Freethought & Rationalism Archive

drees · 03-19-2003, 08:47 PM

Who else gets mightily pissed off at being asked to pray for the troops? I live in Australia where the majority of people don't go to church and yet our jackass prime minister, John Coward, just asked me to pray for the safe return of our troops. Not happy, Jan.

Of course I wish them well and hope for their safe return from this stupid war (hmmm, isn't that a redundant phrase) but never stand up as a politician in a secular country and invoke the name of god or ask me to pray.

mongrel · 03-19-2003, 09:04 PM

Quote:

but never stand up as a politician in a secular country and invoke the name of god or ask me to pray.

From here:

Quote:

116. The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.

I understand that this means any law "imposing any religious observance", but shit, shouldn't it apply to everything an elected official calls for? The dipshit should know better, but he's following too closely up Shrub's arse.

spurly · 03-19-2003, 09:07 PM

I take it you are not going to pray for the troops?

Steve Ramsay · 03-19-2003, 09:17 PM

Hi All,
I also live in the land of Oz . . .but unlike some people I have no problem parying for the safe return of our troops . .It is not that you are asking God to make them safe . .a debatable point certainly . . it is the fact you care enough about someone you dont know laying his or her life on the line for something they may believe in. To do less is to deny their existance. It is a randon act of human kindness, nothing wrong with that in my eyes.

cricket · 03-19-2003, 09:21 PM

Those who don't pray for troops deny their existance, er... huh?

mongrel · 03-19-2003, 09:24 PM

Quote:

but unlike some people I have no problem parying for the safe return of our troops . .It is not that you are asking God to make them safe . .a debatable point certainly . . it is the fact you care enough about someone you dont know laying his or her life on the line for something they may believe in. To do less is to deny their existance.

Are you trying to tell me that I'm denying the existence of people I have served with by not talking to some imaginary sky fairy? Pull your head out of your arse!

daria · 03-19-2003, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Steve Ramsay
It is a randon act of human kindness, nothing wrong with that in my eyes.

Praying is more like a deliberate and calculated show of human laziness. An act requires some sort of action, and praying just doesn't cut it.

Strawberry · 03-20-2003, 12:23 AM

Even my super-fundie grandma always said that gawd helps those who help themselves. Not even she would just sit back and pray and expect lots of good to come of it. If my grandma thinks that argument is over-the-top religious, I know it's shyte.

DonnieDarko · 03-20-2003, 12:27 AM

As the saying goes : "Nothing fails like prayer"

Perhaps there is a more constructive way to support your troops?

Kim o' the Concrete Jungle · 03-20-2003, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DonnieDarko
Perhaps there is a more constructive way to support your troops?

Yes, like getting them the hell out of Iraq.

03-19-2003, 08:47 PM	#1
drees New Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2	"Pray" for the troops? Fsck off! Who else gets mightily pissed off at being asked to pray for the troops? I live in Australia where the majority of people don't go to church and yet our jackass prime minister, John Coward, just asked me to pray for the safe return of our troops. Not happy, Jan. Of course I wish them well and hope for their safe return from this stupid war (hmmm, isn't that a redundant phrase) but never stand up as a politician in a secular country and invoke the name of god or ask me to pray.

03-19-2003, 09:17 PM	#4
Steve Ramsay Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 6	Pray for the troops ? Hi All, I also live in the land of Oz . . .but unlike some people I have no problem parying for the safe return of our troops . .It is not that you are asking God to make them safe . .a debatable point certainly . . it is the fact you care enough about someone you dont know laying his or her life on the line for something they may believe in. To do less is to deny their existance. It is a randon act of human kindness, nothing wrong with that in my eyes.

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03-19-2003, 09:07 PM	#3
spurly Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 710	I take it you are not going to pray for the troops?

03-19-2003, 09:21 PM	#5
cricket Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: St Louis MO USA Posts: 1,188	Those who don't pray for troops deny their existance, er... huh?

03-20-2003, 12:23 AM	#8
Strawberry Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Lancaster, PA/Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 627	Even my super-fundie grandma always said that gawd helps those who help themselves. Not even she would just sit back and pray and expect lots of good to come of it. If my grandma thinks that argument is over-the-top religious, I know it's shyte.

03-20-2003, 12:27 AM	#9
DonnieDarko Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The home of Bob Jones University Posts: 1,053	As the saying goes : "Nothing fails like prayer" Perhaps there is a more constructive way to support your troops?

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