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Forums → WEPR → Why Follow Religion?
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I have a question to all believers, what's your reason for sticking to your religion? (meaning why do you do it faithfuly, if you just do it cause your parents do it then I don't think you really believe)
- 272 Replies
we CAN show that prayer does not help
Wrong. You cannot prove that the prayer helps the one that said prayer was mentioned for, however it does not mean that it doesn't help the person who does the praying, at least in a psychological sense. It can help bring peace of mind to the person doing the praying by at least knowing in their heart that someone/something is listening.
We can further show that religion is wrong on many fronts, and we can also correlate higher education to a reduction in religious beliefs.
I concede this point, however you cannot deny that religion has been helpful many times in the modern era.
Wrong. You cannot prove that the prayer helps the one that said prayer was mentioned for, however it does not mean that it doesn't help the person who does the praying, at least in a psychological sense.
The placebo effect has been proven. Prayer seems a lot like a sugar pill: Does nothing physically, only mentally, and only because the person thinks it's helping.
The placebo effect has been proven. Prayer seems a lot like a sugar pill: Does nothing physically, only mentally, and only because the person thinks it's helping.
But that is not necessarily a bad thing. When my aunt had cancer (is in remission), I said the Misheberach every night. It made me feel better getting my emotions out. That is also another reason for prayer. It is a constructive, non-harmful way to express emotions in a way that doesn't bother anyone.
Scenario:-
My whole business burnt down in some disaster and I don't even have a single nickel.
I'll probably be thinking of killing my self because im totally screwed.
Now I have three options:-
1) Become an alcoholic.
2) Find peace in my religion.
3) Kill myself.
If I become an alcoholic, I will not be able to concentrate on any thing.So, I will not be able to change my conditions.
If I kill myself, well every thing will be over (and as I believe) i'll go to hell.
Find peace in my religion, i'll pray to god or cry or whatever my religion tells me to do i will do.This will calm me down, I will be able to concentrate and probably be able to change my condition.
(All of above is with the assumption that prayers dont work really)
But that is not necessarily a bad thing. When my aunt had cancer (is in remission), I said the Misheberach every night. It made me feel better getting my emotions out. That is also another reason for prayer. It is a constructive, non-harmful way to express emotions in a way that doesn't bother anyone.I'm not objecting you, but since I'm Atheist, writing your feelings out on a piece of paper and throwing it away is also a constructive, non-harmful way to express emotions that doesn't bother anyone.
Now I have three options:-
1) Become an alcoholic.
2) Find peace in my religion.
3) Kill myself.
You forgot option number 4, be a constructive member of society and get a job and work your way back up again. It sucks, but that's what you have to do.
it is a constructive, non-harmful way to express emotions in a way that doesn't bother anyone.
It -does- bother people when they tell others to pray for blah-blah and advertise on TV about whatever they're praying for.
I'm not objecting you, but since I'm Atheist, writing your feelings out on a piece of paper and throwing it away is also a constructive, non-harmful way to express emotions that doesn't bother anyone.
However that does not necessarily have the same effect that praying does. I know that since you are atheist, you don't believe in the concept of a soul, however those who believe in a God usually do. As a Jew, I believe that prayer has taken the place of sacrifices after the Second Holy Temple was destroyed, and that it is my own "speed-dial" to God. Take that as you wish.
However that does not necessarily have the same effect that praying does. I know that since you are atheist, you don't believe in the concept of a soul, however those who believe in a God usually do. As a Jew, I believe that prayer has taken the place of sacrifices after the Second Holy Temple was destroyed, and that it is my own "speed-dial" to God. Take that as you wish.Hmm... Yeah, I can't object to that, as this is about praying, which I have no experience in, and never will.
You forgot option number 4, be a constructive member of society and get a job and work your way back up again. It sucks, but that's what you have to do.
Obviously you never faced some catastrophe in your life or you are an exceptional person.
But a common man, when goes through some trauma, takes some time to cope with it.
and every one have his own way of coping and I personaly dont consider drugs(including alcohol) and suicide coping.
Sorry for double post.
It -does- bother people when they tell others to pray for blah-blah and advertise on TV about whatever they're praying for.Yeah, I forgot about that. I hate it whenever I'm watching TV and then this ad pops up about believing in God and praying for the Holy Father and that stuff, it just irks me. This year at my family reunion took place at a Christian camp, it stunk.
It -does- bother people when they tell others to pray for blah-blah and advertise on TV about whatever they're praying for.
When did I say that people had to ask others to pray for what they are praying for? Those are (mainly) hardcore religious people who think that the Bible should be taken literally and that homosexuals should be killed. The reason that I say mainly, is because every so often you will get a request from someone to pray for them. Like if they were going overseas to fight in a war, I would pray to God to protect them from bullets, IEDs, etc. It sounds silly yes, but again, it makes me feel as if someone/something is watching over them.
Hmm... Yeah, I can't object to that, as this is about praying, which I have no experience in, and never will.
You don't even have to pray. If you ever get a moment, just go into a dark area, cross your legs, close your eyes, and meditate. It sounds hippyish, but it helps me unwind from the day's stress. Usually, I chant a certain phrase when I meditate, just to provide more to the relaxing climate. Try saying "Shalom Aleinu" which basically means peace to the earth in Hebrew. It helps me a lot, and I don't necessarily pray.
I would like to add something real quickly for the atheists who check out this thread. You might not know it, but you pray almost every day, and it is not even necessarily to God! Whenever you make an "I wish" statement, that is essentially what a prayer is.
I would like to add something real quickly for the atheists who check out this thread. You might not know it, but you pray almost every day, and it is not even necessarily to God! Whenever you make an "I wish" statement, that is essentially what a prayer is.I rarely go "I wish". And we're not talking about that, we're talking about the prayers to God and the Holy Father or something like that.
And we're not talking about that, we're talking about the prayers to God and the Holy Father or something like that.
Like you said earlier, you didn't exactly grasp the concept of prayer. As someone who prays semi-regualrly, an "I wish" or an "I hope" statement is basically what makes up a prayer. I shall attempt to relate it to science, but it might look ugly....
So in terms of science, more specifically atoms, the "I wish/I hope" statement is the nucleus, and then everything else are the electrons.
TADAAAAA
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