I'll start at the end rigs in response to the "answers to prayers mystery". Well I'm just wondering what evidence is there that the event or any event after a prayer is the result of the prayer; maybe it was going to happen anyway without prayer. I mean life goes on without prayer, things happen, weird and strange things happen. I didn't pray before I won some lotto cash but if I did pray would it have meant that the win was on account of the prayer when winnings happen without prayer, everyday, all the time? I don't know if you are familiar with a new news story about a young woman who was randomly attacked by another woman on the street. The attack involves the assailant throwing a cup of sulfuric acid in the woman's face; I'll provide a link. However, in the interview the victim talks about how she never ever in her life wanted to wear sunglasses but about 20 minutes before the attack some strange feeling came over her, a feeling that she wanted to buy a pair of sunglasses. In the end these are the sunglasses that saved her eyesight during the attack. Point here is that the young woman attributes that last minute decision to buy sunglasses to Jesus. But my question is where was Jesus when the woman with the acid was approaching her, ergo; the idea that there was some spiritual dynamic involved in saving the woman's eyes so she could look at her disfigured face is by far totally ridiculous. The young woman is a devout christian who spends enormous amounts of time praying, claims she doesn't have any enemies and obviously has put her faith into something that is simply wishful thinking. Well, as it is a busy weekend and time is of the essence, I must go. I'll be back (add the swarzy accent)
Link: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20015519-504083.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CBSNewsTheEarlyShowLiving+%28CBS+News%3A+The+Early+Show%3A+Living%29 By the way, these acid attacks are very common abroad and are getting more common here in the states. http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=acid+attacks This one is really disturbing. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1221077/Katie-Piper-Acid-attack-victim-bravely-shows-face-disfigured-boyfriend-Daniel-Lynch.html What is wrong with these people and why hasn't "prayer" had any affect on these assholes? Have a great weekend rigsy. On Sep 3, 4:27 pm, rigsy03 <[email protected]> wrote: > A lively response! Well done! > > Will try to answer as far as I am able. > > Recent pronouncements by Martin Amis, Christopher Hitchens and Stephen > Hawking irritated me. > > I suppose athiests can get by with pagan ethics and cultural > ettiquette. > > I have been reading all over the map lately- so some of my thoughts > are merely flirting at the moment. They must ripen. > > I don't really feel "bitter" and that, of course, is such a loaded > word and usually is slapped on critics- esp. females to de-sex them of > feminine qualities. So let's just say I am critical and that quality > also has an up side when warranted. > > I don't think I ever felt that a public life in the arts or elsewhere > was a worthy goal and most biographies tend to support my opinion > though there are rare exceptions.It is also a fact that being an only > child and attending boarding schools probably contributed to my > contentment versus running around like a chicken with its head cut > off. Now raising children was another matter as I had to join groups > and buzz about for their sake but I really didn't care for it very > much. Perhaps I am a contemplative? > > Prayer can mean different things to different people. They can be > empty rote like false manners and forecasts. When I pray for myself it > is for strength or to improve in some area. When I pray for others it > is to wish them well and to back away from interference in their lives > and choices. I have no idea whom I have prayed to all these years > which makes the answers to prayers quite mysterious! :-) > > On Sep 2, 7:31 pm, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > > > I like the first line rigsy, the connection/opposition of emotions and > > reason, and we should delve into that more deeply in the future, > > perhaps in another thread that you or I might start, but rigsy, > > seriously, the rest is so much a pessimism without value except > > personal blah blah. > > > So atheists begin to sound foolish after becoming their own god. wow! > > > Well that is quite the inference without basis. > > > From what maze of conundrums have you exited to reach this conclusion? > > > If you can please start with how an atheist who believes not in any > > gods becomes a god. I'm confounded by this notion. > > > So how do atheists sound foolish? Is that "All" atheists or just some > > that you would denote as having this character? > > > Scientists are the new "god" you say. > > > Well how is that when scientists have a history that comprises a > > higher percentage of failure than success. They still haven't found a > > cure for the common cold nor have they found anything significant in > > making life disease free. Scientists have fallen behind new diseases > > and viruses. > > > Can you explain this idea of "tragic and idiotic fate" among modern > > writers and artists? I'm not really sure what you are driving at. Is > > it the affection you have for past writers whom you have a greater > > passion, admiration and desire for? > > > I'm sure you are a very sweet woman at heart but there is some > > bitterness emanating from many of your posts. I haven't really paid > > much attention to them until now that I see you are somehow still > > lashing out. Please don't be offended, I'm just trying to get at the > > crux and soothe the savage beast. > > > I'll pray for you if you think that is worth anything but personally I > > think it is the next best thing to the tooth fairy and a product of > > our fear of the unknown. Exactly what do we pray to? People have > > been praying for thousands of years and I think it is because people > > love to be duped as long as it feels good. > > > On Sep 2, 4:39 pm, rigsy03 <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > I am getting more interested in the connection/opposition of emotions > > > and reason. > > > > I think atheists basically become their own gods and begin to sound > > > foolish. > > > > Scientists are the new gods and prophets of the "modern" age but they > > > are quite flawed in their magic and impact. > > > > Artists- especially writers- try to create a view of life but have an > > > impossible task which probably accounts for such tragic or idiotic > > > fates among "modern" artists and writers. > > > > Someone has prayed for me for 42 years- isn't that wonderful? :-) > > > > On Sep 2, 12:06 pm, RP Singh <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Consciousness is not something out of the world , it is simply an > > > > attribute > > > > of life. As long as an organism is alive it has consciousness to some > > > > level > > > > or the other. Mind and understanding are not intangible but are merely > > > > functions of different parts of the brain. We are connected to the > > > > Absolute > > > > through our bodies and being alive is a proof of the existence of the > > > > Spirit or God. > > > > > On Thu, Aug 26, 2010 at 7:26 PM, Molly <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Mind: All human beings share in being a part of, and connected to > > > > > Mind, the universal Life energy and source of intelligence beyond the > > > > > brain. Because of Mind, we share in an endless flow of wisdom—each of > > > > > us equally capable of being wise. > > > > > > Consciousness: All human beings share in the principle or fact of > > > > > Consciousness. We experience life. We also experience life from > > > > > different levels of consciousness—from truncated and fear-based, angry > > > > > and insecure “levels” to grounded, secure, safe, wise and even > > > > > enlightened states (Buddha Mind, Christ Consciousness, the “Father > > > > > within,” the Kingdom of Heaven.) If humans lived even a little more > > > > > often in this last state of mind, the impact on world peace, from a > > > > > personal to a global level, would be significant. > > > > > > The principle of Thought, as a universal function, guides humans > > > > > either toward or away from non-violence, love and compassion. The > > > > > existence of a personal thought system, or “ego”—which we see as > > > > > simply being a sticky attachment to, or identification with thoughts— > > > > > trips up our noble aspirations for peace. Yet we have found that > > > > > teaching people about the neutral fact of Thought, and how it creates > > > > > reality for each of us (rather than attempting to change “content”), > > > > > allows people to shine the light of this principle on all their > > > > > thinking. Levels of consciousness jump as people gain understanding > > > > > about the formless source of all ideas, beliefs and opinions. > > > > > > When humans understand that a thought is just a thought, just a > > > > > creation from formless energy, the iron grip the ego can have on us > > > > > begins to lessen. Lighter, gentler, more inspired feelings arising > > > > > from impersonal, or universal thoughts create kind and selfless > > > > > behaviors. We begin to realize we are so much more than our limited > > > > > thoughts. So much more than we ever “thought”! While respecting our > > > > > own and others’ traditions, cultures and preferences, we see beyond > > > > > the forms that humans have created—and to the deeper truth of our > > > > > common divinity, our shared existence in universal Mind, Consciousness > > > > > and Thought … or in Life. From this vantage point, there is no reason > > > > > to argue, to fight, to hurt another. When I hurt you, I diminish me. > > > > > > So, our personal answer is to share with people these simple > > > > > principles that govern their states of mind. Because, beneath it all, > > > > > all humans are already wise, good, generous, kind and even > > > > > enlightened. When the clouds of thought begin to part, they each take > > > > > their unique and radiant place in being one in “six billion paths to > > > > > peace. > > > > > > What do YOU think? > > > > > > See also Sydney Banks, “The Missing Link: Reflections on Life and > > > > > Philosophy” & other works. > > > > > >http://www.centerforsustainablechange.org/principles.php-Hidequotedtext > > > > > - > > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > - Show quoted text -
