Originally posted by Justbyfaith
To me, blind faith is believing that everything we see had no design and no designer...no plan and no planner That's blind faith... 😎
I strongly disagree.
Blind Faith is accepting ANYTHING without having proof or evidense to back something up. It is ALSO beleiving in something without questioning it.
You seem to have Blind Faith in your religion. I am not saying you do not have the right to your religion, OFCOURSE you do. But I beleive your Faith is blind, based on the posts you have stated on every thread concerning every issue possible.
I beleive this to be the case since you only use Biblical quotes to argue with, and you ahve to realize that it does not fly with everyone, it is not Universally convincing. The fact that you only resort to the Bible for answers means you are narrow minded....i am not saying you are stupid or not intelligent, you probably are very smart.
But since you choose to only look at one source of information, you are narrowing your intellect, and therefore being narrow minded since every issue for you is automatically answered by "Biblical truth".
There was a study done, of heart surgery patients.
One group was told they were going to be prayed for, and they were.
A second group was told they were going to be prayed for, and they were not.
A third group was told they were not going to be prayed for, but they were.
A fourth group was told they were not going to be prayed for, and they were not.
The ones who were prayed for actually had the most complications after surgery.
http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/daily/2006/03/30-prayer.html
Prayer doesn't do jack shit. In fact, if it does anything, it worsens the physical state of the receiver.
Originally posted by Lord Urizen
Regret you genius..READ the actual statements and respond.[B]1) The way things are supposed to be...so you beleive in Destiny? Or free will?
2) So let me get the cure to HIV on my own....let me create my own food and steal my own money when im poor on the street......God shouldn't spoil me with such privelages such as food, water, health and shelter
3) This Life matters more than anything, because it is all we know to be true. The afterlife could be a myth for all we know, and even if the afterlife is not a myth it does not lessen this life any more. GOD...this is so sickening......try being a starving child in Africa, and THEN say that life's suffering isn't THAT bad.....
4) People with AIDS don't have enough faith? So how much faith do you have to have? A little doesn't pay off? So the more faith you have, the more God will give a shit, and then use his "magic" to cure your illness? That's the most common excuse Christians ever give. [/B]
Sorry for the delay, I have been on business for the past few days, and this is my first opportunity to be on-line since my last comments. It will probably be a few days before I get the opportunity again.
I'll try this again with simple answers, stated following my statement as to what I think you are asking.
1) Do I believe in destiny or free will? I believe that everyone has a possible destiny. One that reflects where we would be if we did everything that God required of us. I believe we have the free will to behave how we will. This frustrates the destiny that God may have for us.
2) This is a statement, but I'll assume the following is the question. Should god give people the things they need, are necessities things that would spoil a person?
No, he should not always do so. Yes, giving these things could cause issues. I do not know the outcome that giving such things, as such I cannot make a statement answering this to your satisfaction. Here is a reference that supports my opinion on the subject.
Skinner, B. F. (1996). The ethics of helping people. In M. A. Mattaini & B. A. Thyer (Eds.), Finding solutions to social problems: Behavioral strategies for change (pp. 61-72). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. (Originally published, 1975)
3) Once again this is a statement with no real question. Here is what I will view as your question. Since this life is all we know, shouldn't immediate problems be of larger significance?
No. I believe that oftentimes, very frequently, a delayed reward is better than immediate satisfaction. I believe that yes, suffering always has the potential of a reward following such. Asceticism can be a possible means to higher levels of spirituality, even if it isn't a chosen method. The question of why prayers are not answered refers to the stance of belief in God. If you believe in God then no, this life isn't all that matters. If you do not believe in God then yes, this life is all that matters.
4) So the more faith you have the more likely you will be answered?
Yes. It isn't an excuse, it's a statement. If you do not believe fully that something will work, you will not put forth as much effort as required to make it work. I believe that the answering of prayers requires something on the petitioner part. The bigger the request, the bigger the requirement. Pain and suffering do not necessitate the requirements being met. There is also the possibility that you won't get the answer you want regardless of the level of faith.
Also, yes, a little faith pays off a little bit.
READ the actual statements and respond. I have attempted this, again. Now, if this is not a satisfactory response I would say that either the statements need to be more clear to receive a proper response or you just don't like the response I have given.
My overall answer is God doesn't necessarily answer all prayers, and he probably has reasons for answering or not answering in each case. I have presented my view on a possible explanation as to why he may or may not answer a prayer, this is not necessarily the way it happens, it is only speculation as to a possibility.
Originally posted by Regret
Sorry for the delay, I have been on business for the past few days, and this is my first opportunity to be on-line since my last comments. It will probably be a few days before I get the opportunity again.
No need to apologize. I should have not come off as rude.
Originally posted by Regret
I'll try this again with simple answers, stated following my statement as to what I think you are asking.
Okay 😉
Originally posted by Regret
1) Do I believe in destiny or free will? I believe that everyone has a possible destiny. One that reflects where we would be if we did everything that God required of us. I believe we have the free will to behave how we will. This frustrates the destiny that God may have for us.
I can understand what you are saying. But that would conclude that God's Destiny for us is not definate. I think you mean God's plan. Destiny, by its definition, is something we are not only meant to do, but WILL do...regardless of whether or not we accept it. Destiny and Fate are pretty much the same idea.
The true idea of Destiny goes against Free will, because in Free Will we determine the outcome of our lives through our actions, interactions with other people, and responses to environmental factors. There is no set "fate" in Free will.
You CAN beleive in Free Will and in God's plan at the same time, but to call God's plan your Destiny is a contradiction. I think you beleive more in Free Will than in Destiny 😉
Originally posted by Regret
2) This is a statement, but I'll assume the following is the question. Should god give people the things they need, are necessities things that would spoil a person?
The cure of HIV is not a necessity? To wish to have food, water, shelter, and love are not necessities? So if I give a poor person a sandwich, I am indulging him? I'm spoiling him by giving him something he really needs to live? Or am I helping him? So your definition of spoiling someone is giving them something they need?
I don't understand your stance on this...?
And BTW...my previous quote was sarcasm. I thought you would get that. : So let me get the cure to HIV on my own....let me create my own food and steal my own money when im poor on the street......God shouldn't spoil me with such privelages such as food, water, health and shelter= sarcasm. 😉
Originally posted by Regret
No, he should not always do so. Yes, giving these things could cause issues. I do not know the outcome that giving such things, as such I cannot make a statement answering this to your satisfaction. Here is a reference that supports my opinion on the subject.Skinner, B. F. (1996). The ethics of helping people. In M. A. Mattaini & B. A. Thyer (Eds.), Finding solutions to social problems: Behavioral strategies for change (pp. 61-72). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. (Originally published, 1975)
Well since you stated you do not have a definitate answer, I'll consider it already answered. I would appreciate, however, if you simply gave me your opinion. I'm not going to attack you for having one. I just still don't see how you beleive that God giving people what they need would hurt them. If God hates evil so much, why does he allow it? He can easily end suffering with his infinite authority, why not just do SO?
Originally posted by Regret
3) Once again this is a statement with no real question. Here is what I will view as your question. Since this life is all we know, shouldn't immediate problems be of larger significance?No. I believe that oftentimes, very frequently, a delayed reward is better than immediate satisfaction. I believe that yes, suffering always has the potential of a reward following such. Asceticism can be a possible means to higher levels of spirituality, even if it isn't a chosen method. The question of why prayers are not answered refers to the stance of belief in God. If you believe in God then no, this life isn't all that matters. If you do not believe in God then yes, this life is all that matters.
But does Life not matter regardless? And no, you could have no beleif in God and still think this life is not all that matters....in reincarnation we have a cycle of past lives and future lives.
So for a suffering poor person....what do you think they care more about? This life, or the next? You think a starving beggar who needs to eat and drink gives a crap about your beleif in God? Or do you think he is more concerned with food? 🙄
Originally posted by Regret
4) So the more faith you have the more likely you will be answered?Yes. It isn't an excuse, it's a statement. If you do not believe fully that something will work, you will not put forth as much effort as required to make it work. I believe that the answering of prayers requires something on the petitioner part. The bigger the request, the bigger the requirement. Pain and suffering do not necessitate the requirements being met. There is also the possibility that you won't get the answer you want regardless of the level of faith.
Also, yes, a little faith pays off a little bit.
My question here is what requirements would a God of infinite power need from us? He created everything right? So what could we possibly give to him to satisfy him? Something he doesnt already have? Something that isn't already part of himself?
I find the idea that we need to satisfy God utterly rediculous sorry. You would probably argue that we owe him for creating us, but did we ASK to be created? Did we ask to be born and put on this world?
I beleive that God with his infinite power should serve US, not the other way around. We are the ones who NEED things....God needs nothing, for he can get whatever he wants....he only DESIRES.......WE are the beings that NEED things......
So you beleive that service should only go to a superior? Sorry bro, I disagree with you there. I beleive that service should go to those who NEED it. 😉
Originally posted by Regret
READ the actual statements and respond. I have attempted this, again. Now, if this is not a satisfactory response I would say that either the statements need to be more clear to receive a proper response or you just don't like the response I have given.
This is not about me liking or disliking. This is about me trying to understand your logic, and also about me probably not asking you the right questions before hand. Thanks for answering tho, and i would appreciate if you continued to do so. 😉
Originally posted by Regret
My overall answer is God doesn't necessarily answer all prayers, and he probably has reasons for answering or not answering in each case. I have presented my view on a [b]possible explanation as to why he may or may not answer a prayer, this is not necessarily the way it happens, it is only speculation as to a possibility. [/B]
Right, and this could be infinately debatable.
Re: Why Prayers Aren't Answered.
Originally posted by debbiejo
Now..How times have we asked in prayer and we have not gotten it?
It seems that God does NOT answer most prayers...WHY?
* examine first what you ask in your prayer...
"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts ."
James 4:3
* if the outcome will be of your downfall, your wish will surely not be granted... 😉
Originally posted by debbiejo
What the authors of the book has found doing much research is that the reason that our prayers aren't answered is because we are only speaking words that have no power..Looking at the original sources we are missing some aspects of prayer....in short, we need to speak it, feel its outcome with as many of our 5 senses as we can and accept that it has happened... For example, if you were going to pray for rain..You'd imagine what the rain feels like on your skin, what it smells like, what it feels like to walk in the muddy road, how the crops would grow with the rain, how the air would taste, and then thanks God for the opportunity of asking and believing it to be so....BTW, the rain story was confirmed and later that day, they did get rain in a long drought area...
"That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust ."
Matthew 5:45
* the Father is a God of justice... 😉
"Neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things ;"
The Acts 17:25
* and God is the Provider of all... 😉
Originally posted by Shalimar_fox
they are you just don't notice them becuase humans are selfish.we ask for things we don't need.
You mean like food, water, shelter, good health, comfort, and love?
Many people in this world do NOT ever get those things:
Yeah we definately don't need those things.... 🙄