Prayer and Religion in Public Life

[Man of Steel]

Prayer is about intent.  The church (a body of believers...not a building) should pray righteously to commune with the Father.  If the intent in prayer is self-promotion then you're in error like the Pharisees.  Jesus prayed publicly and privately exhibiting only righteousness either way....be like Jesus. 

[ThisisOverload]

Prayer is about intent.  The church (a body of believers...not a building) should pray righteously to commune with the Father.  If the intent in prayer is self-promotion then you're in error like the Pharisees.  Jesus prayed publicly and privately exhibiting only righteousness either way....be like Jesus.

Praying is fine by me if that's your thing.

But making a public spectacle about it is just silly.

If you pray 3-4 hours later will God ignore you?

[Man of Steel]

Praying is fine by me if that's your thing.

But making a public spectacle about it is just silly.

If you pray 3-4 hours later will God ignore you?

Nah brother, you ain't wrong.  Most public prayer is purely a spectacle for self-promotion.   It's the nonsense of this "look at me, looke at me" era...it enter the church too.  Jesus was way ahead and said whether praying or judging don't be a freakin hypocrite LOL.

[Agnostic007]

Nah brother, you ain't wrong.  Most public prayer is purely a spectacle for self-promotion.   It's the nonsense of this "look at me, looke at me" era...it enter the church too.  Jesus was way ahead and said whether praying or judging don't be a freakin hypocrite LOL.

I could not agree more and may I say, welcome back. You were sorely missed. And though we disagreed more often than not. You were always civil
ree

[Man of Steel]

I could not agree more and may I say, welcome back. You were sorely missed. And though we disagreed more often than not. You were always civil
ree

Glad you're doin well!!  Yes I've missed some of the back and forth, but in the end my "walls of text" days are behind me LOL!  I realized the error of my ways and have abandoned trying to be "the smartest guy in the room".  I just share my faith now and answer questions as simply as i'm able to.

[Agnostic007]

Glad you're doin well!!  Yes I've missed some of the back and forth, but in the end my "walls of text" days are behind me LOL!  I realized the error of my ways and have abandoned trying to be "the smartest guy in the room".  I just share my faith now and answer questions as simply as i'm able to.

I think we reached the same conclusion

[Dos Equis]

Probably more atheists suffering emotional distress over something they do not believe exists. 

‘NFL legend-turned-coach’ to undergo ‘training’ after atheists complained about ‘religious exercises’
February 11, 2023
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2023/02/11/nfl-legend-turned-coach-to-undergo-training-after-atheists-complained-about-religious-exercises-1332152/

[Humble Narcissist]

Probably more atheists suffering emotional distress over something they do not believe exists. 

‘NFL legend-turned-coach’ to undergo ‘training’ after atheists complained about ‘religious exercises’
February 11, 2023
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2023/02/11/nfl-legend-turned-coach-to-undergo-training-after-atheists-complained-about-religious-exercises-1332152/

Deon is really ruffling some feathers especially now that he is coaching in the PAC12.

[Dos Equis]

Deon is really ruffling some feathers especially now that he is coaching in the PAC12.

Prime Time is doing an amazing job.  Really impressed by him.

[Humble Narcissist]

Prime Time is doing an amazing job.  Really impressed by him.

Great recruiter for sure so far.

[Dos Equis]

Great recruiter for sure so far.

He is off the chain as a recruiter.  He's going to turn Colorado into a contender. 

[Humble Narcissist]

He is off the chain as a recruiter.  He's going to turn Colorado into a contender.

He may have already gotten them in trouble by announcing his son would be the starter when he wasn't even in the portal yet. He needs to brush up on NCAA D1 rules.

[Dos Equis]

'The world has been watching': How a small service at Asbury took the globe by storm
Haadiza Ogwude
Cincinnati Enquirer
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2023/02/27/how-asbury-university-revival-started-globe-by-storm/69937478007/

[Skeletor]

At least 600 children were sexually abused by Baltimore’s Catholic Church over 60 years, Maryland AG says


Maryland's top prosecutor on Wednesday accused Catholic Church officials in Baltimore of engaging in a yearslong coverup of the sexual abuse of 600-plus children, some of whom were “preyed upon by multiple abusers over decades."

State Attorney General Anthony Brown chronicled the abuse in a 463-page report that named several priests and described their alleged wrongdoing.

"Time and again, members of the Church’s hierarchy resolutely refused to acknowledge allegations of child sexual abuse for as long as possible," according to the report.

"When denial became impossible, Church leadership would remove abusers from the parish or school, sometimes with promises that they would have no further contact with children. Church documents reveal with disturbing clarity that the Archdiocese was more concerned with avoiding scandal and negative publicity than it was with protecting children."

In total, the state found, more than "600 children are known to have been abused by the 156 people included in this Report, but the number is likely far higher."

The sexual abuse was so pervasive, it wasn't uncommon for a young victim to be targeted by more than one adult, according to the report.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/maryland-ag-documents-widespread-sexual-abuse-least-600-victims-baltim-rcna78378

[Agnostic007]

At least 600 children were sexually abused by Baltimore’s Catholic Church over 60 years, Maryland AG says


Maryland's top prosecutor on Wednesday accused Catholic Church officials in Baltimore of engaging in a yearslong coverup of the sexual abuse of 600-plus children, some of whom were “preyed upon by multiple abusers over decades."

State Attorney General Anthony Brown chronicled the abuse in a 463-page report that named several priests and described their alleged wrongdoing.

"Time and again, members of the Church’s hierarchy resolutely refused to acknowledge allegations of child sexual abuse for as long as possible," according to the report.

"When denial became impossible, Church leadership would remove abusers from the parish or school, sometimes with promises that they would have no further contact with children. Church documents reveal with disturbing clarity that the Archdiocese was more concerned with avoiding scandal and negative publicity than it was with protecting children."

In total, the state found, more than "600 children are known to have been abused by the 156 people included in this Report, but the number is likely far higher."

The sexual abuse was so pervasive, it wasn't uncommon for a young victim to be targeted by more than one adult, according to the report.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/maryland-ag-documents-widespread-sexual-abuse-least-600-victims-baltim-rcna78378

Just seems like to me, an outsider looking in, that a God who would stand by and allow that to happen in his name, wouldn't be something worthy of worshipping or loving. It almost seems like that God is a figment of peoples imagination when stuff like this comes to light

[Agnostic007]

is this even debatable in 2023?

[Agnostic007]

Glad you're doin well!!  Yes I've missed some of the back and forth, but in the end my "walls of text" days are behind me LOL!  I realized the error of my ways and have abandoned trying to be "the smartest guy in the room".  I just share my faith now and answer questions as simply as i'm able to.

Hope you are still doing well. If you need anything, PM me

[DIABOLIC]

Why do people pray when we have data available on health, financial etc circumstances of religious vs non religious people. Generally speaking religious people have worse lives and lower IQ. What good does praying do?

If you have a deep desire to submit to a higher/imaginary entity you are technically a beta male. No ifs or buts about it.

It always makes my day brighter when I realise there are so many people out there who believe in things like heaven, hell, souls etc. Morons help you get ahead in life.

[Humble Narcissist]

Why do people pray when we have data available on health, financial etc circumstances of religious vs non religious people. Generally speaking religious people have worse lives and lower IQ. What good does praying do?

If you have a deep desire to submit to a higher/imaginary entity you are technically a beta male. No ifs or buts about it.

It always makes my day brighter when I realise there are so many people out there who believe in things like heaven, hell, souls etc. Morons help you get ahead in life.

I don't know if religious people have worse lives. Atheists are much more likely to be depressed, commit suicide or homicide.

[Agnostic007]

I don't know if religious people have worse lives. Atheists are much more likely to be depressed, commit suicide or homicide.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-about-men/201812/the-mental-health-atheists-and-the-nones

Not so fast...

[Agnostic007]

Why do people pray when we have data available on health, financial etc circumstances of religious vs non religious people. Generally speaking religious people have worse lives and lower IQ. What good does praying do?

If you have a deep desire to submit to a higher/imaginary entity you are technically a beta male. No ifs or buts about it.

It always makes my day brighter when I realise there are so many people out there who believe in things like heaven, hell, souls etc. Morons help you get ahead in life.

Atheists tend to have more education. I don't know if that equates to IQ

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-human-beast/201402/why-are-educated-people-more-likely-be-atheists

[Humble Narcissist]

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-about-men/201812/the-mental-health-atheists-and-the-nones

Not so fast...

That study says that atheists have better mental health than "nones" which means non religious. It also states that religious people have better mental health.

[Agnostic007]

That study says that atheists have better mental health than "nones" which means non religious. It also states that religious people have better mental health.

"For example, a just-published study by Dr. Joseph Baker at East Tennessee State University indicates that atheists have the best mental health among the "nones," similar to that of the highly-religious. In contrast, "non-affiliated theists" had the poorest mental health."

It just seems your "atheists are much more likely to be depressed commit suicide...." doesn't jive with the study. "Similar to that of the highly religious" means atheists and highly religious are about the same. 

[Man of Steel]

At least 600 children were sexually abused by Baltimore’s Catholic Church over 60 years, Maryland AG says


Maryland's top prosecutor on Wednesday accused Catholic Church officials in Baltimore of engaging in a yearslong coverup of the sexual abuse of 600-plus children, some of whom were “preyed upon by multiple abusers over decades."

State Attorney General Anthony Brown chronicled the abuse in a 463-page report that named several priests and described their alleged wrongdoing.

"Time and again, members of the Church’s hierarchy resolutely refused to acknowledge allegations of child sexual abuse for as long as possible," according to the report.

"When denial became impossible, Church leadership would remove abusers from the parish or school, sometimes with promises that they would have no further contact with children. Church documents reveal with disturbing clarity that the Archdiocese was more concerned with avoiding scandal and negative publicity than it was with protecting children."

In total, the state found, more than "600 children are known to have been abused by the 156 people included in this Report, but the number is likely far higher."

The sexual abuse was so pervasive, it wasn't uncommon for a young victim to be targeted by more than one adult, according to the report.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/maryland-ag-documents-widespread-sexual-abuse-least-600-victims-baltim-rcna78378

Just disgusting....those poor kiddos.  I can imagine being a Daddy to one of those kids.  I can imagine my own teenage daughter being a victim and the sadness and rage I would feel.

We had a newly hired youth pastor that made "advances" at a young boy in our church.  Fortunately the kiddo was brave enough to take action and this "pastor" had charges pressed against him.

Another church I grew up in had a new lead pastor that had an adulterous relationship with a woman in the administration staff of the church.  He was found out, refused council and left.

A lot of garbage, imposters out there in church leadership.  Lot of theological heresy. Just a lot of anti-God folks cleverly disguised in piety.

[Man of Steel]

Hope you are still doing well. If you need anything, PM me

Hey brother doin well!!  Work pace been unrelenting but God willing I'm surviving 👍