Prayers answered? Good Luck? Mind over matter?

duga · 06-16-2010, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tore

A quick question to you, Duga, and of course anyone else who want to answer. Do you believe that there is a sort of moral code that we will be judged by after we die?

Again, what happens when we die is something I can't speak about with any certainty. I've mentioned before I do believe in reincarnation, but I will not pretend to know about any of the specifics on how that actually plays out.

That being said, I do have a theory on your question. I do not think we will be judged...I think we will judge ourselves. Morality is such a grey area. One man's wrong is another man's right, and who is to say who is correct? There is no real right and wrong...only what we make for ourselves. If you die and truly feel you lived life the way you were meant to, then that is how you will judge yourself. Living a life feeling as if you really are doing the "wrong" things will produce a lot of guilt, and I think that will carry over as well.

RVCA · 06-16-2010, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tore

On a more serious note, I think prayer might have some real benefit in the shape of placebo effects or a collection of positive effects that stem from positive thinking and self-empowerment. I don't believe that the mind can move mountains (unless that mountain is merely a product of your psychosis

), but it can certainly do a lot.

Harvard prayer experiment - FreeThoughtPedia

Yukon Cornelius · 06-16-2010, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVCA

Harvard prayer experiment - FreeThoughtPedia

Come up with original information please, this citing others work stuff is annoying. A little original contribution never hurt anyone. Or at least put it in your own words...

RVCA · 06-16-2010, 03:46 PM

Huh? You too lazy to actually read? I figured it's better to provide the whole, complete argument in its original form than some crappy condensed version of my own.

But just in case...
TLDR: Harvard did an experiment that concluded:
1. Not only that prayer doesn't help sick people
2. But that in some cases, those that knew they were being prayed for actually did worse than those who didn't

Yukon Cornelius · 06-16-2010, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVCA

Huh? You too lazy to actually read? I figured it's better to provide the whole, complete argument in its original form than some crappy condensed version of my own.

But just in case...
TLDR: Harvard did an experiment that concluded:
1. Not only that prayer doesn't help sick people
2. But that in some cases, those that knew they were being prayed for actually did worse than those who didn't

God all mighty, you gotta be joking when you call me lazy, see, was it that hard to give the meat and potatoes rather than doing lazy work yourself?...

So now I will ask you personally RVCA, have you had an experiance yourself where you prayed for someone? What was the outcome? If you don't mind (if you did pray) who was it for, or was it for yourself ?? This is what I am getting at. It's not just about the sick or needy people on our planet, it could be for you. Harvard doing a study is fantastic, but we can all agree that sometimes it's just that persons time to go and we all know that somethings cannot be tempted by the mortal likes of human. However when called upon personally, does it do you as a person any good to pray.

rammetal7 · 06-16-2010, 04:53 PM

The good reverend Carlin was right,
he said "When you pray..."
"Only 50% of the time will you get your way"
If God doesn't listen to our cries when we call
Someone tell me what's the point of praying at all

Freebase Dali · 06-16-2010, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tore

A quick question to you, Duga, and of course anyone else who want to answer. Do you believe that there is a sort of moral code that we will be judged by after we die?

I don't think so at all.
In my opinion, basic morality functions as an innate counterbalance that serves to stabilize the human species either as a whole, or as large enough factions to remain viable progenitors. Outside of that, I don't see any point in it at all, regardless of the personal meaning morality has to me as a piece of a larger puzzle. It's certainly not required in a balanced animal ecosystem's survival, so from a scientific standpoint, morality applies to us because it has to. Otherwise, we'd be all urge & ability and nothing to keep it in check, and would probably not be here today.

I don't believe in a sentient god-being, but even if I did, I don't think using variants of a basic human need as a comparative to judge worthiness would be fair or useful at all.

RVCA · 06-16-2010, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yukon Cornelius

God all mighty, you gotta be joking when you call me lazy, see, was it that hard to give the meat and potatoes rather than doing lazy work yourself?...

So now I will ask you personally RVCA, have you had an experiance yourself where you prayed for someone? What was the outcome? If you don't mind (if you did pray) who was it for, or was it for yourself ?? This is what I am getting at. It's not just about the sick or needy people on our planet, it could be for you. Harvard doing a study is fantastic, but we can all agree that sometimes it's just that persons time to go and we all know that somethings cannot be tempted by the mortal likes of human. However when called upon personally, does it do you as a person any good to pray.

My father was diagnosed with a form of brain dementia 5 years ago, while I was a freshman in High School. He's been terminally ill ever since. I have never prayed in my life. I'm sure other people have prayed for him and for my family, but I just don't see the point of asking the big imaginary man in the sky to comfort me. I accept that when my dad dies, which will be within the next 5 years, he will not transcend the mortal world and join the ranks of angels in heaven. He will simply cease to exist as a person, and live on only in our memories.

I thinking prayer is ridiculous and stupid. I think prayer is for the weak.

mr dave · 06-17-2010, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVCA

I thinking prayer is ridiculous and stupid. I think prayer is for the weak.

how is it weak to have a faithful belief in something in the face of popular adversity?

Yukon Cornelius · 06-17-2010, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVCA

I thinking prayer is ridiculous and stupid. I think prayer is for the weak.

If prayer is for the rediculious and stupid, I ask you this..
Wtf do the sound and smart people do?? Bash the faithful? Sounds pretty dumb to me, let us pray.

06-16-2010, 03:46 PM	#44 (permalink)
RVCA （￣ー￣） Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3,270	Huh? You too lazy to actually read? I figured it's better to provide the whole, complete argument in its original form than some crappy condensed version of my own. But just in case... TLDR: Harvard did an experiment that concluded: 1. Not only that prayer doesn't help sick people 2. But that in some cases, those that knew they were being prayed for actually did worse than those who didn't

06-16-2010, 04:53 PM	#46 (permalink)
rammetal7 Soldier Of Aztlán Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 322	The good reverend Carlin was right, he said "When you pray..." "Only 50% of the time will you get your way" If God doesn't listen to our cries when we call Someone tell me what's the point of praying at all