Re: Does prayer work?
 

[quote=Schneed10;351784][quote=Hog1;351765]

First, answers to questions one and two aren't much of an answer. I'm supposed to "take a chance" on the religion that is correct, and if I'm right I go to heaven , and if I'm wrong I go to hell? Seems ridiculous.

As for answers 3 and 4, so I'm going to be rejected from Heaven if I'm a good person but don't believe in God? What about the guy who grows up in Iraq who is a good person, but is raised Muslim. He never gets exposed to God, because where he lives humans teach of Islam and Allah. He's going to go to hell? God would thereby reject any human from heaven based mainly on their geographical location. Asians and Indians tend not to believe in God, they mostly follow Buddhism and Hinduism. People in the middle east tend to be Islamic. That doesn't seem like a gracious and just God to me - in fact it sounds almost racist.

You're telling me that God would send anyone to hell who doesn't believe in him, without even considering the fact that people China and India, which comprise 40% of the Earth's population, never even have the opportunity to accept God because it's not taught in their homes?

Makes no sense to me.[/quote]

Of course it doesn't make sense. But faith doesn't make sense, does it?

Re: Does prayer work?
 

[quote=Schneed10;351784][quote=Hog1;351765]

First, answers to questions one and two aren't much of an answer. I'm supposed to "take a chance" on the religion that is correct, and if I'm right I go to heaven , and if I'm wrong I go to hell? Seems ridiculous.

As for answers 3 and 4, so I'm going to be rejected from Heaven if I'm a good person but don't believe in God? What about the guy who grows up in Iraq who is a good person, but is raised Muslim. He never gets exposed to God, because where he lives humans teach of Islam and Allah. He's going to go to hell? God would thereby reject any human from heaven based mainly on their geographical location. Asians and Indians tend not to believe in God, they mostly follow Buddhism and Hinduism. People in the middle east tend to be Islamic. That doesn't seem like a gracious and just God to me - in fact it sounds almost racist.

[B]You're telling me that God would send anyone to hell who doesn't believe in him, without even considering the fact that people China and India, which comprise 40% of the Earth's population, never even have the opportunity to accept God because it's not taught in their homes?[/B]

Makes no sense to me.[/quote]
There are christians and missionaries everywhere in the world. Also, Christian satellite television has exploded in the past 20 years. I would find it very hard to believe that in this day and age a person could go through their entire life and have not heard the gospel at least once.

Re: Does prayer work?
 

[quote=Lady Brave;351788][quote=Schneed10;351784]
There are christians and missionaries everywhere in the world. Also, Christian satellite television has exploded in the past 20 years. I would find it very hard to believe that in this day and age a person could go through their entire life and have not heard the gospel at least once.[/quote]

So then it's reasonable for Hindus in India or Buddhists in China to eschew the beliefs that were taught to them in school, by their parents at home, and practiced by everyone in their villages in favor of the beliefs taught by the ONE local Christian missionary in the village and the Christian sattellite TV? God's still going to send them to hell?

Harsh.

Re: Does prayer work?
 

[quote=12thMan;351786][quote=Schneed10;351784]

Of course it doesn't make sense. But faith doesn't make sense, does it?[/quote]

Which is exactly why I can't believe in it. There's not even consistency and evenhandedness, even if you ASSUME God exists.

You can be a decent human being living in a culture with little to no exposure to Christianity, but according to the Bible, you're going to Hell. The Bible also claims God to be just, loving, and forgiving.

Can you reconcile this for me? I certainly can't.

Re: Does prayer work?
 

By the way, what's going on with the quote language? It's assigning the wrong poster to the wrong comments.

Re: Does prayer work?
 

[quote=Schneed10;351795]By the way, what's going on with the quote language? It's assigning the wrong poster to the wrong comments.[/quote]


I noticed that too. I know you're full of yourself and all, but I was thinking you had reached an all time by quoting yourself:)

Re: Does prayer work?
 

[quote=12thMan;351799]I noticed that too. I know you're full of yourself and all, but I was thinking you had reached an all time by quoting yourself:)[/quote]

LOL!

To be honest, I've quoted myself before to be like "I told you so" on a few Redskin-related predictions. But not here.

Re: Does prayer work?
 

[quote=Lady Brave;351788][quote=Schneed10;351784]
There are christians and missionaries everywhere in the world. Also, Christian satellite television has exploded in the past 20 years. I would find it very hard to believe that in this day and age a person could go through their entire life and have not heard the gospel at least once.[/quote]

They've heard it, but like most QVC commercials, they recognize the sales pitch, and quickly change the channel to the NFL Network.

It must be difficult to legitimize your faith when you are compared to evangelists. Smack on the forehead, "You're healed!"

Re: Does prayer work?
 

I cannot and would not proclaim that there is but one path the lord. I really do not know if Hinduism, Buddism, and all the other ism's get you in the good seats in the afterlife. I wish I did. I believe the true path of christianity takes you there. If you do not, it's cool. It apparently does not fit in your finite world.
Just like another has already posted........faith. Thats the test, and the Catch-22. I choose to believe. I have experienced things that have reinforced those beliefs many times.
After all, there is plenty of room in life for believers and non believers. The afterlife may.................be a problem

Re: Does prayer work?
 

[quote=Schneed10;351784][quote=Hog1;351765]
As for answers 3 and 4, so I'm going to be rejected from Heaven if I'm a good person but don't believe in God? What about the guy who grows up in Iraq who is a good person, but is raised Muslim.[B] He never gets exposed to God, because where he lives humans teach of Islam and Allah[/B]. He's going to go to hell? God would thereby reject any human from heaven based mainly on their geographical location. Asians and Indians tend not to believe in God, they mostly follow Buddhism and Hinduism. People in the middle east tend to be Islamic. That doesn't seem like a gracious and just God to me - in fact it sounds almost racist.
[/quote]


Some clarifications are in order. How does one say God in Chinese (神) or French (Dieu) or Italian (Dio)? Allah is the Arabic word for God. Even Christian and Jewish Arabs refer to God as Allah.

Allah -> God
God -> Allah

I would also like to add that Muslims believe in Jesus, just not as the Son of God.

Re: Does prayer work?
 

[quote=Monksdown;351809]

They've heard it, but like most QVC commercials, they recognize the sales pitch, and quickly change the channel to the NFL Network.

It must be difficult to legitimize your faith when you are compared to evangelists. Smack on the forehead, "You're healed!"[/quote]


Bravo! Standing Ovation!

Re: Does prayer work?
 

[quote=Monksdown;351809][quote=Lady Brave;351788]

They've heard it, but like most QVC commercials, they recognize the sales pitch, and quickly change the channel to the NFL Network.

It must be difficult to legitimize your faith when you are compared to evangelists. Smack on the forehead, "You're healed!"[/quote]

Let's just say for a minute, that there are phony Evaneglists...wouldn't it be right to also assume, at least by that logic, that there are those who are truly authentic; perhaps true messengers sent from the Lord?

Re: Does prayer work?
 

If we label them "phony." Logic would imply that their would need to be some authentic messengers. True.

I don't think so, myself. Because I don't believe that there is any substance to the message.

Two reasons for my post;
1. to make you laugh.
2. to argue that the proliferation of TV worship has had negative side effects as well as positive(from your view).

The Sunday morning TV shows are in my opinion, negative for two big reasons. They are catering to the ignorant, and now lazy American populous. And i don't know about you Private Pile, but fat and stupid are not the way I want to go through life.

I apologize if my opinions upset you. Prayer does work, but not because you're talking to god. But because you're talking to yourself. And introspection is a very good medicine.

Re: Does prayer work?
 

[quote=Monksdown;351870]If we label them "phony." Logic would imply that their would need to be some authentic messengers. True.

I don't think so, myself. Because I don't believe that there is any substance to the message.

Two reasons for my post;
1. to make you laugh.
2. to argue that the proliferation of TV worship has had negative side effects as well as positive(from your view).

The Sunday morning TV shows are in my opinion, negative for two big reasons. They are catering to the ignorant, and now lazy American populous. And i don't know about you Private Pile, but fat and stupid are not the way I want to go through life.

I apologize if my opinions upset you. Prayer does work, but not because you're talking to god. But because you're talking to yourself. And introspection is a very good medicine.[/quote]

Hmm..without nitpicking here, I think there is a nugget of truth in what you said about Sunday morning TV church services. But I don't think that's just a religious phenomenon, I think it's partially cultural and partially religious driven.

Regarding prayer, the biblical definition of prayer most definitely involves God. Without fail, if you search the scriptures, you'll find that men and women, during the act of prayer are seeking God in some way. It's not a matter of meditation as most Eastern religions or schools of thought might categorize it. Just to be clear, I'm not saying Christianity owns exclusive rights to the word or term "prayer", but to the Christian and to the Budist, prayer may carry two different connotations.

Re: Does prayer work?
 

i prayed for a superbowl......