That's actually very rude. It's one thing to answer that you don't pray or believe in anything, it's another thing entirely to dismiss anyone with beliefs as being less intelligent than yourself.
Any "Higher Power" who behaves the way the currently-popular goober does can piss up a rope for all eternity before I'll worship his sick attention-whoring and disgustingly abusive ass.
Don't anymore, but found myself kind of sort of praying to whoever would listen when my dad got in that car accident and I didn't know if he'd made it. Otherwise, I'm agnostic.
I was raised Catholic, but I haven't been to church in years. I like to say that there's no such thing as an adult Catholic without guilt :)
I believe that any higher power that might be out there is unknowable and undefinable. I don't specifically pray, but I do hope for certain things, or hope that situations turn out in a positive way for myself and others. Isn't that all praying is, really?
I do believe in a Higher Power, if you don't then how in the f##K do you not shoot yourself in the head every day with the sheer pointlessness and suffering in this world, if that was the case? You've gotta believe in something benevolent just to stay sane. I do believe in the power of prayer, but not in the place of medicine. I pray for protection, healing, help, guidance, safety, white light. I'm definitely more on the metaphysical/pagan side of things. But I also like the twelve step program/methods/literature. There's value in it. Does some of that help explain my looniness?
I pray and I believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. I don't and won't ever knock others in what they believe or what they don't believe. I would challenge the non-believers to just pray. pray for a month and see how enriched your life becomes. Just try it...I can't hurt anything.
I do not believe the general story of Christ/GOD, but would like to think that there is some truth to good vs evil and that the stories that were told/written into "THE BIBLE" have some merit....but I am not sure Jesus is fair skinned and has a goatee. Nice story though...
I do believe in a HIGHER POWER- or that someone/something has a reason for us to be here...to have feelings and ability to move others into bettering themselves & their surroundings.
When good things happen to me/my loved ones- I do a silent THANK YOU to this HIGHER POWER. When I see a beautiful mountain/lake/ocean/animal- I do the same thing. "Thank you for the chance to experience that".
I respect folks who have religion/GOD, and even get jealous of that sometimes- because I do not believe or care to believe. I give the JW ladies who come to my door 10 minutes of my times as they really believe their stuff- one lady- Kay is her name- she can recite the ENTIRE Bible- it is scary....she knows all the bad stuff us humans do, haha!
Amen. Same here. I went to synagogue this morning for half hour service and half hour of discussion. I go as often as I can, several times a week plus Saturday. I'm occasionally the leader/Cantor. I love it.
I pray every night for blessings on my family, friends,and our pets, and anyone going through hard times in mind, body or spirit. I give thanks for my own blessings. I'm sending my positive thoughts and feelings for these people out into the universe.
It most certainly can't hurt, and it helps me. Not a day goes by that I don't consciously seek the best for those I love.
I'm Catholic and pray daily. And I expect the same respect that one would give anyone else as far as their beliefs. If one expects people of faith to practice tolerance, people of faith have the right to expect the same tolerance of others.
If someone talked about gays, or blacks, or women the way some of the above comments mock people of faith, you would all be outraged. Why is it ok to mock those who believe differently than you? Really looks like a double standard to me. And don't give me the old crap about how religion thinks some people are sinners, etc, etc. Most people of faith that I know just want to mind their own business, and hope that you mind YOUR own business.
Thank you very much, Susan, well said. I love God, and I am tolerant and accepting of every belief and lifestyle, but the one thing everyone is okay with being intolerant of is belief.
And Thomas Aquinas answered the "lazy PIIGS dweller" (I live in asspain, so I'm supposed to be able to say lazy PIIGS with a reason and indeed ironically) Epicurus some centuries later. He said long story short that God didn't want to give us everything done, so if there were no evil, we wouldn't be able to discern good and we would be living in sort of a paradise. Work makes someone free. If you have everything given since you are born, you become some spoiled Paris Hilton. If you have to cast evil away from good, you will become a nice person.
I wish I prayed, but I don't really believe in anything, least of it in global warming (religion for idiots, try to discuss any of its dogmas and you will finish at the stake).
I don't see that anyone here has criticized peoples beliefs. JAS questions why there would be a God in a world that's so horrible, if I am reading him correctly. May have not come across that way, but that's my interpretation. That is a common issue even among people of faith. Overall it looks like its about 80-20 in relation to prayer vs. no.
(Lord I apologize for calling attention to myself and for the pygmies down in New Guinea)
I don't pray, as such, but I am Catholic. I don't go to Mass regularly and was surprised I didn't burst into flames last week when I was in church. But I do like the idea of living a good life. Do right by others, help out when you can, be tolerant and respectful of others. All that jazz. I know people will say that 'The Church' is not very tolerant but it's not about fire, Hell and brimstone for me. Its about being a good person. If hearing a few nice passages helps to understand basic common courtesy then that is a good thing. Again, I don't practice but I respect those who do.
Tiny minorities (in this case the rationalists) always look like a threat to the vast majority. Hey, you have us outnumbered by a factor of 5. Be happy about it.
I was born and raised Christian, started looking into it more deeply which caused me to lose all faith and was a vehement atheist.
Now I go to church because it's important to my husband AND because I've found that it's the only way to have a sustained community. Believe me, I tried many different ways to find and/or start communities, but religion is the only thing that keeps people together regularly and over years.
I do not, however, believe in the story of Jesus. I don't try to dissuade anyone else, and I love many of the ideas in the Bible (others not so much). But once you've stopped believing, once you've examined the whole thing closely, you can't *make* yourself believe anymore.
...and yet here I am, known to all as a pillar of my church. What can I say? It's a community, and I need that. And I don't judge anyone else for their beliefs or lack thereof.
Oh, but National Day of Prayer? No. Church and State need to be separate.
No I do not pray and I absolutely do not believe in a higher power - unless that higher power is Spielberg. HIM I believe in. And not just because I'm angling for a job.
I am a very spiritual pagan who thanks the Universe daily for my many blessings. I was a baptized Christian until 10 years ago. I still strive to live my life by the teachings of Christ which sadly many of today's Christians have forgotten.
Loving,kind,compassionate,tolerant and observant of other's free will. I may not believe he died for my sins but I do revere him as a great and wise teacher who knew the universal secrets how to stop reincarnating to Earth and ascend higher. I also believe in and request assistance/pray to Demi Gods/Goddesses who intercede on our behalf much like the Saints do in Catholicism.
My husband pratices old norse paganism(Asatru),my children are agnostic.The kids have been encouraged to pursue whatever belief system they want or lack thereof,if applicable. We are a spiritual melting pot in this house!
@LazyDay: Not to be pedantic but I also don't see people disagreeing with those who are agnostic/atheistic either or maybe I'm not understanding you. My husband is in that group and it's really a non-issue for us.
Religion (or non belief) is such a personal thing that no one should force their ideology on anyone. I think that people do get angry when their religion is tagged as "great harm because look what happened here" as in my religion is better than yours neener neener. As far as THIS group discussion, however, it appears people are by an large being very respectful. I find it to be pretty civil actually.
I talk (bitch) to the universe in my head a lot. *L* God? Like, some being living in the sky and looking down on us all like a human chess board? No. Higher power is tricky too, because it still implies a being that exists. However, I DO believe that there is a force in the universe that binds all of us to each other and to every living thing. I just don't know what that is...
You can be thoughtful, moral, ethical without the framework of religion. And if u think about religion its the ultimate con- takes credit for all good, no credit for bad. Having said that,to each his own.
When ive had some serious life problems ive looked for something, anything to keep me sane. Sometimes you dont think your strong enough, u need something to feel better. I wont call it prayer, but its positive energy and thoughts you just wish would come thru you ease your hurting heart
Couple of aggro believers I see... I'm agnostic, but accept most people need to believe in something and that belief can improve people's lives. Whatever works for you and doesnt harm others. especially if it helps you strive to be a better person. Organised religion does tend to give me the willies but on an individual basis it's all good. I do find it a little odd that there is a national day of prayer, but then again compared to this list.... http://all-funny.info/real-list-of-national-days
I go to church often and I pray everyday. I do beleive in the Father and the Holy Trinity and the fact that God is merciful and love us. My faith in God deepened after I have my children and discover infinite and selfless love. I imagine God's love and mercy for mankind is 1,000 times that of my love and forgivess to my children.
As in the age old questions - if there is a God, why He didn't stop all the suffering around us? IMHO, it pains us to see other suffer but that's how we learn to be sympathetic and, hopefully, love others enough to jump to our feet to do something to help.
A world without suffering would be ideal - but we might risers becoming selfish and spoil creatures. Case in point? Children who used to getting their ways - all the times- often turn into uncaring, self- involved adults. Normal adults with sympathy and an ability to care for others often grew up knowing and laerning from a few disappointments in life.
And God loves us all. We just need the wisdom to seek and to see it.
I don't pray, but I do make wishes on eyelashes and turned necklaces. I guess that's sort of the same...
ReplyDeleteI do too, Cathy!
DeleteWe've got to pray just to make it today.
ReplyDeletePlease Hammer, don't hurt 'em!
DeleteLOL, Lucas!
DeleteYes, I pray and believe in a higher power.
ReplyDeleteI don't pray or believe in anything
ReplyDeleteOh America, you are hilarious.
ReplyDeleteI've been known to pray to the porcelain gods after a rough night out
ReplyDeleteI pray daily and believe it helps
ReplyDeleteI don't pray to anyone or anything. That's because sanity runs in our family.
ReplyDeleteThat's actually very rude. It's one thing to answer that you don't pray or believe in anything, it's another thing entirely to dismiss anyone with beliefs as being less intelligent than yourself.
DeleteI refuse to answer on the grounds that I don't want my opinion used as market research to sell more ads for CrowdGather.
ReplyDeleteAmen Lucas!!
DeletePreach it, Lucas!
DeleteDang Lucas! *high5* betch
DeleteWhat all my betches said, Lucas.
DeleteNice Lucas! I'm with the betches, none of your damn business.
DeleteI giggle snorted. High five!
DeleteMe too betches.
DeleteYes I do.I pray night before bed. Well sometimes I forget but I do. Once in a blue moon a go to church tho
ReplyDeleteYes I do pray & meditate and I do believe in a higher power
ReplyDeleteNo & no
ReplyDeleteNo prayer, no church, no higher power.
ReplyDeleteAny "Higher Power" who behaves the way the currently-popular goober does can piss up a rope for all eternity before I'll worship his sick attention-whoring and disgustingly abusive ass.
I do.
ReplyDeleteDon't anymore, but found myself kind of sort of praying to whoever would listen when my dad got in that car accident and I didn't know if he'd made it. Otherwise, I'm agnostic.
ReplyDeleteI was raised Catholic, but I haven't been to church in years. I like to say that there's no such thing as an adult Catholic without guilt :)
ReplyDeleteI believe that any higher power that might be out there is unknowable and undefinable. I don't specifically pray, but I do hope for certain things, or hope that situations turn out in a positive way for myself and others. Isn't that all praying is, really?
Not sure if it's prayer but I do have kind of an ongoing dialog with my higher power.
ReplyDeleteNo prayer but do meditate for peace. Not really working thi, lol. And yes, if there is a god, he has alot of explaining to do!!!!
ReplyDeleteAaaand there goes the live grenade lobbed over the fortress walls.....
ReplyDeleteI do believe in a Higher Power, if you don't then how in the f##K do you not shoot yourself in the head every day with the sheer pointlessness and suffering in this world, if that was the case? You've gotta believe in something benevolent just to stay sane. I do believe in the power of prayer, but not in the place of medicine. I pray for protection, healing, help, guidance, safety, white light. I'm definitely more on the metaphysical/pagan side of things. But I also like the twelve step program/methods/literature. There's value in it. Does some of that help explain my looniness?
ReplyDeletePersonally I avoid shooting myself in the head every day by not owning a gun. Which is a good place to start.
DeletePersonally I avoid it by not being a dumbass. You can own guns and not be a nutjob :/ Crazy, I know..
DeleteOh, and Oatslass your not so subtle condescending tone didn't go unnoticed.
ReplyDeleteNone of the above. *picking up handbasket*
ReplyDeleteI pray and I believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. I don't and won't ever knock others in what they believe or what they don't believe. I would challenge the non-believers to just pray. pray for a month and see how enriched your life becomes. Just try it...I can't hurt anything.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe the general story of Christ/GOD, but would like to think that there is some truth to good vs evil and that the stories that were told/written into "THE BIBLE" have some merit....but I am not sure Jesus is fair skinned and has a goatee. Nice story though...
ReplyDeleteI do believe in a HIGHER POWER- or that someone/something has a reason for us to be here...to have feelings and ability to move others into bettering themselves & their surroundings.
When good things happen to me/my loved ones- I do a silent THANK YOU to this HIGHER POWER. When I see a beautiful mountain/lake/ocean/animal- I do the same thing. "Thank you for the chance to experience that".
I respect folks who have religion/GOD, and even get jealous of that sometimes- because I do not believe or care to believe. I give the JW ladies who come to my door 10 minutes of my times as they really believe their stuff- one lady- Kay is her name- she can recite the ENTIRE Bible- it is scary....she knows all the bad stuff us humans do, haha!
Thank you HIGHER POWER for CDAN!
I pray and believe in God and the Heavenly Father. I've had too many prayers answered for me not to be a believer.
ReplyDeleteWhen you know, you know.
Amen. Same here. I went to synagogue this morning for half hour service and half hour of discussion. I go as often as I can, several times a week plus Saturday. I'm occasionally the leader/Cantor. I love it.
DeleteI pray every night for blessings on my family, friends,and our pets, and anyone going through hard times in mind, body or spirit. I give thanks for my own blessings. I'm sending my positive thoughts and feelings for these people out into the universe.
ReplyDeleteIt most certainly can't hurt, and it helps me. Not a day goes by that I don't consciously seek the best for those I love.
I know plenty of sane people who don't believe in anything.
ReplyDeleteI believe in a higher power and I take the time to thank the universe for my good fortune.
ReplyDeleteEpicurus had it down:
ReplyDeleteIs God willing to prevent evil, but not able? - Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? - Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? - Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? - Then why call him God?
+1
DeleteI have a firm belief in physics. Anything else is ghost stories.
ReplyDeleteI was just happy to hear this was Margarita Month.
ReplyDeleteI'm Catholic and pray daily. And I expect the same respect that one would give anyone else as far as their beliefs. If one expects people of faith to practice tolerance, people of faith have the right to expect the same tolerance of others.
ReplyDeleteIf someone talked about gays, or blacks, or women the way some of the above comments mock people of faith, you would all be outraged. Why is it ok to mock those who believe differently than you? Really looks like a double standard to me. And don't give me the old crap about how religion thinks some people are sinners, etc, etc. Most people of faith that I know just want to mind their own business, and hope that you mind YOUR own business.
Thank you very much, Susan, well said.
DeleteI love God, and I am tolerant and accepting of every belief and lifestyle, but the one thing everyone is okay with being intolerant of is belief.
I believe in a higher power and thank him/it/her every day for all the blessings in my life.
ReplyDeleteI believe in a higher power and thank him/it/her every day for all the blessings in my life.
ReplyDeleteI'm with @Munch.
ReplyDeleteBetch please! Ain't nobody got time to answer that!
ReplyDeleteI'm a disciple of Jesus Christ, I believe that the Bible is literally true, and yes, I pray. Thanks for asking, Enty!
ReplyDeleteYes, NO and YES!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with SusanB.
ReplyDeleteAnd Thomas Aquinas answered the "lazy PIIGS dweller" (I live in asspain, so I'm supposed to be able to say lazy PIIGS with a reason and indeed ironically) Epicurus some centuries later.
He said long story short that God didn't want to give us everything done, so if there were no evil, we wouldn't be able to discern good and we would be living in sort of a paradise. Work makes someone free. If you have everything given since you are born, you become some spoiled Paris Hilton. If you have to cast evil away from good, you will become a nice person.
I wish I prayed, but I don't really believe in anything, least of it in global warming (religion for idiots, try to discuss any of its dogmas and you will finish at the stake).
Gosh now I understand what has happened to our society.
ReplyDelete@Susan
ReplyDeleteThank you and Well Said and you are so true. I don't have a religion but I'm firm and strong in my Faith!
I don't see that anyone here has criticized peoples beliefs. JAS questions why there would be a God in a world that's so horrible, if I am reading him correctly. May have not come across that way, but that's my interpretation. That is a common issue even among people of faith. Overall it looks like its about 80-20 in relation to prayer vs. no.
ReplyDelete(Lord I apologize for calling attention to myself and for the pygmies down in New Guinea)
Git r done
DeleteI don't pray, as such, but I am Catholic. I don't go to Mass regularly and was surprised I didn't burst into flames last week when I was in church.
ReplyDeleteBut I do like the idea of living a good life. Do right by others, help out when you can, be tolerant and respectful of others. All that jazz.
I know people will say that 'The Church' is not very tolerant but it's not about fire, Hell and brimstone for me. Its about being a good person. If hearing a few nice passages helps to understand basic common courtesy then that is a good thing.
Again, I don't practice but I respect those who do.
Tiny minorities (in this case the rationalists) always look like a threat to the vast majority. Hey, you have us outnumbered by a factor of 5. Be happy about it.
ReplyDeleteI was born and raised Christian, started looking into it more deeply which caused me to lose all faith and was a vehement atheist.
ReplyDeleteNow I go to church because it's important to my husband AND because I've found that it's the only way to have a sustained community. Believe me, I tried many different ways to find and/or start communities, but religion is the only thing that keeps people together regularly and over years.
I do not, however, believe in the story of Jesus. I don't try to dissuade anyone else, and I love many of the ideas in the Bible (others not so much). But once you've stopped believing, once you've examined the whole thing closely, you can't *make* yourself believe anymore.
...and yet here I am, known to all as a pillar of my church. What can I say? It's a community, and I need that. And I don't judge anyone else for their beliefs or lack thereof.
Oh, but National Day of Prayer? No. Church and State need to be separate.
@Munch, Epicurus overlooked the temporary nature of this life and the reason for it - self-determination
ReplyDeletere: Is God both able and willing to prevent evil? - Then whence cometh evil?
Answer: Yes. From those who misuse their free will.
No I do not pray and I absolutely do not believe in a higher power - unless that higher power is Spielberg. HIM I believe in. And not just because I'm angling for a job.
ReplyDeleteI am a very spiritual pagan who thanks the Universe daily for my many blessings. I was a baptized Christian until 10 years ago. I still strive to live my life by the teachings of Christ which sadly many of today's Christians have forgotten.
ReplyDeleteLoving,kind,compassionate,tolerant and observant of other's free will. I may not believe he died for my sins but I do revere him as a great and wise teacher who knew the universal secrets how to stop reincarnating to Earth and ascend higher. I also believe in and request assistance/pray to Demi Gods/Goddesses who intercede on our behalf much like the Saints do in Catholicism.
My husband pratices old norse paganism(Asatru),my children are agnostic.The kids have been encouraged to pursue whatever belief system they want or lack thereof,if applicable. We are a spiritual melting pot in this house!
@LazyDay: Not to be pedantic but I also don't see people disagreeing with those who are agnostic/atheistic either or maybe I'm not understanding you. My husband is in that group and it's really a non-issue for us.
ReplyDeleteReligion (or non belief) is such a personal thing that no one should force their ideology on anyone. I think that people do get angry when their religion is tagged as "great harm because look what happened here" as in my religion is better than yours neener neener. As far as THIS group discussion, however, it appears people are by an large being very respectful. I find it to be pretty civil actually.
I talk (bitch) to the universe in my head a lot. *L* God? Like, some being living in the sky and looking down on us all like a human chess board? No. Higher power is tricky too, because it still implies a being that exists. However, I DO believe that there is a force in the universe that binds all of us to each other and to every living thing. I just don't know what that is...
ReplyDeleteYou can be thoughtful, moral, ethical without the framework of religion. And if u think about religion its the ultimate con- takes credit for all good, no credit for bad. Having said that,to each his own.
ReplyDeleteI'm agnostic. As long as one doesn't use their religion to spew hatred, I have no issue with it.
ReplyDeleteI say the Hail Mary when the nerve block wears off and Vicodin doesn't work...and it's pretty helpful
ReplyDeleteNo, no and no. I respect personal faith and am interested in religion but I definitely don't believe.
ReplyDeleteDude, praying is not confined to people who go to church. People pray in temples, in synogogues and in mosques. They even pray in the woods.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I pray quite a lot, in any place, and to several deities.
When ive had some serious life problems ive looked for something, anything to keep me sane. Sometimes you dont think your strong enough, u need something to feel better. I wont call it prayer, but its positive energy and thoughts you just wish would come thru you ease your hurting heart
ReplyDeleteYes, yes (haven't been to church in years) and yes.
ReplyDeleteCouple of aggro believers I see...
ReplyDeleteI'm agnostic, but accept most people need to believe in something and that belief can improve people's lives. Whatever works for you and doesnt harm others. especially if it helps you strive to be a better person.
Organised religion does tend to give me the willies but on an individual basis it's all good.
I do find it a little odd that there is a national day of prayer, but then again compared to this list....
http://all-funny.info/real-list-of-national-days
What SusanB said.
ReplyDeleteLive and let live. I won't bash your beliefs if you don't bash mine.
I pray almost every day - I do 54 day Rosaries. I don't even pray for me. Other people need them; that's why I do it.
I go to church often and I pray everyday. I do beleive in the Father and the Holy Trinity and the fact that God is merciful and love us. My faith in God deepened after I have my children and discover infinite and selfless love. I imagine God's love and mercy for mankind is 1,000 times that of my love and forgivess to my children.
ReplyDeleteAs in the age old questions - if there is a God, why He didn't stop all the suffering around us? IMHO, it pains us to see other suffer but that's how we learn to be sympathetic and, hopefully, love others enough to jump to our feet to do something to help.
A world without suffering would be ideal - but we might risers becoming selfish and spoil creatures. Case in point? Children who used to getting their ways - all the times- often turn into uncaring, self- involved adults. Normal adults with sympathy and an ability to care for others often grew up knowing and laerning from a few disappointments in life.
And God loves us all. We just need the wisdom to seek and to see it.
I believe that we are all a part of (what many people call, but I choose not to call) God.
ReplyDeleteI believe that we are all a part of (what many people call, but I choose not to call) God.
ReplyDelete