Poll of the Day > People on my Facebook are praying for hurricane victims

(+) Yeah! (+)

wah_wah_wah posted...

GastroFan posted...

I go with the man (who was atheist btw) who said that, and I'm paraphrasing here "maybe the Christians are on to something. Sharing the pain and suffering you're going through with other people helps to make it bearable." That is the most honest assessment of the power of prayer and shared suffering that I've heard either Christian or non-Christian utter.

I don't really think a quick and trite "praying for you" does much of that. Just like how saying "hello" doesn't mean you're genuinely happy to see someone. It's just one of those programmed responses you have to keep up appearances. It isn't harmful, but it probably doesn't do any good either.

When did "hello" ever mean "happy to see you"?
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jsb0714 posted...

wah_wah_wah posted...

GastroFan posted...

I go with the man (who was atheist btw) who said that, and I'm paraphrasing here "maybe the Christians are on to something. Sharing the pain and suffering you're going through with other people helps to make it bearable." That is the most honest assessment of the power of prayer and shared suffering that I've heard either Christian or non-Christian utter.

I don't really think a quick and trite "praying for you" does much of that. Just like how saying "hello" doesn't mean you're genuinely happy to see someone. It's just one of those programmed responses you have to keep up appearances. It isn't harmful, but it probably doesn't do any good either.

When did "hello" ever mean "happy to see you"?

Never. Just like "prayers" doesn't mean someone is actually praying for you.

I see people are still bitching about harmless gestures in this topic.
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Kyuubi4269 posted...

Alexandra_Trent posted...

It's an emotional way to reach out to people and their own personal attempt to help them in their own way.

It's their personal way to reach out to the faceless mass representing good people they want to exist, to help the concept of good people being hurt.

Everybody passively hopes that good people won't be hurt for no reason, it doesn't need saying and certainly doesn't make you a good person for not wanting people to pointlessly die for nothing.

Alexandra_Trent posted...

They can choose to just accept the gesture for what it really is: a kind and thoughtful gesture.

Self-aggrandizing is very unchristian, to imply your wish should defend people you don't even know against God's will places far too much importance on God's several billion subjects.

What they do is self-affirmation that there is a God who won't let good people like themselves die pointlessly like they fear. All their prayers are saying is "Only bad people will be killed by God's will and I'm a good person so if that ever happened to me, I shouldn't die!".

What?

No...As a Christian, I do not think this way at all! But anyway, I do undestand where you're coming from. Many use religion to further their agenda. And many are confused about their own religion or miss its true and core teachings.

I'm not saying all Christians are this or that. What I'm saying is that prayers are just a hopeful wish (to the Almighty) that things be all right. No more and no less. Now if a Christian continues on and says that those who are unfortunate deserve what they get (because they are unbelievers) then that's wrong. I too am against people- religious zealots- who are very judgmental who think themselves the chosen ones and everyone else is unworthy. Subscribing to a religion does not make one worthy of God's grace or mercy.

Only God can judge. Not us. Not me and not them.

Prayers, as a sentiment, are a good thing. They mean no harm.

:)
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Princess Magical alt??!!
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Metro2 posted...

People on my Facebook are praying for hurricane victims

I always get a handful of people on facebook who jump on the bandwagon no matter what it is. I mean it's not like they ever talked about these places that are struck with disasters, celebrates that have died or anything liked that before these things happen. They really crave attention and must get those likes so.
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Zangulus posted...

Depends on whether a god hears it and cares enough to do something.
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XlaxJynx007 posted...

I see people are still bitching about harmless gestures in this topic.

It's pretty sad. Basically, people who lack any sense of humanity.
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Alexandra_Trent posted...

When people die, others offer their condolences. Is this helpful at all too? By your logic, you shouldn't accept these condolences as they aren't REALLY PHYSICALLY helpful. But that's not the point is it? The point is that these people reached out and offered their emotional support.

As I've mentioned already, that's a personal thing, and it's being so personal that gives it value. Similarly, offering prayers for somebody specific is a personal way to demonstrate sympathy and provide emotional support. If I post "my thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has lost a loved one today" on Facebook, though, that's not personal. I can guarantee that somebody somewhere has lost a loved one today (literally any day), and could use some sympathy and emotional support, but if I'm not actually going to specify anything about the people I'm sympathizing with, nobody in particular is going to feel supported by that.

That's why it's largely a form of self-gratification. "Maybe somebody affected by the disaster will end up reading my post and maybe they won't notice that it's not at all personally directed to them and they'll feel better" is not genuinely trying to help. It's not putting any thought into how somebody can make a difference for these victims. It's doing the barest minimum possible to feel good about oneself and/or look benevolent in front of their peers, then moving on without actually considering how much good it'll do. That's not caring.
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Kyuubi4269 posted...

What they do is self-affirmation that there is a God who won't let good people like themselves die pointlessly like they fear. All their prayers are saying is "Only bad people will be killed by God's will and I'm a good person so if that ever happened to me, I shouldn't die!".

I dont get what you are getting at. That same God will let the most devout believers get robbed, murdered, etc, if it is in accordance with a greater plan. If something is to happen to someone or something, thats the way it was meant to be. I know im kind of just jumping in your discussion here, but i dont get where your opinion comes from. "Only bad people will be killed by God's will"? Who ever said that? No one is untouchable
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SunWuKung420 posted...

XlaxJynx007 posted...

I see people are still bitching about harmless gestures in this topic.

It's pretty sad. Basically, people who lack any sense of humanity.

Which people? You need to be specific when you call people out.
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Sarcasthma posted...

SunWuKung420 posted...

XlaxJynx007 posted...

I see people are still bitching about harmless gestures in this topic.

It's pretty sad. Basically, people who lack any sense of humanity.

Which people? You need to be specific when you call people out.

I would only assume he is referring to the people who are

bitching about harmless gestures in this topic.

But that's just an assumption, we may have to refine our algorithms further before we finally succeed in cracking the code.

yes that was a form of sarcasm and I apologize but like... it wasn't even cryptic
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I mean specific usernames. >_>
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dedbus posted...

I'm sure it helps immensely especially for morale, that someone is thinking of you.

They'll never know someone "was thinking about them". They're too busy sifting through the rubble of their lives.

Prayer does nothing except make the person praying feel like they did something.
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When the shit hits the fan, everyone succumbs to Barbarianism, and chaos ensues, you guys are going to wish you had a few good Clerics around. >_>

but ok proceed
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I should clarify that I'm fine with people who pray for others; I just think it's silly to tell people on social media about it.
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^I also agree with this, it's a personal thing, if it makes up your persona, that just makes it annoying knowing you are communicating this with people who don't feel the same way. I recall a verse that basically says you should be praying in private. That's just how I feel about it though, even the little details matter IMO.

Maybe that's cause I used to have a Christian friend who probably didn't actually see any Christian-ness in me anymore, cause I don't show it like she does. But that just made her annoying, cause she was very mainstream about it. Oh well.

http://jesuscult.org This site basically sums up how I feel about mainstream Christianity.

I guess I should correct myself, I was actually going through a period of agnosticism and since I decided to be faithful again (in my own way) she probably would see me as a flip flopper (even though I've quit facebook since then), but she has two kids now sooooooo
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adjl posted...

Alexandra_Trent posted...

When people die, others offer their condolences. Is this helpful at all too? By your logic, you shouldn't accept these condolences as they aren't REALLY PHYSICALLY helpful. But that's not the point is it? The point is that these people reached out and offered their emotional support.

As I've mentioned already, that's a personal thing, and it's being so personal that gives it value. Similarly, offering prayers for somebody specific is a personal way to demonstrate sympathy and provide emotional support. If I post "my thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has lost a loved one today" on Facebook, though, that's not personal. I can guarantee that somebody somewhere has lost a loved one today (literally any day), and could use some sympathy and emotional support, but if I'm not actually going to specify anything about the people I'm sympathizing with, nobody in particular is going to feel supported by that.

That's why it's largely a form of self-gratification. "Maybe somebody affected by the disaster will end up reading my post and maybe they won't notice that it's not at all personally directed to them and they'll feel better" is not genuinely trying to help. It's not putting any thought into how somebody can make a difference for these victims. It's doing the barest minimum possible to feel good about oneself and/or look benevolent in front of their peers, then moving on without actually considering how much good it'll do. That's not caring.

Pretty sure anybody reading it would take at least some solace from it or, at least, nearly as much solace as they would from a "personal" condolences. More so, people who actually know the affected generally *also* offer personalized sympathy to that individual so it's not even an either/or like you're trying to posit.
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Action53 posted...

So they're admitting God has a plan but they think theirs is better?

This. The selective logic never fails to astound me.
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Sarcasthma posted...

Also:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXrB7Y6gVN8

Snuggletoof posted...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feXnZZ2o5ys

These. ^^^ I hate reading these obviously pious platitudes from a populace that is summarily posting, Good luck with that!.
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Metro2 posted...

Yeah, good job. That'll help for sure. Yup.

I've been praying so hard.

Keep hatin', heathen.
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TC neglecting to mention the fact that said people are also donating and/or physically helping where they can.

But hey rather be cool and edgy angtheist to score points with random people on the internet mirite
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Hurricane dissipated and cause far less damage than it would have. Looks like prayer did indeed work.