Maybe they should try a Rain Dance instead?

[Xaquin44]

Hey, while we're all here, what does this mean?

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

It's from Matthew (and from the lips of Jesus). Doesn't it pretty much directly say that prayer should be kept private (i.e. no going to church) and that prayer isn't just mindless repetition of the bible?

I've often wondered about this since it is extremely cut and dry.

[This_person]

Originally Posted by Xaquin44

Hey, while we're all here, what does this mean?

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

It's from Matthew (and from the lips of Jesus). Doesn't it pretty much directly say that prayer should be kept private (i.e. no going to church) and that prayer isn't just mindless repetition of the bible?

I've often wondered about this since it is extremely cut and dry.

I've always taken this to mean that we should not be "posers", to use the current vernacular. Don't have the appearances without the substance. Kind of what I said about morals in a previous thread - the morals are there, and they cause the actions - not the actions prove the morals. This public prayer thing is sort of the actions to prove you have morals mindset, and the passage says have the morals, and the actions will follow. Don't be a meaningless actor, I guess is another way of saying it.

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by Xaquin44

Hey, while we're all here, what does this mean?

Why do you care?

[Xaquin44]

Originally Posted by This_person

I've always taken this to mean that we should not be "posers", to use the current vernacular. Don't have the appearances without the substance. Kind of what I said about morals in a previous thread - the morals are there, and they cause the actions - not the actions prove the morals. This public prayer thing is sort of the actions to prove you have morals mindset, and the passage says have the morals, and the actions will follow. Don't be a meaningless actor, I guess is another way of saying it.

but he was addressing his disciples (and indeed, the vast majority of his followers at the time) too. Why would he tell people he knew to be faithful that?

also, why wouldn't he tell them the way you explained it? In other words, you have to make a big stretch to gather that from what he 'actually' said.

[Xaquin44]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

Why do you care?

because I'm curious.

Why do you care that I care?

[This_person]

Originally Posted by Xaquin44

but he was addressing his disciples (and indeed, the vast majority of his followers at the time) too. Why would he tell people he knew to be faithful that?

also, why wouldn't he tell them the way you explained it? In other words, you have to make a big stretch to gather that from what he 'actually' said.

I don't know the exact circumstances of the time. Maybe he didn't think they really were all faithful - maybe he saw that at least some of them were there because Jesus was the cool thing of the moment for many. Maybe it was the long term effects (I suspect the Son of God knew his words would be written down ), so that people like you and I would be discussing it a couple of thousand years later.

Maybe it's just the way it was taught to me, and I'm wrong.

[Xaquin44]

Originally Posted by This_person

I don't know the exact circumstances of the time. Maybe he didn't think they really were all faithful - maybe he saw that at least some of them were there because Jesus was the cool thing of the moment for many. Maybe it was the long term effects (I suspect the Son of God knew his words would be written down ), so that people like you and I would be discussing it a couple of thousand years later.

Maybe it's just the way it was taught to me, and I'm wrong.

fair enough

[migtig]

Originally Posted by This_person

I know you're not asking me, but I'm going to interject here for a moment, if I may.

This question is not mean. It's actually a good example of a dialogue.

From a religious person's point of view, I don't think that the pointing out of things is considered the antagonistic part - it's words like "idiocy", phrases like "waste of time", etc.

I have to agree, in a way.

Malice, you have an inkling of my personal beliefs and I am in no way offended by the Governor of GA. At not one point did he say his way was the only way. He basically said - well I've tried everything else I can think of so I am going to try this too. At no point do I see it as an attack on another's beliefs or lack thereof. At no time do I see it as you must believe as I do or you are going to hell. Nowhere do I see that.

I have no clue of Nucklesack's religious preference or lack thereof either. I don't care. However, with his wording, intentionally directing things towards it being all about religious will being imposed upon others and his choice of verbage, it's obvious he's being antagonistic. Seriously. I'm not being antagonistic in return. I'm seeing frustration on behalf of some of th posters, but no "you are going to hell mumbo jumbo".

Again, in regards to the 20 atheists in GA, it appears to me they are biyatching not because of the day of prayer, but because they weren't included.

[mAlice (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Toxick

Please quote the post where someone wrote that.


I'll wait.


TIA.

I was speaking in general terms. I don't really care that someone says, or thinks, I'm going to hell. It's still meant to be a hurtful comment. It's lashing out against a belief that is different from your own.

[mAlice (Premo)]

Their have always been religious disagreements, and religious wars. "My" religion is the truth, "yours" is a lie. "My" beliefs will get me a seat in heaven, "your" belief is, there is no heaven. Don't any of you people ever wonder why religion, or a belief system, is always a source of debate? One should be compelled to ask why.