Freethought & Rationalism Archive

penumbra · 08-01-2003, 09:00 AM

I know, I know, there are probably two dozen old threads on this topic already, but I'm feeling contrary this morning, and figured why not start a rehash.

Son and I were discussing Pat Robertson's call for prayer about the Supreme Court Justices last night, and the kid break's into his best Jerry Seinfeld imitation (barely recognizable) and says:

Quote:

And what's the deal with prayer? I mean, really, God knows everything, right? He knows what you think, what you desire, he knows if you are sleeping, knows if you're awake, knows if you've been bad or good, etc, etc. And he knows ahead of time what you're going to ask for and what his answer will be. You think you can convince him to change his mind? Or that you're telling him something he doesn't already know (oh, man, wait until God hears THIS!!)?

Aside from the psychological purpose (ritual reinforcement of a delusional belief), what do Xian�s really think they�re accomplishing with prayer anyway?

SimplyAtheistic · 08-01-2003, 10:28 AM

Nothing fails like prayer. Someone had to say it

Jake

CaptainOfOuterSpace · 08-01-2003, 12:09 PM

People who pray are emotionally weak and need something to occupy their mind while in a crisis. Prayer is like superstition to the power of ten. (i.e. Knocking on wood does not prevent catastrophic events, but people do it anyway. why?)

The Christian mind is oblivious to your argument because it would never give up its only anchor on sanity. The Christian meme is expressly designed to act as this anchor.

cpickett · 08-01-2003, 12:18 PM

I actually had basically that discussion with my parents two or three weeks ago, their position basically came down to something along the lines of:

"You have free will, God wouldn't do something without first having your consent, so you must ask him for it first, so that he doesn't infringe upon your will."

Of course this leaves out why you would pray for someone else, the whole idea of, if we do in fact have free will or not, etc. But I couldn't get them to understand those points...

penumbra · 08-01-2003, 12:37 PM

Quote:

God wouldn't do something without first having your consent

Whoa!!! Kinda flys in the face of all-knowing, all-powerful, doesn't it?

My sympathy for you having to deal with such closed-minded parents. I've got a fundie sister of similar ilk.

emotional · 08-01-2003, 12:45 PM

Prayer: asking that 2 plus 2 should not equal 4.

sophie · 08-01-2003, 01:22 PM

I think some people pray when faced with hurt.

Yangja Isuko · 08-01-2003, 01:27 PM

your son is a comic genius.

CaptainOfOuterSpace · 08-01-2003, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sophie
I think some people pray when faced with hurt.

Makes God look sort of sadistic, doesn't it? having people pray to him only when they are in their most vulnerable and defenseless state of mind...

Mageth · 08-01-2003, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sophie
I think some people pray when faced with hurt.

Really? I take ibuprofen; it's far more effective.

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08-01-2003, 10:28 AM	#2
SimplyAtheistic Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Posts: 503	Nothing fails like prayer. Someone had to say it Jake

08-01-2003, 12:09 PM	#3
CaptainOfOuterSpace Regular Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Posts: 137	People who pray are emotionally weak and need something to occupy their mind while in a crisis. Prayer is like superstition to the power of ten. (i.e. Knocking on wood does not prevent catastrophic events, but people do it anyway. why?) The Christian mind is oblivious to your argument because it would never give up its only anchor on sanity. The Christian meme is expressly designed to act as this anchor.

08-01-2003, 12:18 PM	#4
cpickett Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Arcadia, IN, USA Posts: 308	I actually had basically that discussion with my parents two or three weeks ago, their position basically came down to something along the lines of: "You have free will, God wouldn't do something without first having your consent, so you must ask him for it first, so that he doesn't infringe upon your will." Of course this leaves out why you would pray for someone else, the whole idea of, if we do in fact have free will or not, etc. But I couldn't get them to understand those points...

08-01-2003, 12:45 PM	#6
emotional Banned Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Boxing ring of HaShem, Jesus and Allah Posts: 1,945	Prayer: asking that 2 plus 2 should not equal 4.

08-01-2003, 01:22 PM	#7
sophie Veteran Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: On the road to extinction. . . Posts: 1,485	I think some people pray when faced with hurt.

08-01-2003, 01:27 PM	#8
Yangja Isuko Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: amsterdam Posts: 327	your son is a comic genius.

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