posts
Jan 17, 2012 10:21 PM
To be honest, I don't legitimately pray very often, but when I do, it's usually to give thanks or ask for a blessing.
Jan 17, 2012 10:21pm
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thePITman

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3,867 posts
Jan 17, 2012 10:23 PM
I pray because it's how I talk to God. If I didn't pray, then I'm not sure how I would talk to God. I think it's pretty simple.
Jan 17, 2012 10:23pm
I

I Wear Pants

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16,223 posts
Jan 17, 2012 10:25 PM
It bugs me when I see on Facebook people that have been ill or had surgery or whatever and recover from it to say "thanks to all your prayers that got me better" or something to that effect.

No you stupid ****, it was a skilled doctor and wonderful technology that made you recover, not 43 people on Facebook saying "you're in our prayers", etc.
Jan 17, 2012 10:25pm
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Morpheus

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Jan 17, 2012 10:27 PM
Muhammad Ali's comeback.

Sent from my Incredible 2 using Tapatalk
Jan 17, 2012 10:27pm
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sleeper

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Jan 17, 2012 10:30 PM
[video=youtube_share;sNDZb0KtJDk][/video]
Jan 17, 2012 10:30pm
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thePITman

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Jan 17, 2012 10:31 PM
I Wear Pants;1056443 wrote:It bugs me when I see on Facebook people that have been ill or had surgery or whatever and recover from it to say "thanks to all your prayers that got me better" or something to that effect.

No you stupid ****, it was a skilled doctor and wonderful technology that made you recover, not 43 people on Facebook saying "you're in our prayers", etc.
Many times when praying for someone in a bad situation like that, I also pray for the doctors and others involved in diagnosis & operations, to give them guidance, knowledge, skill, etc. to successfully do their job and help said person.

There is no proof that prayer doesn't work. The answer just isn't always "Yes". It also depends on your definition of "work". If every time we prayed and asked for something, we got it, the world would be a mess.

Basically this discussion comes down to the same thing as Faith in general. Either you have Faith and beliefs, or you do not. People have the right to make their decision. Some may argue that it takes more faith to believe that everything came about from nothing than that some Higher Power began it all and created everything as perfectly as it is today (our human bodies, the solar system, etc.)

It's about Faith.
Jan 17, 2012 10:31pm
I

I Wear Pants

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16,223 posts
Jan 17, 2012 10:36 PM
thePITman;1056450 wrote:Many times when praying for someone in a bad situation like that, I also pray for the doctors and others involved in diagnosis & operations, to give them guidance, knowledge, skill, etc. to successfully do their job and help said person.

There is no proof that prayer doesn't work. The answer just isn't always "Yes". It also depends on your definition of "work". If every time we prayed and asked for something, we got it, the world would be a mess.

Basically this discussion comes down to the same thing as Faith in general. Either you have Faith and beliefs, or you do not. People have the right to make their decision. Some may argue that it takes more faith to believe that everything came about from nothing than that some Higher Power began it all and created everything as perfectly as it is today (our human bodies, the solar system, etc.)

It's about Faith.
That's the biggest bullshit argument that theists use. It doesn't take faith to not believe in god.
Jan 17, 2012 10:36pm
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Tiger2003

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Jan 17, 2012 10:37 PM
I pray every morning when I wake up and every night before I go to sleep. Yes I get down next to my bed and pray holding my rosary. I do it because I always have and come from a strong Roman Catholic family. I pray because it helps me get through each day and each night.
Jan 17, 2012 10:37pm
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thePITman

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Jan 17, 2012 10:39 PM
I Wear Pants;1056458 wrote:That's the biggest bull**** argument that theists use. It doesn't take faith to not believe in god.
You're entitled to your opinion. And I'm entitled to mine.
Jan 17, 2012 10:39pm
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swoosh

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Jan 17, 2012 10:43 PM
Prayers are for real.
Jan 17, 2012 10:43pm
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swoosh

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Jan 17, 2012 10:44 PM
IchsCreekPRIDE;1056468 wrote:Prayers are for real.

And I have proof.
Jan 17, 2012 10:44pm
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hasbeen

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6,504 posts
Jan 17, 2012 10:44 PM
thePITman;1056461 wrote:You're entitled to your opinion. And I'm entitled to mine.

I'm going to pray that you lose your entitlement to an opinion.
Jan 17, 2012 10:44pm
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Fab1b

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Jan 17, 2012 10:45 PM
Tiger2003;1056459 wrote:I pray every morning when I wake up and every night before I go to sleep. Yes I get down next to my bed and pray holding my rosary. I do it because I always have and come from a strong Roman Catholic family. I pray because it helps me get through each day and each night.
I do it because I always have and come from a strong Roman Catholic family.
so you just followed along even though it may help you through the day (which is fine) but I am just wondering if you searched for your own belief or just went along with what the family has done?
Jan 17, 2012 10:45pm
I

I Wear Pants

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Jan 17, 2012 10:45 PM
thePITman;1056461 wrote:You're entitled to your opinion. And I'm entitled to mine.
No, belief in god requires faith because it is something that can absolutely never be proven no matter how long we live via actual, testable evidence. The ideas of how the universe formed, how we came to be, earth, etc while not entirely understood are completely different modes of thinking. The idea that because we don't have all the answers proves that there is a god is a little bit absurd.
Jan 17, 2012 10:45pm
I

I Wear Pants

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Jan 17, 2012 10:46 PM
IchsCreekPRIDE;1056470 wrote:And I have proof.
Reps.
Jan 17, 2012 10:46pm
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thePITman

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Jan 17, 2012 10:48 PM
LoL. Not #ruined. You didn't read the rest of my comment. I respect and understand your opinion, but I disagree.
thePITman;1056450 wrote:The answer just isn't always "Yes". It also depends on your definition of "work". If every time we prayed and asked for something, we got it, the world would be a mess.
Anyway, I don't think anybody here is changing their stance, so there's no sense in me arguing further. I have said what I wanted to say. It's nice that the OP said he would not attack those who commented. If only the same could be said of others. I expected it though, so it's all good. ;)
Jan 17, 2012 10:48pm
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Fab1b

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Jan 17, 2012 10:49 PM
My mom and I had an interesting discussion a week or so about religion. I am not religous and never have been. I mean I went to church growing up and got confirmed (sp?) but I didn't have a say in that mind you I was following orders of the parents.

Now my mom says to me the other day, why don't you believe? You were always taught and raised to believe? I said to my mom see, I found my own path, not just followed what someone said and told me to do like you have. She was shocked! We ended the discussion about the subject then as she didn't really want to hear it, that is part of the problem with religion. Those that believe want you to know it, but when its the other side, they don't want to hear it!
Jan 17, 2012 10:49pm
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sleeper

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Jan 17, 2012 10:50 PM
Tiger2003;1056459 wrote:I pray every morning when I wake up and every night before I go to sleep. Yes I get down next to my bed and pray holding my rosary. I do it because I always have and come from a strong Roman Catholic family. I pray because it helps me get through each day and each night.
This type of story eats my heart. I hate childhood indoctrination more than anything and is the main driver of my irrational hatred towards any religious institution. Kids don't even have a freaking chance to think for themselves.
Jan 17, 2012 10:50pm
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LJ

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Jan 17, 2012 10:51 PM
sleeper;1056484 wrote: my irrational hatred
/thread
Jan 17, 2012 10:51pm
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sleeper

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Jan 17, 2012 10:52 PM
thePITman;1056480 wrote:LoL. Not #ruined. You didn't read the rest of my comment.
Faith is a cop out. It's a logical loophole that is only used to justify religious beliefs.
Jan 17, 2012 10:52pm
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Tiger2003

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Jan 17, 2012 10:52 PM
Fab1b;1056474 wrote:so you just followed along even though it may help you through the day (which is fine) but I am just wondering if you searched for your own belief or just went along with what the family has done?

Always have prayed. I understand how some people may think its dumb or whatever and you have the right to do that. I have never wanted to experience any other belief because I love my Religion.
Jan 17, 2012 10:52pm
R

rydawg5

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2,639 posts
Jan 17, 2012 10:53 PM
I don't always pray but when I do, I do with Dos Equis. Stay thirsty my friends.

Jan 17, 2012 10:53pm
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sleeper

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Jan 17, 2012 10:54 PM
Fab1b;1056482 wrote:My mom and I had an interesting discussion a week or so about religion. I am not religous and never have been. I mean I went to church growing up and got confirmed (sp?) but I didn't have a say in that mind you I was following orders of the parents.

Now my mom says to me the other day, why don't you believe? You were always taught and raised to believe? I said to my mom see, I found my own path, not just followed what someone said and told me to do like you have. She was shocked! We ended the discussion about the subject then as she didn't really want to hear it, that is part of the problem with religion. Those that believe want you to know it, but when its the other side, they don't want to hear it!
I think we found something we agree on Fab1b. I was unlucky in the sense that I grew up having to go to church every Sunday, and I had to go through a private religious based school. I am however lucky and blessed that I was able to see the light before I spent the rest of my life completely devoid of logic.
Jan 17, 2012 10:54pm
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Fab1b

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Jan 17, 2012 10:54 PM
Tiger2003;1056487 wrote:Always have prayed. I understand how some people may think its dumb or whatever and you have the right to do that. I have never wanted to experience any other belief because I love my Religion.
I didn't say it was dumb, I was more interested in the fact that you either did it because that is the way you were raised or if you actually sought out and found your own path? If you love your religion that is great, that tells me you sought it out and determined that path was best for you. That is all I was getting at. See my post above about my mother and I, same thing just the other side.
Jan 17, 2012 10:54pm