I don't believe in the general conception of hell. I hate it when it is used to scare people into going to church. It doesn't make sense that God would let people live out eternity in a lake of fire for being bad. Being that I don't believe in hell, the reason I serve God is because He deserves to be loved and He has done so much for me and His people on Earth.
EmperorNero
I have had sort of a bad experience with family prayer. My MIL would pray with her kids, but it was really more like a veiled threat and form of manipulation... a tool of fear and shame, not love. (Not always, but often enough to get my attention)
"Oh, Heavenly Father, I ask that you help my son and his wife to see the error of their ways"
...and it was always because of something she wanted us to do or not do, never about anything of real consequence. I was in my mid-twenties putting up with this! I was labeled 'rebellious' for um, wanting to live my own life as an adult and a parent. ????
Anyway, I used to pray with my husband but it made me sick to my stomach. He was doing the same thing his mother did to him except he was doing it to me. It gets old pretty fast. I would think, why don't we talk about this person to person instead of bringing God in it as though He is on your side because you are so bloody righteous! And just like his mom, it would just be about CONTROL. Bleah. One day I pointed it out, and he knew what I was saying was true. Now I don't even think he believes in God anymore.
Anyway, if this ever happens to you, don't let it turn you off to prayer. I'm not saying that this has happened to you, but since I have seen family prayer used for selfish means, I can understand how you might not care for it.
edit: Hi again Emperor. I'm glad this isn't the case for you. It's very damaging, and something like prayer shouldn't be.
I have had sort of a bad experience with family prayer. My MIL would pray with her kids, but it was really more like a veiled threat and form of manipulation... a tool of fear and shame, not love. (Not always, but often enough to get my attention)
"Oh, Heavenly Father, I ask that you help my son and his wife to see the error of their ways"
...and it was always because of something she wanted us to do or not do, never about anything of real consequence. I was in my mid-twenties putting up with this! I was labeled 'rebellious' for um, wanting to live my own life as an adult and a parent. ????
Anyway, I used to pray with my husband but it made me sick to my stomach. He was doing the same thing his mother did to him except he was doing it to me. It gets old pretty fast. I would think, why don't we talk about this person to person instead of bringing God in it as though He is on your side because you are so bloody righteous! And just like his mom, it would just be about CONTROL. Bleah. One day I pointed it out, and he knew what I was saying was true. Now I don't even think he believes in God anymore.
Anyway, if this ever happens to you, don't let it turn you off to prayer. I'm not saying that this has happened to you, but since I have seen family prayer used for selfish means, I can understand how you might not care for it.
edit: Hi again Emperor. I'm glad this isn't the case for you. It's very damaging, and something like prayer shouldn't be.
I believe that prayer works... and how often do I pray? every night at the least, every stop light and free moment at the most.
The thing about prayer is that if you don't believe that it works, it won't (JAS 1:2~8). Sorry about your experiences EmporerNero
The thing about prayer is that if you don't believe that it works, it won't (JAS 1:2~8). Sorry about your experiences EmporerNero
Nope not here but I try to be respectful to those that do.
I try but then again I've never been religious.
Gatsby
I try but then again I've never been religious.
Gatsby
i kinda go through phases...pretty much the same as when i work out. at best i would just say an informal prayer before i slept and when i woke up...kind of like a "what's up God?" kinda conversation.
at this point, however, i'm praying a rosary daily as well as a novena. i've got a really big favor to ask and while part of me feels guilty (kinda like the "i only turn to Him when i need help" issue) about it, another part of me rationalizes it by thinking along the lines of...well at least i still consider God an option even if my motives are kind of selfish.
at this point, however, i'm praying a rosary daily as well as a novena. i've got a really big favor to ask and while part of me feels guilty (kinda like the "i only turn to Him when i need help" issue) about it, another part of me rationalizes it by thinking along the lines of...well at least i still consider God an option even if my motives are kind of selfish.
isla, my parents aren't that bad...although they do say something similiar when I do sin...but not usually and they would keep it anonymous such as "let the lord guide us, and we should listen to him and stop spending so much time on anandtech." well, not really but something like that.
but what I really hate is that a few months ago, my mom decided to read the bible as part of our prayers :|
but what I really hate is that a few months ago, my mom decided to read the bible as part of our prayers :|
never have and never will!
Bulbasaur, which foxhole are you planning to trap me in. i dont believe in any god whatsoever, never have and never will, and others opinions will not change mine.
Bulbasaur, which foxhole are you planning to trap me in. i dont believe in any god whatsoever, never have and never will, and others opinions will not change mine.
<< I'll probably never go to church unless it is a funeral or a wedding. I'm all churched out... can't stand the hypocrites and the self-righteous >>
Isla, not everyone who goes to church is a hypocrite and self-righteous...But don't you want to go and visit us anyway?
Absolutely. I pray and thank for and about everything I get/want/do.
No, I don't go to church. No, I'm not christian. Yes, I have strong religous beliefs. No, I am not apart of any organized religion.
Sigh... This thread is just going to turn into another arguement..
Emporer- You have to "go through crap". This earth is nothing but a school. The school of hard knocks. You're constantly tested. You constantly have doors opened. A lot of the time, they are the wrong doors. It is not God who opens the doors, It is the spirit of whatever door you're opening.
Anybody a cig smoker in here, that wants to quit? Tell the spirit of tobacco to be gone, and it will. You have more power than it. It will come back. Tell it to leave again. If you don't feed it, It will have no interest in you. I quit smoking marijuana this way. The spirit of tobacco is much more adamant, though.
It works the same with with any other thing that's similar.
Hell and heaven are within you. They are almost like states of mind. If you accept the light, you are enlightend. If you do not, you are not, and you are in hell. Your own, personal hell. It's as simple as that. It's a misconception that they're actually places. It's just the way we understand things.
Prayer does work. It works very well. Everybody needs to pray.
Try this: Next time you're having a bad day at work, simply bless everybody in the building. If someone at work is being hard to get along with, Bless them. You don't have to say it outloud, Just say it in your head. Say it as many times as you want. You will find that the persons attitude will change, maybe even instantly. I found this out by trying it.
Does anybody say the affirmation God and I am one? I have found that this affirmation creates light 3 times. When you say "God", When you say "I am", and when you complete it, "God and I am One". I found this out during a trip..
"I am" is a very powerful statement. If you say "I am <anything>" It immediately becomes true within you. I found this out while meditating.
Anybody want to have an awesome experience? Next time you're driving home from work, start blessing every car that you pass. Every one. Don't stop until you get home. I bet your head will be ringing when you stop. You'll probably also notice that nearly every car you pass, when you say it, the person will turn and look at you. They don't know why, but their spirit does. They turn to see who did that. Everytime you bless someone, God blesses them.
Everytime a bad or undesirable thought enters my head, my immediate reaction is "Thank you Father that that won't happen" .. I do it almost as a habbit now.
Jesus said in the Bible that all forms of organized religion are an abomination. I found this out while reading the Bible.
All of man's sins are really only one. The act of selfishness. If you do these things, which are for the benefit of others, I guarentee you that you will have wonderful experiences regarding yourself.
No, I don't go to church. No, I'm not christian. Yes, I have strong religous beliefs. No, I am not apart of any organized religion.
Sigh... This thread is just going to turn into another arguement..
Emporer- You have to "go through crap". This earth is nothing but a school. The school of hard knocks. You're constantly tested. You constantly have doors opened. A lot of the time, they are the wrong doors. It is not God who opens the doors, It is the spirit of whatever door you're opening.
Anybody a cig smoker in here, that wants to quit? Tell the spirit of tobacco to be gone, and it will. You have more power than it. It will come back. Tell it to leave again. If you don't feed it, It will have no interest in you. I quit smoking marijuana this way. The spirit of tobacco is much more adamant, though.
It works the same with with any other thing that's similar.
Hell and heaven are within you. They are almost like states of mind. If you accept the light, you are enlightend. If you do not, you are not, and you are in hell. Your own, personal hell. It's as simple as that. It's a misconception that they're actually places. It's just the way we understand things.
Prayer does work. It works very well. Everybody needs to pray.
Try this: Next time you're having a bad day at work, simply bless everybody in the building. If someone at work is being hard to get along with, Bless them. You don't have to say it outloud, Just say it in your head. Say it as many times as you want. You will find that the persons attitude will change, maybe even instantly. I found this out by trying it.
Does anybody say the affirmation God and I am one? I have found that this affirmation creates light 3 times. When you say "God", When you say "I am", and when you complete it, "God and I am One". I found this out during a trip..
"I am" is a very powerful statement. If you say "I am <anything>" It immediately becomes true within you. I found this out while meditating.
Anybody want to have an awesome experience? Next time you're driving home from work, start blessing every car that you pass. Every one. Don't stop until you get home. I bet your head will be ringing when you stop. You'll probably also notice that nearly every car you pass, when you say it, the person will turn and look at you. They don't know why, but their spirit does. They turn to see who did that. Everytime you bless someone, God blesses them.
Everytime a bad or undesirable thought enters my head, my immediate reaction is "Thank you Father that that won't happen" .. I do it almost as a habbit now.
Jesus said in the Bible that all forms of organized religion are an abomination. I found this out while reading the Bible.
All of man's sins are really only one. The act of selfishness. If you do these things, which are for the benefit of others, I guarentee you that you will have wonderful experiences regarding yourself.
Eli...
You are scaring me. That is how I quit smoking over 10 years ago.
I was very happy to believe that was all a psychotic episode on my part.
I think you will need to e-mail me or PM me now because I am freaking.
You are scaring me. That is how I quit smoking over 10 years ago.
I was very happy to believe that was all a psychotic episode on my part.
I think you will need to e-mail me or PM me now because I am freaking.
I'm moved to include something... but not here. I can't believe I have nothing to say on so important a subject.
Astonishing.
Astonishing.
thraashman
Lifer
- Apr 10, 2000
- 11,112
- 1,587
- 126
what is this word pray you speak of. Wait, I do seem to remember something about it from childhood and Thanksgiving dinners.
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