Let Us Pray.

[wildwood]

If you believe in God, do you not think s/he is a bit of a bighead expecting everyone to pray to him, some five times per day, when the omnipotent One knows what you are thinking at all times anyway?

[RATTER15]

I dont believe in miracles!!! :-))

[grasscarp]

If you believe in God - yes
do you not think s/he is a bit of a bighead - no

expecting everyone to pray to him - where does this come from?
some five times per day - who says?
when the omnipotent One knows what you are thinking at all times anyway -
Erm you have lost me here totally.

Some of these religious questions are completely incomprehensible to, and unanswerable by, anyone who actually believes in God.

Luckily there are always enough non believers to show an interest in these "questions" and dismiss them for us.
23:55 Sun 14th Apr 2013Subscribe Report

[wildwood]

Thank you for your reply grasscarp. However, I do not understand why you are so confused by the rest of my question, have I got that wrong? I know(think) it doesn't say in the bible/koran that you shall pray at certain times, but neither is there a mention of many other accepted ecclesiastical practices the religions uphold.

[FredPuli43]

"Fundamental principals " only makes sense if it is read as "fundamental principles", doesn't it? Can't think anyone on here who thinks it a reference to fundamental heads of colleges or other principals, something which is almost impossible to conceive of; try constructing a sentence of meaning with "fundamental principals" in it. Or am I alone in thinking that?

[naomi24]

Morning Jim, ///…. when they do not try to foist it on us but just live their lives and practise their religion quietly, pandering words about like "ridiculous nonsense" as Ratter is doing helps nobody and is just plain rude.//

Since organised religion encroaches uninvited upon people’s lives, none of its adherents can claim to be practising their religion quietly. They are, by default, condoning the actions of the religion as a whole. There is no good reason why religious belief should be afforded more respect than any other sincerely held belief - political beliefs for example. I can’t imagine any sensible person taking umbrage at the charge that the BNP promote ‘ridiculous nonsense’. In that case, the assessment would, in the main, be applauded. Contrary to what appears to be popular belief, religion is no longer exempt from criticism, and nor should it be – and in actual fact, if you read the books, you will discover not only very wonky science quite disgracefully promoted as ‘fact’, but also, among other things, people walking on water, rising from the dead, turning clay birds into real birds by blowing on them – and frankly I think ‘ridiculous nonsense’ is a pretty accurate summation of all of that.

[naomi24]

Grasscarp, // some five times per day - who says?//

Mohammed says.

//when the omnipotent One knows what you are thinking at all times anyway -
Erm you have lost me here totally.//

Why lost? Don’t you believe your God is omnipotent?

//Luckily there are always enough non believers to show an interest in these "questions" and dismiss them for us.//

Yes indeed. We enjoy the study, so no need to thank us. Happy to help. ;o)

[goodlife]

Have you ever thought If prayer is to be answered it must be directed to the right One.

[naomi24]

Goodlife, Stop preaching.

[goodlife]

Ok your the losers.

[naomi24]

We're happy with that. Bye bye.

[RATTER15]

We are the loser, accepted! Bye Goodlife :-)

[jim360]

//Since organised religion encroaches uninvited upon people’s lives, none of its adherents can claim to be practising their religion quietly. They are, by default, condoning the actions of the religion as a whole.//

That's just being silly, Naomi. I practise science and physics. Presumably I condone the actions of those scientists who developed weapons such as gas warfare, atomic bombs and so on?

It's possible to adhere to some general view and condemn some of the specifics. Religion may well end up being "ridiculous nonsense" -- and certainly I no longer believe any of it -- but I still feel it's better to avoid being so direct when talking about it. Dawkins, for example, annoyed me greatly when he turned the possibly balanced quote of "People are entitled to believe whatever they want" to "People can believe whatever fairy stories they want". The first one is balanced and respectful. The second is just derogatory.

By all means, criticise and scrutinise religion. It has to be after all as in places such as Muslim-dominated countries and the US particularly it plays far too great a role in politics and people's lives. Criticise, too, the people who accept their faith blindly while never reading into it, or Goodlife's preaching and never bothering to answer any of our questions. But those who have thought deeply about their faith at least deserve the recognition of having done so.

[RATTER15]

Jim, //But those who have thought deeply about their faith at least deserve the recognition of having done so.//

you have my respect for having taken the time to learn and educate yourself on your faith. but why should anybody give you respect for believing in a silly story. Will you give me respect for believing in the Easter Bunny? You don't get respect for believing in nonsense!!

[jim360]

I didn't say I believed in it. In fact I said precisely the opposite.

[modeller]

//Who have read into, and studied it, far more than I ever have.//

Does that make any difference ? There are thousands of subjects from
Greek mythology to homeopathy that have been studied in great depth .
So does that make them any more valid ? Harry Potter is read by millions but it is still nonsense albeit far more entertaining than Genesis.
IMO .

[naomi24]

Jim, so even though I’m pretty well-informed on the subject of religion, rather than afford me the recognition you claim the religious deserve, you find it quite acceptable to deem my opinion ‘silly’. Conversely, Ratter’s opinion of religion as ‘ridiculous nonsense’ is unacceptable to you. See what you did there? I rest my case.

[jim360]

Ah, drat. Can't argue with you there.