Announcement

Collapse

Apologetics 301 Guidelines

If you think this is the area where you tell everyone you are sorry for eating their lunch out of the fridge, it probably isn't the place for you


This forum is open discussion between atheists and all theists to defend and debate their views on religion or non-religion. Please respect that this is a Christian-owned forum and refrain from gratuitous blasphemy. VERY wide leeway is given in range of expression and allowable behavior as compared to other areas of the forum, and moderation is not overly involved unless necessary. Please keep this in mind. Atheists who wish to interact with theists in a way that does not seek to undermine theistic faith may participate in the World Religions Department. Non-debate question and answers and mild and less confrontational discussions can take place in General Theistics.


Forum Rules: Here
See more
See less

Atheists praying

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • #16
    Originally posted by lao tzu View Post
    Tending to lend support is no match for direct contradiction.
    Come on lao, you can recognize hyperbole when you see it. Exceptions do not alter the fact that many atheists do pray in times of crisis.
    Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

    Comment


    • #17
      Originally posted by JimL View Post
      Ya think. Do you think you are directly communing with god when praying the rosary, repeating the same words over and over?
      I never "pray" the rosary.
      Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

      Comment


      • #18
        I very rarely use a form of prayer which goes something like:

        "Hey, if any benevolent beings out there can hear this, I'd really like it if you could do... xyz"

        While I think all the various human religions are silly, it seems totally possible that the universe is the creation of intelligent aliens, and it doesn't hurt to ask in the unlikely event that someone is listening.
        "I hate him passionately", he's "a demonic force" - Tucker Carlson, in private, on Donald Trump
        "Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism" - George Orwell
        "[Capitalism] as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy" - Albert Einstein

        Comment


        • #19
          Originally posted by JimL View Post
          Not really all that surprising. I'm an atheist and often pray myself, I use the Jesus prayer as a form of meditation, which is what prayer actual is anyway. Being human, we also fear death, so no matter how much of a disbeliever one is, the thought of oblivion could overcome ones reason, or like you say, just in case. But of course that's not a true belief, it's just a fear of death, or a desire to live like that of the sudden conversion of the foxhole atheist.
          I was very different. From the day I became an atheist to the day I returned to the faith, I did not pray. I don't recall even a 'just in case' comment thrown God's way.
          "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

          "Forgiveness is the way of love." Gary Chapman

          My Personal Blog

          My Novella blog (Current Novella Begins on 7/25/14)

          Quill Sword

          Comment


          • #20
            Originally posted by JimL View Post
            Ya think.
            At times, yes.

            Do you think you are directly communing with god when praying the rosary,
            I have never 'prayed the rosary'.

            repeating the same words over and over?
            Nor do I pray the same words over and over, any more than I say the same words over and over to my wife. (except, "yes dear", and "I love you" )
            The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

            Comment


            • #21
              Originally posted by Jedidiah View Post
              I never "pray" the rosary.
              Me too neither.
              The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

              Comment


              • #22
                Originally posted by Teallaura View Post
                I was very different. From the day I became an atheist to the day I returned to the faith, I did not pray. I don't recall even a 'just in case' comment thrown God's way.
                No, I've never done the "just in case" thing either, I'm just assuming that for some people, in times of severe crisis, their fear and hopelessness could overwhelm their reason. We are only human after all.

                Comment


                • #23
                  Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
                  At times, yes.



                  I have never 'prayed the rosary'.



                  Nor do I pray the same words over and over, any more than I say the same words over and over to my wife. (except, "yes dear", and "I love you" )
                  Oh, so your sect doesn't do the lords prayer, hail mary, rosary, and all that rot like for penance and such. Doesn't Jesus teach the desciples how to pray, teaching them the Lords prayer? How do you guys pray, do you just like ask for stuff? I mean Catholics can do that as well, but I realized very early on that was a bit silly. My opinion of course.

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Originally posted by JimL View Post
                    Oh, so your sect doesn't do the lords prayer, hail mary, rosary, and all that rot like for penance and such.
                    Denomination, not sect. And, yes, we don't do all that.

                    Doesn't Jesus teach the desciples how to pray, teaching them the Lords prayer?
                    It's a "model prayer" - in my opinion, not intended to be repeated over and over as the only prayer we pray. Jesus said, in effect, "pray like this...."

                    How do you guys pray, do you just like ask for stuff?
                    I wish I thought you were sincere in asking.

                    I mean Catholics can do that as well, but I realized very early on that was a bit silly. My opinion of course.
                    Of course.
                    The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
                      Denomination, not sect. And, yes, we don't do all that.



                      It's a "model prayer" - in my opinion, not intended to be repeated over and over as the only prayer we pray. Jesus said, in effect, "pray like this...."



                      I wish I thought you were sincere in asking.



                      Of course.
                      I see. But I think that the Lords prayer is meant to be repeated over and over as a form of meditating on God. The text says "Your father knows what you need before you ask him" so I take that to mean don't be asking for stuff, just pray. But hey, that's just me.

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
                        Maybe a "just in case" strategy?
                        That's what I suspect. Which makes me think, if there is even a sliver of doubt in their minds that God could exist then why are they atheists?

                        Although the term "atheist" has been expanded by new atheism to include agnostics, so perhaps that's the answer.
                        Some may call me foolish, and some may call me odd
                        But I'd rather be a fool in the eyes of man
                        Than a fool in the eyes of God


                        From "Fools Gold" by Petra

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Originally posted by JimLamebrain View Post
                          I see. But I think that the Lords prayer is meant to be repeated over and over as a form of meditating on God. The text says "Your father knows what you need before you ask him" so I take that to mean don't be asking for stuff, just pray. But hey, that's just me.
                          There's nothing in the gospels to suggest that Jesus intended the "Lord's Prayer" to be recited verbatim like a mantra, though I don't suppose there's necessarily anything wrong with doing so as long as you understand what you're saying and not expecting it to act as a magical incantation.

                          The major components of the prayer are acknowledging the sovereignty of God and his will, thanking him for meeting our needs, asking forgiveness for sins, and asking for his continued spiritual protection. The point of prayer is not to bend God to our will but to align ourselves with his.
                          Some may call me foolish, and some may call me odd
                          But I'd rather be a fool in the eyes of man
                          Than a fool in the eyes of God


                          From "Fools Gold" by Petra

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Originally posted by Starlight View Post
                            I very rarely use a form of prayer which goes something like:

                            "Hey, if any benevolent beings out there can hear this, I'd really like it if you could do... xyz"

                            While I think all the various human religions are silly, it seems totally possible that the universe is the creation of intelligent aliens, and it doesn't hurt to ask in the unlikely event that someone is listening.
                            So basically you sort of believe in the supernatural then.

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              Originally posted by JimL View Post
                              Ya think. Do you think you are directly communing with god when praying the rosary, repeating the same words over and over?
                              I think most catholics would say that is more on the "worship and praise" side than prayer side. The Orthodox and Catholics have many rote prayers that they repeat, many times led by someone and repeated by the congregation. It is more akin to singing a hymn than mere prayer. The prayer part is when you talk to God.

                              Personally I tend to talk to God throughout the day, not merely in "prayer" mode.

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Originally posted by Sparko View Post
                                I think most catholics would say that is more on the "worship and praise" side than prayer side. The Orthodox and Catholics have many rote prayers that they repeat, many times led by someone and repeated by the congregation. It is more akin to singing a hymn than mere prayer. The prayer part is when you talk to God.

                                Personally I tend to talk to God throughout the day, not merely in "prayer" mode.
                                Does he talk back, and if so, how do you know it's not you talking to yourself?

                                Comment

                                Related Threads

                                Collapse

                                Topics Statistics Last Post
                                Started by whag, Yesterday, 03:01 PM
                                14 responses
                                42 views
                                0 likes
                                Last Post tabibito  
                                Started by whag, 03-17-2024, 04:55 PM
                                21 responses
                                129 views
                                0 likes
                                Last Post Hypatia_Alexandria  
                                Started by whag, 03-14-2024, 06:04 PM
                                78 responses
                                411 views
                                0 likes
                                Last Post tabibito  
                                Started by whag, 03-13-2024, 12:06 PM
                                45 responses
                                303 views
                                1 like
                                Last Post Hypatia_Alexandria  
                                Working...
                                X