tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1719650308494063095.post2489939510083995541..comments2023-12-02T02:26:05.528-08:00Comments on JimPintoBlog: PrayerAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10670437428300830000noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1719650308494063095.post-28799293026650488562015-07-08T12:56:53.066-07:002015-07-08T12:56:53.066-07:001. I am not religious. Maybe a bit agnostic becaus...1. I am not religious. Maybe a bit agnostic because I belief that mankind know almost nothing about the universe and totally nothing about mankind's spiritual level abilities except to waste it with silly beliefs in some sort of god that get the blame or praise for everything happening in their lives.<br />2. I never ever pray. I try to find a logic explanation for everything and is more than 99% successful. <br />Not for this forum but one unexplainable incident that happened was when my nephew, his wife and daughter were brutally murdered. On our way to my aunt, the next morning, three birds used my cars left front light, which was not switched on, to kill themselves by diving straight into it within a very short distance. In my 45 years of driving this was the only time that any bird deliberately dived into my vehicle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1719650308494063095.post-35282952349948772642015-07-01T09:03:03.001-07:002015-07-01T09:03:03.001-07:001. Are you religious? Yes. I subscribe to a Christ...1. Are you religious? Yes. I subscribe to a Christian "religion" that mostly fits my understanding of the world and its creation. I do not agree with all of its teachings. I consider fundamentalism as extremism. The Bible (in its many translations and interpretations) is a record of man's perception of what the Creator instructs. The Bible contains examples of what to do and not to do in our lives. Unfortunately, examples are frequently taken out of context to justify many evils committed by man.<br /><br />2. Do you pray? How do you pray? How often? Yes. Mostly spontaneously through private thoughts and spoken in groups in no particular posture but eyes closed in reverence. I pray whenever appropriate. When needing guidance or when expressing thankfulness.<br /><br />3. Are your prayers directed to God? Or something else? Yahweh otherwise known as 'God' to most. Something has set in motion the physical laws and materials that created and comprise the universe. That something I understand as the deity 'God'. <br /><br />4. Do your prayers always ask for something? I refrain from asking for particular things or outcomes. I pray for guidance. I pray for forgiveness. It is guidance that fulfills all needs.<br /><br />5. Do you say prayers of thanks? Mostly. I give thanks and praise God for the guidance to make decisions and take actions that benefit the human race. Otherwise, are we here on Earth just for ourselves or are we here as a community? <br /><br />6. How does prayer help you? Prayer helps to connect my conscience with the wishes of God. A God who wants us to prosper by helping each other through tough times and celebrate with each other during good times.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1719650308494063095.post-29836616055547703742015-06-19T13:12:05.706-07:002015-06-19T13:12:05.706-07:001. Are you religious? Agnostic? Atheist?
Relig...1. Are you religious? Agnostic? Atheist?<br /> Religious<br /><br />2. Do you pray? How do you pray? How often?<br /> Nightly, on my knees<br /><br />3. Are your prayers directed to God? Or something else?<br /> Directed to God<br /><br />4. Do your prayers always ask for something? For yourself? For someone else?<br /> Yes, sadly, for myself and others<br /><br />5. Do you say prayers of thanks?<br /> Yes<br /><br />6. How does prayer help you?<br /> Helps to keep me connected.John Antypasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1719650308494063095.post-23312019671011748632015-06-19T03:29:55.779-07:002015-06-19T03:29:55.779-07:00Hi Jim, When I say the topic I was transported ba...Hi Jim, When I say the topic I was transported back to Rome in 1982 where we were in small city parish on the day it received a visit from the local Bishop, who was John Paul II. All the children were gathered into the Church while the adults were corralled in the car park around the church. <br /><br />He first went into the church and met the children he asked them the question "What is prayer?" It was in Italian obviously and my brother translated for us. The answer given by one of the children was something which has remained with me. "Prayer is talking to God!" <br />I think this is a Christian answer because it isn't only asking for something (as Christianity isn;t a set of rules). It is an expression of a relationship. In the same way to my mind, Christianity is not strictly speaking a religion, rather it is a relationship with our Creator who wishes to be known as "Our Father!"<br />Eoin Ó Riainhttp://read-out.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1719650308494063095.post-23245006377374600062015-06-18T08:42:48.910-07:002015-06-18T08:42:48.910-07:001. Are you religious? Agnostic? Atheist?
Yes a...1. Are you religious? Agnostic? Atheist?<br /> Yes and I am Agnostic.<br /><br />2. Do you pray? How do you pray? How often?<br /> Yes. I pray by reading a holy book and repeating the name of God 1000 times daily.<br /> I pray three times in a day.<br /><br />3. Are your prayers directed to God? Or something else?<br /> Directed to God.<br /><br />4. Do your prayers always ask for something? For yourself?<br /> I never ask anything from the God.<br /><br />5. Do you say prayers of thanks?<br /> Don't understand this question.<br /><br />6. How does prayer help you?<br /> It helps me solving day today problems. It gives me new ideas and strength to solve the problems.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1719650308494063095.post-59577521075607911152015-06-17T16:30:16.728-07:002015-06-17T16:30:16.728-07:00The bumper sticker over my desk reads "Nothin...The bumper sticker over my desk reads "Nothing Fails Like Prayer"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1719650308494063095.post-33135522631297054262015-06-17T16:03:00.197-07:002015-06-17T16:03:00.197-07:001. Are you religious? Agnostic? Atheist?
I AM ...1. Are you religious? Agnostic? Atheist?<br /> I AM RELIGIOUS. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THE COMPLEXITY AND AMAZING ASPECTS OF THE UNIVERSE/S AND THE HUMAN BODY COULD EXIST WITHOUT A MASTER DESIGNER WE CALL GOD<br /><br />2. Do you pray? How do you pray? How often?<br /> SOMETIMES GENERALLY AT NIGHT IN BED THINKING ABOUT SPECIFIC DIFFICULTIES AT THE TIME<br /><br />3. Are your prayers directed to God? Or something else?<br /> TO A GOD<br /><br />4. Do your prayers always ask for something?<br /> NOT REALLY <br /><br />5. Do you say prayers of thanks? NO<br /><br />6. How does prayer help you? <br /> HELPS ME TO THINK THROUGH ISSUES AND WHAT I SHOULD DO TO BE A BETTER PERSONAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1719650308494063095.post-11461004642516479312015-06-17T10:31:40.429-07:002015-06-17T10:31:40.429-07:00Your insight into the many purposes of prayer are ...Your insight into the many purposes of prayer are spot on. It can be calming to focus on God as spirit and sit in his presence. Praying for others helps you release from self-centeredness (I also have experienced healing through prayer, which is awesome).<br /><br />Too many Christians (and maybe others) seem to look at prayer as dropping your coins into the Great Vending Machine in the Sky. That is such a missing opportunity. God desires relationship, and prayer is one really good way of being in that relationship.<br /><br />Oh, and maybe because I'm from the flatlands of western Ohio, I also love the ocean--and really enjoyed seeing the whales from your deck. Thank you.<br /><br />Cheers.Gary Mintchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10429784793625362577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1719650308494063095.post-44916232839335975062015-06-17T07:50:27.995-07:002015-06-17T07:50:27.995-07:00I'd concede that prayers probably have a calmi...I'd concede that prayers probably have a calming effect on the one praying. <br /><br />However they have never been proven to have an external effect. E.g. pray for rain, or someone to get better, or to come into money... and the probability of those events occurring does not change. Not with one person praying, nor with a million praying.<br /><br />Actually studies have shown that if ill people are told that someone prays for them, their outcome is worse than when they are not told.<br /><br />There is also an element of appearance: if the supplicant makes a real display of his/her prayer, one may safely assume that it's for an external show more than internalizing the benefits. THat show may be put on to convince either those nearby, or religious leaders, that the kool-aid was consumed.<br /><br />I can respect quiet prayer or reflection. Ostentatious displays of piety are suspect to me.<br /><br />Finally, it has been said that one hand working accomplishes more than two hands clasped in prayer.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1719650308494063095.post-60478596946485063842015-06-17T05:38:22.947-07:002015-06-17T05:38:22.947-07:00I often have reflective thoughts within myself tha...I often have reflective thoughts within myself that some might call prayer, but I certainly don't consider this communication with a theistic deity.<br /><br />Generally prayer is no longer acceptable in public schools and government in Canada in any formal way, and in some cases is replaced with a moment of silence for reflective thought, which I think is more in keeping with modern times.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1719650308494063095.post-62764109684193107022015-06-16T22:04:28.182-07:002015-06-16T22:04:28.182-07:00These are some of my own direct and/or publicly do...These are some of my own direct and/or publicly documented experiences with miracles and prayer:<br />http://www.coffeehousetheology.com/miracles/<br />Perry Marshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07264774554017491338noreply@blogger.com