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Forum Cat

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Tempted to pray…
« on: March 02, 2010, 04:05:54 AM »
When someone you love, is so ill that their life is in danger the desire to pray grows. 

This is despite the fact that the thing I am tempted to pray to has let every other loved one in my life die a premature death. 

As an ex-christian I find the hooks go deep.

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Cpolsonb

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Re: Tempted to pray…
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2010, 05:02:13 AM »
I find as a human being the hooks go deep.
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Forum Cat

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Re: Tempted to pray…
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2010, 10:24:46 AM »
Quote from: Cpolsonb on March 02, 2010, 05:02:13 AM
I find as a human being the hooks go deep.

Thank you for that.

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Re: Tempted to pray…
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2010, 03:47:20 PM »
Quote from: Forum Cat on March 02, 2010, 04:05:54 AM
When someone you love, is so ill that their life is in danger the desire to pray grows. 

This is despite the fact that the thing I am tempted to pray to has let every other loved one in my life die a premature death. 

As an ex-christian I find the hooks go deep.




Been there.  When someone you love is in bad trouble, and you realize some of the medical people you look to for help are untrustworthy/incompetent, you get desperate.

I don't know if it's old habit or atavistic response to fear; probably both.  But it happens.
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JoelWhy

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Re: Tempted to pray…
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2010, 04:07:43 PM »
I think this is directly related to the guilt people feel in abandoning their religion.  When you are raised in a certain religion, it really gets hardwired into your brain.
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Tatyana

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Re: Tempted to pray…
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2010, 04:22:39 PM »
I am sorry to hear that someone you love is really unwell.

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Sordid

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Re: Tempted to pray…
« Reply #6 on: March 02, 2010, 04:44:24 PM »
Quote from: JoelWhy on March 02, 2010, 04:07:43 PM
I think this is directly related to the guilt people feel in abandoning their religion.  When you are raised in a certain religion, it really gets hardwired into your brain.

Nah, I'm with Cpolsonb on this. I haven't been raised in a religious way and I still felt the need to pray a bunch of times. It's just human.
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Re: Tempted to pray…
« Reply #7 on: March 02, 2010, 05:07:33 PM »
Quote from: Tatyana on March 02, 2010, 04:22:39 PM
I am sorry to hear that someone you love is really unwell.

Thank you.

I take great comfort from my new found "faith".  To know she is not being picked on by some deity for some transgression is heartening.  To know that life is equally unfair to all of us no matter how "good' we are is a comfort.

The question "why me?" is no longer a torment.

At the same time it would be nice to think that there is some help out there in my hour of need.

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Re: Tempted to pray…
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2010, 05:12:15 PM »
Quote from: JoelWhy on March 02, 2010, 04:07:43 PM
I think this is directly related to the guilt people feel in abandoning their religion.  When you are raised in a certain religion, it really gets hardwired into your brain.

I am sure for some that this is true.  However I was not raised to religion, I was "born again" massive conversion followed by decades of evangelical living.

I am now born again again.  There is no guilt left.  However I do miss my imaginary friend from time to time.  He was never any real use but it was nice to think that if the chips were down he could be.

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funda62

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Re: Tempted to pray…
« Reply #9 on: March 03, 2010, 03:37:28 AM »
I have felt this but for now it has passed I think.  I'm sorry you are hurting and this is surly one case that talking to yourself won't hurt and may help you process your emotions (which is what I essentially think praying does anyway).
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Evil Eye

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Re: Tempted to pray…
« Reply #10 on: March 03, 2010, 04:55:16 AM »
It's just a religious term for hope, or wishful thinking.

We couldn't survive without it.
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SQ the ΣΛ/IGMд

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Re: Tempted to pray…
« Reply #11 on: March 03, 2010, 08:29:11 AM »
Quote from: funda62 on March 03, 2010, 03:37:28 AM
I have felt this but for now it has passed I think.  I'm sorry you are hurting and this is surly one case that talking to yourself won't hurt and may help you process your emotions (which is what I essentially think praying does anyway).

Ditto to all of this ^
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Hanes

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Re: Tempted to pray…
« Reply #12 on: March 03, 2010, 09:37:06 AM »
I re-read the end of the Illiad, where Priam (who has had his kids killed in war) and Achillies (who knows he will die in the war and never see his kid, wife, and dad again) are lamenting how much it sucks to be human.  For some reason this brought me comfort.
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Cpolsonb

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Re: Tempted to pray…
« Reply #13 on: March 03, 2010, 09:52:10 AM »
Quote
I haven't been raised in a religious way and I still felt the need to pray a bunch of times. It's just human.
Yep.
I truly think that it's completely human to call out (or want to call out) for help to "something" out there in a time of crisis. It's just a way of trying to feel better, of seeking reassurance. Doesn't make it rational, logical or helpful... I think we're just that way.

It's like asking "why me?" Who are you really asking? What kind of response do you expect? No one and none, it's just an expression of your feelings.

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Re: Tempted to pray…
« Reply #14 on: March 03, 2010, 09:53:59 AM »
Quote from: Cpolsonb on March 03, 2010, 09:52:10 AM
Quote
I haven't been raised in a religious way and I still felt the need to pray a bunch of times. It's just human.
Yep.
I truly think that it's completely human to call out (or want to call out) for help to "something" out there in a time of crisis. It's just a way of trying to feel better, of seeking reassurance. Doesn't make it rational, logical or helpful... I think we're just that way.

It's like asking "why me?" Who are you really asking? What kind of response do you expect? No one and none, it's just an expression of your feelings.

Is this "There are no atheists in foxholes"?  :P
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"God works in mysterious ways.  And by mysterious I mean sadistic." - Brian Thompson, AmSci podcast

Skeptical Karma: What goes around probably never comes back, but frankly, who cares?  Irish Jazz
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