Originally posted by rwingettChange it around a bit. One person will die a horrible death, and two other groups will watch -- 100 who pray, and 100 who don't.
At least one of the climbers is dead. Maybe he didn't have enough people praying for him.
I'd like to see an experiment where they place some guy on one of the old sawmill tables, with the big blade getting closer and closer to his head. Then we have as many people as possible pray to the god of their choice to save him. They could do this with 100 diffe ...[text shortened]... rayed for had a higher survival rate. If not, then we could conclude that prayer had no value.
Which group do you think will deal better with the post-trauma?
Originally posted by spruce112358So is that all prayer amounts to? A mechanism for coping with stress? It seems a slender reed to cling to.
Change it around a bit. One person will die a horrible death, and two other groups will watch -- 100 who pray, and 100 who don't.
Which group do you think will deal better with the post-trauma?
Originally posted by rwingettCan't you account for prayer in a psychological sense? Perhaps a somatic feed-back mechanism whereby the ego draws energy from the psychic bedrock? (Thumb tastes good today). I think that people who automatically dismiss such practices because they are God-founded are missing something important.
So is that all prayer amounts to?
Originally posted by Bosse de NageIntrospection doesn't need prayer, as prayer implies someone/something outside of oneself to pray to.
Can't you account for prayer in a psychological sense? Perhaps a somatic feed-back mechanism whereby the ego draws energy from the psychic bedrock? (Thumb tastes good today). I think that people who automatically dismiss such practices because they are God-founded are missing something important.
Originally posted by rwingettThe slenderness is mostly a matter of perception. But I think of prayer as more than coping with stress, although that is when many people turn to it. I mentioned guidance earlier -- where better to look for guidance when you are not sure than within? If God is there, you will hear Him. If God is not there, you will hear your own True Self or Inner Voice. And isn't your best course normally the one that aligns with who you really are? Look at the (condensed) wisdom of the ages:
So is that all prayer amounts to? A mechanism for coping with stress? It seems a slender reed to cling to.
"Know thyself"
"To thine own self be true."
etc.
People say that they felt the prayers. That they were empowered by them. Maybe they did. I never have.
Will you all pray for me today? How about at 12:00 mountain Standard time. Just pray that I'll feel it. Just for a couple of seconds should do. It will be a test.
Just a good short prayer for badmoon.