Prayer sucks too!

[dan foster]

I was speaking in the general sense regarding do no harm.  If everyone on the planet subscribed to such, we'd all be better off.  The problem with many faith based people is they don't think they're doing any harm when they stick their noses into the business of others.

Agree, but still suggest that even the do-no-harm "philosophies" out there, faith-based or not, are harmful; even if you just count the position those folks take in, "is god helping me, or punishing me" in the decisions they make.  Ala, the Skinner Box they live in.  I think that is harmful to progress, personal and societal. 

[pariann]

Sure but it's no substitute for a sense of humor.   

I've foregone all sense of humor until my dumbass half sister pays me the money the judge ordered her to pay nearly 2 weeks ago.

[Exterminator]

I've foregone all sense of humor until my dumbass half sister pays me the money the judge ordered her to pay nearly 2 weeks ago.

Do you need me to go chop her in the throat?

[LOsborne]

Ala, the Skinner Box they live in.  I think that is harmful to progress, personal and societal. 

Hah! I remember studying Skinner boxes in Philo101. The was a young mother in my class. She confided to me that, should Skinner boxes be readily available, she would never take her kid out of it!

[Locutus]

Ala, the Skinner Box they live in. 

Just replace the ole' debbil and his pitchfork for the electrical grid. 

[dan foster]

Just replace the ole' debbil and his pitchfork for the electrical grid. 

You got it.  Hard to think that people believe there is a "great father" out there testing them, rewarding them, punishing them.  Pretty goddamned self centered, don't you think?

[pariann]

Do you need me to go chop her in the throat?

Would you? It might save us the trouble of firing her.

[Locutus]

Uh oh!!  The prayer warriors have been summoned up once again:

I am calling on all you prayer warriors! My cousin Katie's boyfriend, Ben is in the Marines and stationed in Afghanistan. His company was hit by a roadside bomb yesterday. He is in serious condition after coming out of surgery- PLEASE PRAY for Ben and for Katie! Thanks!

Same relative, different circumstance.  If it doesn't turn out any better this time, I'm going to invite her to join the Zone and post on my God sucks thread.   

[Locutus]

A response so far:

Oh my gosh Michelle, please let Katie know I'm praying hard!

They're at it again!

[Locutus]

I really want to go onto that post that she made and ask what makes her think it's going to turn out any better this time than it did for Edna Mae. 

[LOsborne]

Hmmm.... that strategy didn't play so well with Edna Mae. Now they want to give it one more shot with Ben and Katie? Ya know, when the team is losing, you fire the coach. I guess they will wait for the buzzer before appointing a talent-search committee. Pele has been getting good press lately, but she mostly specializes in pyrotechnics.

[Exterminator]

That family sure does get smited a lot!

[dan foster]

I really want to go onto that post that she made and ask what makes her think it's going to turn out any better this time than it did for Edna Mae.

Maybe it's like voodoo.  It may actually work, if you believe it does.     Thus, the reason somebody "NEEDS"  to let them know they are prayed for.  If you believe someone can cast a spell on you, and find out they did, you might just play it out as "real".  Same "real" as the angels and demons that inhabit these folks' universe.  People can be led to believe some really goofy stuff, and worse, can make it real in their minds.