those strange postions, the chanting...

Praying.
Why do you pray? Do you think it truly works? What/Who do you pray to?

Lets hear what you think about prayer in your life.

oh and remember:
"Noah didn't wait for his ship to come in...he built one!" - unknown

Chanting is my prayer. Chanting to the moon and to the sun. Chanting to myself. Because we believe that the god and goddess are within everything and not a being floating above us. We can't pray to an unnamed god, so we pray to nature.

I prefer to pray silently...but if asked to lead a group in prayer, I dont mind.

I've never prayed in my life.

Blob,

I dont mean to be nosey--Im genuinely interested in this.

Have you ever-by habit-said "Please God" or "God help me" or anything of that nature.

Yes I use expressions with the word god in them. Things like "god knows", "god help us if...", "thank god" and so on. I quite like expressions like that because employing religious connotations gives a sentence a kick.

Swear words produce a similar effect. For example I also use "fuck knows", "thank fuck" and so on.

Blob have you ever said "I hope" example, gee I hope it doesn't rain or I hope those folks don't get killed in that storm. If so isn't this sort of like praying, instead of saying I pray you change it to I hope?

Originally posted by Evakian
Praying.
Why do you pray? Do you think it truly works? What/Who do you pray to?

A} I believe it personally helps

B} yes

C} nature

oh and remember:
"Noah didn't wait for his ship to come in...he built one!" - unknown

Or maybe Noah is a fairy tail ;)

Originally posted by mad dog
Blob have you ever said "I hope" example, gee I hope it doesn't rain or I hope those folks don't get killed in that storm. If so isn't this sort of like praying, instead of saying I pray you change it to I hope? Yes I hope for things. I have quite an optimistic nature. But when something I hope for happens I do not consider the hope to have caused it.

I posted a reeeeeeeeeally long detailed explanation about how each of the five daily prayers works in Islam in another thread some time back. If you're interested I'll look for it for you and quote it right here.

To answer your questions:
Why do I pray? I pray to thank God for this life He has granted me. Also, I pray to ask for things such as health and happiness in life and Heaven in the Hereafter.
Do I think it truly works? Of course I do ;)
What/Who do I pray for? I pray for forgiveness, health, gratefulness, all good things, asking God to guide the lost, to aid all the good people, and many other things

Originally posted by mad dog
Or maybe Noah is a fairy tail ;)

Of course it was a "fairy tale". Much of the old testament was just parables that illustrate points and teach people values. Some were based upon historical fact, others were actual accounts. But the stories like Noah or Jonah are improbable.

And i posted that because the quote is relevant: You have to work for progress and success, if noah had sat down and prayed he would have drown with the rest of the world.

Evakian,

Nothing is improbable through God. He makes all things happen, and controls all things.

i think God takes a hands off approach to the world around us, despite having had his hand in creation, but he involves himself in human's inner innerworkings when situations permit such things

It may be more like that now...but in bible days, God acted more personably with the people.

Such as Noah and Jonah.

"When god comes down to earth, she is going to be pissed!"
Nothing is improbable through God
Oddly enough, I agree. But considering that 'God' is the male half of The All.(God and Goddess)

And all is possible thru magick.

magick?

Originally posted by jerejerebinks
It may be more like that now...but in bible days, God acted more personably with the people.

Such as Noah and Jonah.

So you think since the days of Eve's descent God has shyed away from us more gradually because our lack of humanity and morals as time progressed?
valid statement, i could believe that.
But i still believe the old testament is a collection of parables to teach those uneducated of the old in an engrossing way.

Jesus taught in parables (forgive any miswordings in this quote, but i believe he said)

"Why do you teach in parables?"
Jesus: "They listen but they do not hear or comprehend. they see but they are blind."

Stories of scientific improbablities like Jonah (whales throats are too small to swallow humans, much less a grapefruit. And the acids would have done him in) would be fictitious stories to teach the jews lessons.
Even the story of adam and eve is one of them.

But i do accept that there was a time when humans were more pure beings closer to God because of their faith, they had no doubt or rebellious nature because science and society had yet to rape our humanity.

We may have been savage creatures living in packs, but our emotional and spiritual selves would have been more strong.

Thats my two cents. Interesting post Jere.


PS: He makes all things happen, and controls all things- Jerejerebinks
The bible teaches that God gave us free will to think and reason and do as we please. Having Him control all things would mean that free will does not exist, and i fully believe He gave us free will

magick?
spells

Originally posted by Evakian
i think God takes a hands off approach to the world around us, despite having had his hand in creation, but he involves himself in human's inner innerworkings when situations permit such things Exactly! Otherwise there is no such thing as free will and he would then be a God who is fickle and unpredictable. He is also not male or female but both.

Yes, i explained the free will thing in my third post ( several posts above this).

God is not 'both'. God is not of these physical boundaries.
Neither man nor woman nor both. No gender.

So God created man in his own image- Genesis 1:27

This is not referring to physical appearance, the image of God as an old man was done during the changing of Rome to christianity (the image of Zeus was used).

This refers to our mental capabilities. Our imagination. For God's abilities are limitless, and we, however limited, can create things with our mind.

Now you know why i chose the signature i did

There was a philosopher (the name escapes me at the moment) who theorized that we are all part of God's mind. you are not sitting in a chair, but God's mental projection of a chair. He conjured this all up with his mind (which would help explain his creation of it, control of it for some people, others dismiss this theory)
Kind of like 'the matrix' but instead of a computer program its God's mind. (and please dont attack me for using Matrix in an allforums thread for the third time, i was merely relating the theory and the ideas of the movie)

Perhaps our dreams, nightmares and stories within our minds are just alternate realities we created with our 'godlike abilities'.
Hehe interesting to think about that.

Have a nice night at Allforums :)

Originally posted by Evakian
God is not 'both'. God is not of these physical boundaries.
Neither man nor woman nor both. No gender.

So God created man in his own image- Genesis 1:27

This is not referring to physical appearance, the image of God as an old man was done during the changing of Rome to christianity (the image of Zeus was used).

This refers to our mental capabilities. Our imagination. For God's abilities are limitless, and we, however limited, can create things with our mind.

Now you know why i chose the signature i did

I do not think it matters about sex for God has no substance as we know it. Therefore one could say He/It is neither. Yet he did, for Christ was male. I believe this had more to do with the time "He" was born in, which was basically male dominated, and culturally controlled. Therefore I prefer to see HIM as both. For if we are a reflection of him as your quote in Genesis implies then we are both as he is both. Otherwise we are neither.

Therefore I prefer to see HIM as both. For if we are a reflection of him as your quote in Genesis implies then we are both as he is both. Otherwise we are neither.- Sal

Did you read all of what i typed up?

The quote from genesis does not imply we are both as He is both.
God is not 'both'. God is not of these physical boundaries.
Neither man nor woman nor both. No gender.
So God created man in his own image- Genesis 1:27
This is not referring to physical appearance, the image of God as an old man was done during the changing of Rome to christianity (the image of Zeus was used).
This refers to our mental capabilities. Our imagination. For God's abilities are limitless, and we, however limited, can create things with our mind.
Now you know why i chose the signature i did


there, i reposted it.

The quote in genesis was not about gender, as i stated earlier.
Anway, I would like to hear what Jere and others have to say about my various posts on this thread
Sound off!

Well...I believe in The All. The All is then divided into the god and goddess. The goddess and god work together. Example:The earth(goddess) is fertilized by the rain(god).

So much like an earthly man and woman together makes a full person (Like it or not we have opposing differences that put together make the puzzle complete of what each side is lacking), the god and goddess work harmoniously to control and maintain the world?
Is that how the All works?

So much like an earthly man and woman together makes a full person (Like it or not we have opposing differences that put together make the puzzle complete of what each side is lacking), the god and goddess work harmoniously to control and maintain the world?
Exactly! Most of the time when I tell that to ppl they say I will burn in Hell!

Originally posted by MotherKali
Exactly! Most of the time when I tell that to ppl they say I will burn in Hell!

YOU are going straight to hell. No passing "go", no collecting $200.00!

Doomed, I tell you, doomed! :D

Originally posted by Evakian
So you think since the days of Eve's descent God has shyed away from us more gradually because our lack of humanity and morals as time progressed?

That's a nice way of putting it....however, dont mistake me for believing that he has given up on us or anything like that.

Originally posted by Evakian
[B]valid statement, i could believe that.
But i still believe the old testament is a collection of parables to teach those uneducated of the old in an engrossing way.

Could be. I want deny it. Personally, though, I believe God would have told us so.

Originally posted by Evakian
[B]Jesus taught in parables (forgive any miswordings in this quote, but i believe he said)

"Why do you teach in parables?"
Jesus: "They listen but they do not hear or comprehend. they see but they are blind."

Excellent point. Interestingly--he told us when he was using parables. See above.

Originally posted by Evakian
[B]Stories of scientific improbablities like Jonah (whales throats are too small to swallow humans, much less a grapefruit. And the acids would have done him in) would be fictitious stories to teach the jews lessons.
Even the story of adam and eve is one of them.

I think you meant "grapefruit much less humans." Also, the acids would have done him, had God not spared him.
I would be interested to know how you know about a what a whale can and cannot swallow....and what exactly is so improbable about Adam and Eve?

Originally posted by Evakian
[B]But i do accept that there was a time when humans were more pure beings closer to God because of their faith, they had no doubt or rebellious nature because science and society had yet to rape our humanity.

I actually disagree. The world was in a horrible shape in the bible days as well. Sodom and Gomorrah for instance.




Originally posted by Evakian
[B]PS: He makes all things happen, and controls all things- Jerejerebinks
The bible teaches that God gave us free will to think and reason and do as we please. Having Him control all things would mean that free will does not exist, and i fully believe He gave us free will

I may have been using too strong a word, with "controls". What I meant was this: If God chose to spare Jonah by allowing the whale to swallow him, let him survive from within the whale, and then furthermore bring him back out alive--then he could have.

Jerejere, clean out your PM box so i can send stuff to you ^^

YOU are going straight to hell. No passing "go", no collecting $200.00!
lovely...It probably would help if I believed in hell.:)

God would have told us so. - Jerejerebinks

God does not interact with us, although one of the Holy Trinity did :).

That's a nice way of putting it....however, dont mistake me for believing that he has given up on us or anything like that.- Jerejerebinks

Of course He wouldn't "give up" on us.

I think you meant "grapefruit much less humans." - Jerejerebinks

Yea, i guess i just misworded it

I actually disagree. The world was in a horrible shape in the bible days as well. Sodom and Gomorrah for instance.- Jerejerebinks

Point taken. But may i refer to the fact that "i can accept..", what i posted may or may not be my viewpoint :) (i am just sharing ideas, and may or may not agree with you, just posting to make for interesting conversation). Morally corrupt back in the "bible days" is true. We have remained as corrupt as we have been all the time (i suppose it is just part of "being human"). But an innocence and lack of understanding of the world (less science and conformative societies) people could have had and experienced faith in a much different way then now.

and what exactly is so improbable about Adam and Eve?- Jerejerebinks

A garden of shameless human beings in the middle of the desert with talking animals and God shouting from the sky.
This story is also a parable, not a real historical account. The snake and eve with the apple is telling a story of temptation and sin.

I could continue but my train of thought has been interrupted by vile television. Clean out your PM box Jerejere and i can continue this with you later :D

It's cleared. Looking forward to your reply.

Evak, do you think it was out of man being innocent or his being ignorant of so many things?
I believe that early uninformed man had a lot of fear that is not present today. Even lightning and thunder, at one time, was viewed as the anger of a god or gods.

This fear could have given people a reason to attempt to be close to a higher power, either to appease him or in seeking his protection. God or gods were probably on the mind of people a lot more in those days than today. Especially in the western world where we have gotton somewhat comfortable.

The higher powers today seem to be: The boss and the government.

Well i wouldn't use ignorance as the term to describe it. It is not like they didn't try or want to learn about how things work, that is human nature, and they did not have the capabilities to do so.

And yes, their faith could have been increased when their understanding was lacking.