Most of you know my friend Cornell. He has a very interesting post [ Now this is what I call a perfect prayer] which he says he was taught a decade or so ago which for all intents I think is a prayer of a person trying reverse psychology on god, whichever god it is is yours to decide.
Oh LORD, If I worship You for fear of Hell, burn me in Hell,
and if I worship You in hope of Paradise, exclude me from Paradise.
But if I worship You for Your Own sake,
grudge me not Your everlasting Beauty.
If you ask me, this prayer asks god to evaluate the sincerity in the prayer. Am feeling lazy and I know you my friends have more to say to my friend.
The second post is a meme, that those of you who spend time on Facebook must have seen. I will sample a few comments
Misty Troy Walling asks: Atheist: how can you be against something you don’t believe in. I am so thankful for a merciful God!
No, we are not against god. We just lack a belief. Did you get that?
Tracy Roger Wilson I always wonder why atheists troll FB sites that are clearly Christian based? Is it just to incite arguments ? If so, why?? Why do atheists want to condemn those who believe in God? They seem to spend alot of time thinking about something they don’t believe in. There’s no peace there!
Create your private internet. If it is in the public atheists will comment and you can comment on atheists sites as long as you can defend your ridiculous claims.
Kirk Cameron I am a recovering atheist. I’d still be an atheist today if it weren’t for God. He has been so kind to me. My old days of denying His existence based on not seeing Him was as foolish as the words from the second boy in this womb. Without a mom, he couldn’t even make the statement. Thank you Lord, for graciously opening my eyes of faith to see You…and loving me when I didn’t deserve it. Romans 5:8
Seriously, are you saying this to get many comments? Tell me what you understand by atheism? Why Christianity and their god among the many gods on offer?
Prayer is like riding a rocking horse: it feels like you’re doing something but you’re not going anywhere.
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Nice analogy.
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I saw that in a meme somewhere.
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How astute an observation!
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100 points to the person who thought it up!
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oh that is another good one john! You find the best memes!
Another thing that disturbs me is how often it is used to ease the conscience. When someone needs actual help, a person feels they are helping by saying “I will pray for you” 😦
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As far as the perfect prayer….I think it is at least a step forward. I remember when it was for me.
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My friend is still a very active apologist. I don’t think he is about to make any step forward.
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ah, the prayer itself is a step forward from simply fear of hell or longing for reward , at least i think. I shall have a look at his blog…
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You should visit his blog.
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That makes my skin crawl, too, Holly. No, don’t pray… DO SOMETHING!
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Praying is doing something my friend, it is appealing to the on high to get his act together!
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Well that sounds even more futile! 🙂
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Which one, the big guy getting his act together or telling him to get his act together or both since he must be busy watching big cat diaries or English Premier League?
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god watching Big Cat Diaries… Brilliant!
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I mean seriously, what would he be doing while guys are busy killing each in his name over some desert land in the Middle East and over who governs who in Nigeria and in Iraq between who is the true representative of Allah. A crazy world and crazy people!
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Yes, when someone says…I won’t be able to pay the light bill this month. The surgery has cost him his job…what will we do?
“oh that’s terrible dear, I will be praying for you!”
off on their merry way…conscience eased….they have “done something” to help another human…
Bullfeathers!
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Holly, the comment you have made drives the point home so clearly. How does telling such a person you are going to pray for them help them!
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The person saying I’ll pray for you believes that is offering help!
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I love it: “I’m a recovering atheist”, gives a whole new meaning to AA!
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I think she is recovering from thinking rationally for I don’t know what else she could be recovering from! But then no society ever suffered because its populace was rational so to say one is a recovering atheist says a lot about such a person.
Some apologists throw in the line they were atheists to give credibility to what they write but most times one sees these were people who really wanted to believe.
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Actually prayer is unique. There is nothing else like it. There is no other singular thing which dives so deeply into superstition and stupidity. Ask a Christian if they think Christians are persecuted? Do they think persecuted Christians around the world pray for their safety? What makes them think then that their own prayers will be answered?
The definition of insanity is repeating the same action but expecting a different result. The definition of stupid is mimicking someone else’s insanity but thinking it will be different for you.
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I can infer then from this that Christians are both stupid and insane?
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