h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Taleisin,
Whilst I agree wholeheartedly with your assertion that self doubt is not a good basis for a healthy society, my objection to the concept underlying the religious person's belief in the power of prayer is rather different. It seems to me that, if there is indeed an "intelligent designer" responsible for the universe and all it contains, it is arroganrt in the extreme to suppose that (a) he/she/it will take notice of my pleas when I am but one of 6 billion people on this planet and, perhaps, countless billions more elsewhere; or (b) he/she/it will forgive my wrong-doing (whether real, imagined, or as defined by the creator's self-appointed representatives) merely because I repeat several key phrases often enough whilst counting beads. Then again, perhaps naivitee (sp.?) is more appropriate than "arrogant" in this context.
Nor is this to say that I don't believe in the power of what might be called prayer, in the sense that thinking deeply and honestly about one's situation can enable one to face up to one's problems. But the strength one gains comes from inside one's-self, not from some long deceased "saint".
Cheers,
Frank

I'm fairly sure that most religions don't preach the theory of forgiveness by bead-counting.

As for the self-doubt issue, I know where they're coming from. The mistake is in thinking that their unworthiness will stop God from listening, not in thinking that they are unworthy. We aren't worthy, none of us, and God listens anyway.
Doesn't always say yes, mind.

'Doesn't always say yes, mind.'

In fact, His responses are indistinguishable from chance.

god may be listening, but he forgot to turn on his hearing aid

And Vatican, Inc. is trying a hostile takeover bid.
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/10/a_merger_in_the_offing_for_big.php

TRiG.

God is listening,then he cracks up laughing and waits for the next joker in the pack. How do you make God laugh? Tell him your plans.

And sometimes He must :

>>
"No wonder that disgusting institution, the Roman Catholic Church, is dragging its flowing skirts in the dirt and touting for business like a common pimp: "Give me your homophobes, misogynists and pederasts. Send me your bigots yearning to be free of the shackles of humanity."
<<

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/richard_dawkins/2009/10/give_us_your_misogynists_and_bigots.html

Or perhaps this would elicit a Divine guffaw...

"In a column on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s Web site, writer Kimberly Daniels asserts that “demons” sneak into bags of Halloween candy at grocery stores.

“[M]ost of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches,” Daniels wrote. “I do not buy candy during the Halloween season. Curses are sent through the tricks and treats of the innocent whether they get it by going door to door or by purchasing it from the local grocery store. The demons cannot tell the difference.”"

http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2009/10/pat-robertsons-christian.html





h/t to Pharyngula...

I get so, so sick of the ignorant Christian sorts fighting against traditional activities which are so absolutely in synch with what they pretend to be the teachings of the Leader.


Hallowe'en. The one holiday on which people joyfully and without coercion give their property away to strangers. And it's completely spontaneous: no government forces the shops to close, no one has the day off work, there are no scripture readings or rituals. Nothing but happy people freely giving their stuff to happy children, building neighborhood cohesion.

That sure seems to be an event to try to ban.



ironic Hallowe'en story:

I know of one local public school which 'doesn't celebrate Hallowe'en' and instead has a silly hat day and an 'End of October' party, apparently to avoid the god-fearing.

I also know of one local Catholic school which has on their big sign 'The Spirit of Hallowe'en'.

at least one bunch understands the true meaning of the season.

I just found this over on CBN, Tal. It looks like somebody else (sort of) gets it:

'The biggest trick played on Halloween is Christian kids and adults being bottled up inside churches or homes all night. That’s right! Hiding from the devil in the family life center and surrendering the neighborhood to little Ghouls, goblins, and witches is a victory for old Beelzebub. He’s got the church right where he wants it: inside the four walls, hunkered down behind the stained glass.

Think about it. How many chances do you get to mix with our neighbors during the year? At my house we are blessed with a 4th of July block party. Otherwise, Halloween may be it for many of you. . . .

Jesus wants us to engage our neighbors and culture not hide from them this October 31st.'

http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/onlinediscipleship/halloween/freeman_halloween.aspx


Of course, it's buried under all the drivel about mini-Mars bars forcing your six-year old to be a Sodomite.

>a silly hat day and an 'End of October' party, apparently to avoid the god-fearing.<

Apart from Halloween being one more heathen festival rebadged by the Catolic Church..."End Of October Party"...bugger my wellies, the PC idiots are on the rampage., if it were not so incredibly insane.

that should have been 'to avoid *offending* the god-fearing', of course.

PC - avoiding to offend people who rather feel offended by being pampered by halfwits.

Happy Halloween to you all

We are having a very busy night with all the happy children dressed up and having lots of fun and of course trick or treaters knocking on the door.Its a great time of year.The church has always been against the healers of society.How many so called witches did they burn at the steak or drown on their ducking stools. All because alot of herbs and remedys were known by these wise women and the locals would go to them for healing and advice rather than the church. They didn't like it and branded them evil and spread their lies and killed alot of innocent people but that is something they have done all through history.If someone doesn't agree with them and follow thier way of doing things they are heathen and of the devil and of that ilk as some would say. Even the jews were persecuted by the catholic church.Native tribes all over the world have been affected by them.They were branded as barbaric. In Australia they took children away from yheir native familys and some of the treatment their treatment I wouldn't call christian.As far as I can see from historical evidence alone I would rather be a witch.

I realise that there was a certain amount of irony intended in the title of this thread, but let's be honest, the people we are talking about are neither moral nor a majority. They are, rather, a sad, sick minority. Have this on me! and enjoy the evening.

I dunno about 'without coercion'. Where I grew further up, nonproviders of sweets and indeed money were in a good deal of danger. The safest thing to do was leave the lights off and not answer the door.

Will that Catholic church, so clearly desperate for relevance, seize this opportunity and hand out crackers?

They could even organize roving patrols of exorcists charged with the task of dispossessing bags of demon-infested candy

Yes, I think the Catholic Church would do more for keeping evil out of kids if they didn't go near them just from a physical impossibility point of view.

They should keep their miniszers out of kids, for starters.

The infamous Jesuit quote: "Give me a child until he is seven and I will give you the man"

Attributed variously to Sts. Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier

Can you spell 'indoctrination'? Nothing more nor less than child abuse

Priests and their enablers -- horsewhip is too good for 'em