Evolution is proven false!

[lewiscalledhimmaster]

Praying does have a psychological impact on a person, I would agree, which is completely independent on any results from praying.

Only if you pray to Thor!

 

[bhsmte]

Only if you pray to Thor!

Nope, just praying, period.

 

[lewiscalledhimmaster]

Nope, just praying, period.

Oh, I've read about that.

 

[bhsmte]

Oh, I've read about that.

Me too.

 

[Davian]

I believe it is the interpretation of data by evolutionist minds and any scientist or educated person of influence that contradicts it will be met with resistance and bullying tactics to enough of an extent to deter others from doing the same.

Yet you are unable to substantiate this belief. Perhaps you only hold this belief because you need mainstream science to be wrong for your beliefs to be true.

But in our scenario we were assuming that it did, were we not?

No.

I have no idea..

You should look that up. If the response to prayer is not statistically different when compared between a particular deity and dairy product, I would be of the opinion that prayer does not work above the level of placebo effect and confirmation bias. Try carrying a lucky rabbit's foot (although it didn't work for the rabbit ).

 

[Davian]

At first glance. But in action the result is quite different.
As long as your need is real and not superfluous, you will
actually get what is needed the very instant that you
surrender the need and stop "asking".

It's a very difficult task to have a need and surrender the
need as well. But the results are amazing to watch.

The jug of milk...not so much.

You make it sound like an exercise in self-deception.

 

[Davian]

It is critical. You have no future with some beliefs.
With others, an eternity of benefits.

Do you think reality conforms to your beliefs?

 

[Davian]

No. Satan is a destroyer. He helps the hackers not the engineers.....except
to the extent he allows the engineers to create things he can later destroy.

Was Satan behind the biblical flood? genocides? the creation of Hell?

 

[Davian]

Satan allows only what God allows him to. God created all science and the laws that define it. Satan tells you just enough truth to cover his lie. Satan had nothing to do with the creation and functional properties of semiconductors.

God allows him to do all that stuff you said? Then God is entirely complicit. I wouldn't give either of them the time of day. If they existed, that is.

 

[Davian]

When you pray for others, the results can be very dramatic...for you.
God does not appreciate being tested though, so all tests are non-conclusive.

From that, we can conclude that prayer does not work, beyond the placebo effect and confirmation bias.

 

[Mr Strawberry]

There are some days when I feel the weight of these words, more than others.
The simple answer is that no-one should die, but this is the dying zone -- until we figure out a way to stay-off our worst enemy. We suffer loss by the hand of friends, foes and people we've never met.
Innocents are killed in the wars we fight, both out there on in the war zone and in the home. It's full scale physical war -- be it bombers or some crazy kid who steals Dad's hunting rifle and shoots the next door neighbors cat!!!
We can blame whoever we want to, but it always comes back to us.
GK Chesterton got that one dead right!

Any claim that prayers are answered just becomes redundant when confronted with ongoing examples of the complete ineffectuality of prayer in the face of something as pointless and relentless as hunger related deaths - 21,000 a day according to the poverty.com website. That's an awful lot of unanswered prayers.

I dunno -- there is a hollow thump about it, that fails to answer a question that is genuinely addressed in the account of one apocalyptic prophet (some say legend) who apparently has figured out a way to reverse the situation by making all our problems his solitary mission. I dunno what you think of Jesus, but that's where I have laid my hat -- until someone can show that he was no-one unique

The nonsensical idea of god sacrificing himself to impress himself enough to forgive humanity's sins is a topic for another thread.

 

[lewiscalledhimmaster]

Any claim that prayers are answered just becomes redundant when confronted with ongoing examples of the complete ineffectuality of prayer in the face of something as pointless and relentless as hunger related deaths - 21,000 a day according to the poverty.com website. That's an awful lot of unanswered prayers.

Sure bums on seats don't measure effectual living.

The nonsensical idea of god sacrificing himself to impress himself enough to forgive humanity's sins is a topic for another thread.

Sure bums on thrones don't measure effectual living.

 

[SkyWriting]

So prayer isn't about God, it's about the person doing it?

Correct.
It's about the benefits of the conversation to humans.
God doesn't need any help knowing what's going on.
It's the person who prays that needs help understanding
what the Father already knows.

 

[SkyWriting]

From that, we can conclude that prayer does not work, beyond the placebo effect and confirmation bias.

Confirmation bias is an effect noted in studies.
It's not an unavoidable curse preventing reality
from being observed.

 

[SkyWriting]

Was Satan behind the biblical flood? genocides? the creation of Hell?

Hell is not a place, it's an experience. You experience a taste of it every day
watching the news or reading the papers. Your life is a mild version of Hell
where you watch the results of your actions and inaction's unfold as your
family and neighbors suffer.

Genocides are people acting on their fear of the above.

The Flood was an example of what is to come when you die and what the
world will experience in the future. Though not with wet water next time.

 

[SkyWriting]

Any claim that prayers are answered just becomes redundant when confronted with ongoing examples of the complete ineffectuality of prayer in the face of something as pointless and relentless as hunger related deaths - 21,000 a day according to the poverty.com website. That's an awful lot of unanswered prayers.

Prayer changes the person, not any physical events in the world.
Though effective prayer in changed to accommodate coming events,
in my experience.

 

[SkyWriting]

The nonsensical idea of god sacrificing himself to impress himself enough to forgive humanity's sins is a topic for another thread.

It's a simple matter of God taking the death sentence
that sinners rightly deserve. :o

 

[Davian]

Was Satan behind the biblical flood? genocides? the creation of Hell?

Hell is not a place, it's an experience. You experience a taste of it every day
watching the news or reading the papers. Your life is a mild version of Hell
where you watch the results of your actions and inaction's unfold as your
family and neighbors suffer.

Genocides are people acting on their fear of the above.

The Flood was an example of what is to come when you die and what the
world will experience in the future. Though not with wet water next time.

Such a loving god you have there. Do you have a date for that?

 

[Davian]

Confirmation bias is an effect noted in studies.
It's not an unavoidable curse preventing reality
from being observed.

Confirmation bias does give some people the impression that prayer works.

 

[Queller]

No. Otherwise known as functional and dysfunctional in the original Hebrew.

I don't know what dictionary you are using but according to Strong's the Hebrew word for "good" is towb which translates as

adj

1. good, pleasant, agreeable
   1. pleasant, agreeable (to the senses)
   2. pleasant (to the higher nature)
   3. good, excellent (of its kind)
   4. good, rich, valuable in estimation
   5. good, appropriate, becoming
   6. better (comparative)
   7. glad, happy, prosperous (of man's sensuous nature)
   8. good understanding (of man's intellectual nature)
   9. good, kind, benign
   10. good, right (ethical)
       n m
2. a good thing, benefit, welfare
   1. welfare, prosperity, happiness
   2. good things (collective)
   3. good, benefit
   4. moral good
      n f
3. welfare, benefit, good things
   1. welfare, prosperity, happiness
   2. good things (collective)
   3. bounty

The Hebrew word for "evil" is ra' which translates as


adj

1. bad, evil
   1. bad, disagreeable, malignant
   2. bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)
   3. evil, displeasing
   4. bad (of its kind - land, water, etc)
   5. bad (of value)
   6. worse than, worst (comparison)
   7. sad, unhappy
   8. evil (hurtful)
   9. bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)
   10. bad, evil, wicked (ethically)
       1. in general, of persons, of thoughts
       2. deeds, actions
          n m
2. evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity
   1. evil, distress, adversity
   2. evil, injury, wrong
   3. evil (ethical)
      n f
3. evil, misery, distress, injury
   1. evil, misery, distress
   2. evil, injury, wrong
   3. evil (ethical)

I don't see "functional" or dysfunctional" in there anywhere. Do you have a source for your translation?