My annual Memorial Day thread (2 Viewers)

[Ken-Bob]

I don't actually pray in the 'classic' sense. I do, however, believe that kindness counts for a great deal. So I try to think positively about everyone I know or care about and even some I don't. Does it make a difference in their lives directly? I don't know - probably not. But I'm a firm believer in 'What goes around comes around' (Karma).

 

[woohoosaint]

Yes.
I say a little prayer under my breath almost immediately...because if I don't do it immediately I will wind up forgetting.

 

[Goatman Saint]

I don't actually pray in the 'classic' sense. I do, however, believe that kindness counts for a great deal. So I try to think positively about everyone I know or care about and even some I don't. Does it make a difference in their lives directly? I don't know - probably not. But I'm a firm believer in 'What goes around comes around' (Karma).

There is that I believe in, but I’m also the type who says anything you need I’m there and I follow through. So while the religious side doesn’t exist in me the decent person who will help just about anyone who has need is always there. To me I’m a person who believes in actions not words. I’ve also learned in my life the value of someone who will just stop by to talk about wherever, have an iced tea in the shade and enjoy company during trying times.

 

[whiteshadowen]

Hardest thing for me is to think that verses are about me or the individual. I thought they were but verses like Jeremiah 29:11 are not about me but about what God's plan is for me but not as an individual. I always want to know, What's in it for ME? And right now I just want to stop feeling anguish that I don't have a right to feel.

Great verse, a comfort for all believers.

 

[Booker]

If prayer worked it seems then hospitals would have prayer wings. But they don’t.

Sometimes it works out that things come to pass as you want them to, and sometimes they don’t. That’s life.

 

[Madmarsha]

If prayer worked it seems then hospitals would have prayer wings. But they don’t.

Sometimes it works out that things come to pass as you want them to, and sometimes they don’t. That’s life.

And what do you propose would be a "prayer wing"? Most have chapels

 

[Booker]

And what do you propose would be a "prayer wing"? Most have chapels

Chapels are there to provide comfort for the grieving.

By a prayer wing I mean that if hospitals thought prayer could actually make a bit of difference, they would have ‘specialists’ hired for that purpose. But they don’t.

 

[sonicboom]

The question that I have never received a good answer to is if we evolved then why aren’t there any forms of humans who are in the process between where we started and where we are now? I know about the different forms of man that we have discovered and that we may have evolved from those forms. I just don’t by into the assumption that we evolved from some random cells in the ocean. The human body from nerves and blood vessels to bones and muscles working in perfect form aren’t from random cells.

The fossil record lacks evidence of macro evolution, not unless you believe a Beatles song is enough to cover the gap.

 

[dgrant]

Prayer works. I have seen too many answered prayers to not believe.

 

[Madmarsha]

Marsha. I am a big time Christian. I believe that when I say I will pray for someone God hears it. I tell people all the time I will pray for them. God hears that. No person is perfect. We all make mistakes. But God knows our hearts. I love the lord with all my heart but I'm not perfect. It all comes down to your heart and what you believe. Jesus said he who believes in me is not condemned. I believe that. Just trust him.

I do believe. Those around me may not see it visibly but I do know that I've never doubted even before I actually said the words aloud. I've always believed things happen for a reason, even really bad things, and never condemned God for "allowing" them to happen. I've also never condemned those who HAVE gotten mad at God for a tragedy befalling them.

I've written this before but I remember the day I realized that the dichotomy between evolution and creationism lived within me and didn't cause me great internal conflict. It should, of course, but I think our brains can handle it if we allow it. And, again, I put the "explanation" down to faith.

 

[saintmdterps]

Prayer and God seem to be fickle mistresses. There are times when I've gotten that for which I've prayed, and times I've felt my cries ignored. After my first wife miscarried at 22 weeks I went home from the hospital and laid on the bed. I asked God "why me, why us?" The immediate response was "Why not you? Pick someone else and I'll give it to them"

In the final analysis, though prayer may not help in all situations, I don't feel it does any harm so if it makes your walk through this life easier then pray away.

 

[Madmarsha]

I don't actually pray in the 'classic' sense. I do, however, believe that kindness counts for a great deal. So I try to think positively about everyone I know or care about and even some I don't. Does it make a difference in their lives directly? I don't know - probably not. But I'm a firm believer in 'What goes around comes around' (Karma).

I think that is a kind of prayer. The struggle with the "right" way to pray is what lead me to start this thread. You know, in church it's very structured at a certain time and in a certain way and with a beginning and an end. So when I have my very loosey goosey, "Hey, God, it's me, Marsha" moments that pass from being verbal into just internal thoughts and meander from place to place and don't often end with an "amen", just because it's not happening in a church being lead by someone who's to say it's not MY kind of praying. I know not everyone has found kindness in religion -- in fact, the opposite many times -- but that's what I am looking for in my faith: kindness, acceptance, soft place to land.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

Prayer works. I have seen too many answered prayers to not believe.

i think many skeptics would be a bit more willing to cede the point if prayer people added caveats like "Prayer works FOR ME"
that would be much harder to argue against since it would be difficult to disprove
but 'prayer works' is rather easy to disprove and anecdotal evidence even exists in this thread

so many things we work like that
yoga works, atkins diet works, ployamory works, the stock market works, et al
none of those are completely true statement since there is so much counter evidence
but those things with "for me" could very well be true

 

[DaveXA]

Chapels are there to provide comfort for the grieving.

By a prayer wing I mean that if hospitals thought prayer could actually make a bit of difference, they would have ‘specialists’ hired for that purpose. But they don’t.

A lot of hospitals do have chaplains who pray for and with patients in the hospitals if they request it. Not exactly a prayer wing, but yeah.

 

[Madmarsha]

Chapels are there to provide comfort for the grieving.

By a prayer wing I mean that if hospitals thought prayer could actually make a bit of difference, they would have ‘specialists’ hired for that purpose. But they don’t.

Wow. Hospitals are for the "science" part of the equation.