In other words: is there any scientific evidence that saying a prayer for a
>> poor, homeless person will actually improve that person's situation? If so,
>> I would love to see it. If not, well, then praying seems rather useless.
Yes. I've seen prayer improve the lives of poor people.
I have prayed for my nephew suffering from (probably incurrable) lymphoma. It got me wondering what I was praying for. I don't believe in god (I am an atheist but not a doctrinate aethist). If I were to believe in god it would have to be within the constraints of an orderly universe in which miracles do not occur (things outside of the rules of science; Sun stands still, Moses parts the red sea). Therefore I cannot pray for god to upset the genetics that are the source of my nephew's cancer. So what can I pray (hope) for? Maybe that he is the one in 100 who makes it. Few of us realize that 99% mortality insures 1% survival. But if I pray for my nephew to be the one, I am in effect praying that the other 99 are not. I can pray for the odds to change; that new treatments may help him and many others. But who will make these changes? Not any god directly. Women and men doing the research? I can't answer these questions but still I pray. I do not believe it is hedging my bets (It can't hurt to pray and it doesn't cost anything right?). I am reaching out to one soul and to all of us in general. We all have hopes. To realize this unites us to each other makes us understand what others are going through; I hope and pray
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Date: Sat, 09 Nov 2002 15:14:08 -0500
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From: "John D. Giorgis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Praying for the Poor RE: Christian insanity.
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>> In other words: is there any scientific evidence that saying a prayer for a
>> poor, homeless person will actually improve that person's situation? If so,
>> I would love to see it. If not, well, then praying seems rather useless.
Yes. I've seen prayer improve the lives of poor people.
JDG
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John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED]
People everywhere want to say what they think; choose who will govern
them; worship as they please; educate their children -- male and female;
own property; and enjoy the benefits of their labor. These values of
freedom are right and true for every person, in every society -- and the
duty of protecting these values against their enemies is the common
calling of freedom-loving people across the globe and across the ages.
-US National Security Policy, 2002
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