A question for those who aren't spiritual

[judasmachine]

i hope things are ok....

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: CVSiN

Originally posted by: rudeguy
What do you do when you are preparing for something that is out of your control? Say you are going for a job interview? Or maybe a close relative is going in for a major surgery?

I pray my ass off when I am faced with situations like that. Even when my faith wasn't the greatest, I would pray that things would work out. What do you do if you don't believe in a higher power?

I study... on the job on the company and anything else.. why waste my time praying to a fictional being that hasn't done a darn thing for me ever.. I control my destiny non other.

There is no reason to waste time that you could be taking the bull by the horns and preparing yourself instead of sitting in church and wasting your time.

sorry but refer to my sig for my belief.

I don't go to church. I also don't follow any religion.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: rudeguy

Originally posted by: CVSiN

Originally posted by: rudeguy
What do you do when you are preparing for something that is out of your control? Say you are going for a job interview? Or maybe a close relative is going in for a major surgery?

I pray my ass off when I am faced with situations like that. Even when my faith wasn't the greatest, I would pray that things would work out. What do you do if you don't believe in a higher power?

I study... on the job on the company and anything else.. why waste my time praying to a fictional being that hasn't done a darn thing for me ever.. I control my destiny non other.

There is no reason to waste time that you could be taking the bull by the horns and preparing yourself instead of sitting in church and wasting your time.

sorry but refer to my sig for my belief.

I don't go to church. I also don't follow any religion.

One second of time spent on prayer is still one second wasted. Take control of your life, don't delude yourself. If you need a moment to meditate or psych up, do it, but don't lie to yourself about what you're doing.

 

[OCfreakley]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer

Originally posted by: Baked
I think talking to myself is crazy enough, I don't need to make up another imaginary being to talk to thank you. Everything happens for a reason, talking to your imaginary friend isn't gonna change anything.

I find it ironic that you belittle his spirituality and go on to say, "everything happens for a reason", a highly spiritual outlook.

Maybe the reason is quantum physics.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

I read the whole thread hoping for a Joe Pesci reference.

Now I'm leaving disappointed.



/In Pesci's name... Amen.

 

[TestedAcorn]

I'm agnostic, yet i find myself praying sometimes.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: rudeguy
What do you do when you are preparing for something that is out of your control? Say you are going for a job interview? Or maybe a close relative is going in for a major surgery?

I pray my ass off when I am faced with situations like that. Even when my faith wasn't the greatest, I would pray that things would work out. What do you do if you don't believe in a higher power?

cross fingers
also, cross toes if it's something they really really want to work out.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: TestedAcorn
I'm agnostic, yet i find myself praying sometimes.

To whom? Even if there was a great cosmic muffin in the sky he damn sure wouldn't answer the prayers of some schmuck that doesn't even believe in him.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: TestedAcorn
I'm agnostic, yet i find myself praying sometimes.

To whom? Even if there was a great cosmic muffin in the sky he damn sure wouldn't answer the prayers of some schmuck that doesn't even believe in him.

I dunno. Sometimes I think that it is possible for some type of advanced creature to exist, and they would appear to be deities to less advanced species, and potentially even wield great control over the physical world due to an advanced understanding of the laws of the universe.
I thoroughly doubt they would have the ability to create a specific species, but I believe, if such a creature were to exist, they would have the ability to seed planets with the material necessary for life, and would then only need natural events to start the process. I don't necessarily believe this is what occurred, but if some creature were to exist, I'd imagine it would be a possible ability.

And if such advanced life/deities exist, I seriously doubt they would care whether they were worshiped or not, and I also doubt they hone their attention on a single planet for eternity, and interfering whenever they see fit. I'd imagine they would have an understanding of the mental processes 'intelligent' beings have, and would thus understand why some would choose not to believe in a higher power, as hell, if they even knew, would probably mock religions as well.
And even if there is, for some reason that defies all logic, some singular being that is watching us every moment of our lives, I'd still imagine it would be more humble and understand why choose not to have empty faith and rather subscribe to the teachings of science. Else, that being is the king of pricks, and doesn't deserve worship anyhow. What, with all the things described as his doings in the various religious texts, I would already have a firm belief that that being is such a prick. An asshole to rule all assholes. Oh wait. That's us. Hmm, fitting? Maybe we were created in his likeness. :laugh:

 

[fishjie]

prayer doesn't work so why bother? when things are beyond my control i accept it.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: Cerpin Taxt
I read the whole thread hoping for a Joe Pesci reference.

Now I'm leaving disappointed.



/In Pesci's name... Amen.

i have his set with that bit in my car

Originally posted by: destrekor

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: TestedAcorn
I'm agnostic, yet i find myself praying sometimes.

To whom? Even if there was a great cosmic muffin in the sky he damn sure wouldn't answer the prayers of some schmuck that doesn't even believe in him.

I dunno. Sometimes I think that it is possible for some type of advanced creature to exist, and they would appear to be deities to less advanced species,

this made me think of this

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. -Arthur C Clarke

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: xSauronx

Originally posted by: Cerpin Taxt
I read the whole thread hoping for a Joe Pesci reference.

Now I'm leaving disappointed.



/In Pesci's name... Amen.

i have his set with that bit in my car

Originally posted by: destrekor

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: TestedAcorn
I'm agnostic, yet i find myself praying sometimes.

To whom? Even if there was a great cosmic muffin in the sky he damn sure wouldn't answer the prayers of some schmuck that doesn't even believe in him.

I dunno. Sometimes I think that it is possible for some type of advanced creature to exist, and they would appear to be deities to less advanced species,

this made me think of this

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. -Arthur C Clarke

Ha, that was precisely the style of thought I was thinking when I wrote that, but I couldn't remember the exact quote and who it was from at the moment, though I remembered the concept.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: destrekor

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: TestedAcorn
I'm agnostic, yet i find myself praying sometimes.

To whom? Even if there was a great cosmic muffin in the sky he damn sure wouldn't answer the prayers of some schmuck that doesn't even believe in him.

I dunno. Sometimes I think that it is possible for some type of advanced creature to exist, and they would appear to be deities to less advanced species, and potentially even wield great control over the physical world due to an advanced understanding of the laws of the universe.
I thoroughly doubt they would have the ability to create a specific species, but I believe, if such a creature were to exist, they would have the ability to seed planets with the material necessary for life, and would then only need natural events to start the process. I don't necessarily believe this is what occurred, but if some creature were to exist, I'd imagine it would be a possible ability.

And if such advanced life/deities exist, I seriously doubt they would care whether they were worshiped or not, and I also doubt they hone their attention on a single planet for eternity, and interfering whenever they see fit. I'd imagine they would have an understanding of the mental processes 'intelligent' beings have, and would thus understand why some would choose not to believe in a higher power, as hell, if they even knew, would probably mock religions as well.
And even if there is, for some reason that defies all logic, some singular being that is watching us every moment of our lives, I'd still imagine it would be more humble and understand why choose not to have empty faith and rather subscribe to the teachings of science. Else, that being is the king of pricks, and doesn't deserve worship anyhow. What, with all the things described as his doings in the various religious texts, I would already have a firm belief that that being is such a prick. An asshole to rule all assholes. Oh wait. That's us. Hmm, fitting? Maybe we were created in his likeness. :laugh:

Well, as long as you have such a rational plan, go for it.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: rudeguy
I am not saying that at all. I pray for knowledge of God's will for me and the strength to carry it out. I also pray to be able to accept the things I cannot change.

It works for me, I am not saying that it has to work for you. For me, its a better way to live than my old ways.

What if you get the knowledge of God's will, and it turns out that he plans for you to die in 3 weeks after getting shot in the back of the head by some guy who just wanted to rob you of the $5 in your pocket?
After all, that happens to some people, and I doubt God would let someone die if it wasn't part of the plan. Therefore, people dying when they do, in the manner in which they do, is part of the plan.

If you find out that that's how you're going to die, do you try to stop it, or take the bullet that God intended for you?

Originally posted by: destrekor
I dunno. Sometimes I think that it is possible for some type of advanced creature to exist, and they would appear to be deities to less advanced species, and potentially even wield great control over the physical world due to an advanced understanding of the laws of the universe.
I thoroughly doubt they would have the ability to create a specific species, but I believe, if such a creature were to exist, they would have the ability to seed planets with the material necessary for life, and would then only need natural events to start the process. I don't necessarily believe this is what occurred, but if some creature were to exist, I'd imagine it would be a possible ability.

True - compare us to bacteria, and then imagine an alien species that would make us look like bacteria in terms of intellect and technological capability. They still aren't deities, they're just highly advanced life forms. But their direct actions may well be beyond our ability to even perceive.