Apparently there is a call for people to pray for Haleigh Cummings, the missing Florida girl. Nearly every time I see a news story about the search for this little girl, I see a marquee flashed across the screen that says "Pray for Haleigh."
Now, you'd think, if there were a God, and "he" answered prayers, this would be one of those times he would do so. But Haleigh is still missing.
People are praying for Dominick Arceneaux... and still, he is missing.
People prayed for Caylee Anthony. We all know how that turned out.
It seems to me, that if there were a loving God, as so many religious folk profess, this type of thing wouldn't happen in the first place prompting people to pray.
Religious people say that God looks after his "children." Well, if this is how he takes care of his children, someone needs to call Child Protective Services on him. He is a lousy parent!
Of course, why would we expect anything less from a god who ordered the death of the first born of an entire society? And let us not forget that this god sent his son to be crucified. He is a horrible parent.
Of course, I don't buy into any of this... I am an atheist, after all.
But, honestly, how is it that situations like this drive people toward God? That makes absolutely no sense. It seems irrational at best. You'd think it would wake them up to the fact that there is no mysterious being out there looking out for mankind.
You'd think people would realize how contrary to the nature of a loving, protective God things like this are. I mean, if he cannot be depended on to protect the best of humanity - children - why would anyone imagine that he gives a rats ass about anyone else?
Of course, certain religious people, rather than taking a good, hard look at their belief system, spew nonsense to make sense of such horrific events.
- It is not for us to question God.
- God works in mysterious ways.
- God gave free will to everyone, that includes killers.
Although I understand that it is impossible to prove that deities do not exist, I think it is logical to assume that they most probably do not.
My heart breaks when I think of the terror, the fear, the confusion, the pain, and the agony that children such as Haleigh, Caylee, and Dominick endure throughout their ordeals. And I cannot believe for one moment that a loving, caring deity would stand by and allow such tragedies to happen. And it pisses me off to hear people say, "it was God's will." How can anyone in their right mind believe such nonsense?
Can you imagine the outrage that would ensue if law enforcement officials refused to act in instances like these saying, "It's in God's hands. We will just wait to see what he has in mind. We will let his plan unfold." Would religious people just sit by and allow that to happen? I doubt it.
All the praying in the world doesn't change a thing... not a thing. It might make the person doing the praying feel better momentarily. It might make outsiders feel like they are really doing something to help. They are mistaken. Prayers don't help. They are a waste of time. There is no point praying when there's nobody listening.
There is no evidence that supports that praying helps those being prayed for. But there is plenty of reason to believe it does not. But, considering who I am speaking of - people who believe in deities for which their is no proof or evidence- I suppose it is par for the course that they would believe in the "power" of prayer.
Some of these people say that God does not intervene, yet they pray. What is the point of that? It makes no sense.
One of my favorite quotes about praying is by an anonymous author. It follows:
Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer.
For those of you who will say that I am mad at God, let me get this out of the way. As I do not believe there is a god, it would be insane for me to be mad at God. I may be a lot of things... but insane is not one of them.
Comments
well said! Praying is the excuse people use when they want to sit on their butts and do nothing.
This post angers me. People think that God just sits in a throne and works miracles daily. Like God can snap his fingers and allow everything to be just fine. While God is good God also gives people Free Will in high hopes that people will do the absolute right thing. Unfortunately, people DO NOT do the right thing which is something God cannot control. I, myself had a family member that was murdered. My 83 year old Aunt who was the most devout Catholic I have EVER met that attended mass 7 days a week was murdered by her 15 year old neighbor. Do you think we were mad at God? Do you think we questioned God? Absolutely. But the fact of the matter is that God gives everyone the power over themselves to do the right and wrong things.. And unfortunately, there are some people that do the wrong things. God cannot appear and make everything right because someone is suffering. The world would NEVER be able to function like that because there would be absolutely no order if everyone suffering were magically granted a miracle to make things right. It is very sad that when people do not believe in God and they do not believe in the power of prayer that they BASH people and theeir reasons that do by saying no one is listening and prayer doesn't change a thing. Sometimes saying a prayer inside gives you the confidence on a daily basis to get through whatever ordeal that you may be going through. So before you bash anyone that feels that praying is a form of healing or talking to God and asking for help you should really take a second and realize that just because it is not YOUR views it is still someone elses. I hope that in time you are able to become more open minded because you have a big world around you with things going on that you are very ignorant to. And in a time when a child is missing it is sad that you have nothing but negative comments. You need a new day job.
I understand the post above and sometimes I feel that way as well. As a 47year old woman I have had alot of time to think about God and wonder if some higher power is in force in this world. Then I look at this world, the complexity of nature and of the human body, the perfection of the human design and of animals and why is this all here and what in the world would we be doing here if there wasn't some sort of higher power, some sort of plan. This all didn't happen from dust particles and I don't believe that the theory of evolution rules out God or higher power. I do believe in evolution. My take on God is that he put us on this earth and it's just sort of like a lottery who lives, dies, gets in accidents, has horrible things happen or good things. I am not totally sure I believe in prayer and intervention from God although I have heard of and myself even experienced some things that seem like answers to prayer. But I do believe in my heart that there is something going on that is beyond the human experience, there is a higher power and another plane of existence after death or maybe even reincarnation where our souls continue to live almost like recycling. It's very confusing and I am the first to agree that when you are dealing with children and child abduction and abuse you just want to scream and hit a wall and think why would God allow this to happen, why would he not choose this moment to intervene and help. Why is this God's plan, how can Caylee Anthony be God's plan. It is very frustrating and I do not feel angered at all by your post, I understand it, rational thought and education makes a person doubt God but rational thought and education can also make you look around at the earth and human race and think it can't just be random. And let me end by saying I am praying for little Haleigh for all it's worth. If she were my child I would be in a fetal position somewhere.
Brooke, if prayer is just something to bolster your confidence and help YOU get through the day, how does praying help Haleigh? She doesn't know you are praying, how is her confidence helped? How is SHE comforted by your prayers?
If you live in the area, wouldn't providing help in the way of support for the actual detectives be more helpful than talking to yourself or to your god that listens but is incapable of interfering or is unwilling to interfere? How about donating time, money or chore services to her family to actually support them as their trauma interferes with their ability to function in their daily lives?
Or do you just pray for Haleigh to make yourself feel better?
The best optical illusion in the world!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk6ILZAaAMI
Trina- When I was a little girl I prayed every year that my mom would let me go to 4-H camp, I mean I would get on my knees and pray several times a day- I remember it so well. My mother never did let me go though. Looking back now I guess it was a selfish prayer but it was the most important thing to me in the world at that time. We went to church every Sunday but I guess around that time I started to doubt that praying accomplished anything. That doubt lingered heavy in my mind until I got out of college, well actually until I had my first son in 2000. Having a child makes you ponder some deep thoughts and I started reading the new testament again in spare minutes, but I also learned a little about eastern thought and meditation too. Where is my proof of these events that occured in the new testament? After all, the bible says 'prove all things, hold fast to that which is good'.In the old testament was my proof, I learned. No one disputes , to my knowledge, that the old testament is a much older document that the new one. Get yourself a MacArthur study bible or similar book that breaks down the events foretold in the old testament. Over and over events are predicted and come to pass. The closer you look the more you see. Please look with an open heart and just for the heck of it, to prove or disprove your theory, or just for laughs, even ask God to help you look at it with an open heart. If you will just try it with an open heart I think you will return to Christianity like the son who returns home in the bible. I think sometimes it is the church or teaching that we are exposed to, a lukewarm Christianity, or even squabbling church members that turn us off to the Word.
You obviously beleive in evil. You beleive that the taking and treatment of these children was evil or bad, so how can evil exist if there is no true good? Isn't everything just what it is without good and bad? Jesus is the ultimate good. You say 'God gave his only Son to be crucified- what a horrible parent'. Yes that seems terrible to us, impossible for any parent to do. But do you know what, ultimately, no harm came to Jesus Christ and as bad as it may sound- ultimately, no harm will come to Caylee or Dominick, or Haleigh. This world is so fleeting and so short compared to eternity and the trials and pain and hardship of this world can't even compare to what Heaven will be like, so says the bible.
When I started studying the bible again is when I really learned why God had to sacrifice his Son. God is the ultimate in justice and goodness. Someone had to pay the penalty for mans sinful nature, we could not go unpunished, since God is the ultimate in justice. So God came to this Earth as a man, maybe you've heard of him, Jesus Christ. He was not a seperate distinct person that God chose to bear our punishment. Jesus is God himself, part of the trinity you know? God was the one who in the beginning chose to give us our sinful nature and then he also took the punishment for it. But he wants us to have the choice to follow him or not because he wants only true beleivers to fellowship with in eternity, he could have made us as good robots that can do no wrong, but if you have to force someone to like you then how do you know if they really ever do? I've already wrote alot so I don't think I will get into the prayer issue but I think when you allow the Spirit of God in you, and you are showing true fruits of the spirit then God will answer your prayers, if they are not selfish. But we can't wait until we are in trouble to start praying. But anyway Trina, something about the words in your article just made me want to talk to you.
If you are going to rant and rave about my god then at least get the facts stright! Jesus or god didn't order for the first born to be killed you are wrong on that. Please don't think that I am judgeing you or mad at you thats not why I am commenting. You have every right to believe what you want to I was just hopeing to inform you a little. I understand where you are coming from It is very painful to see such things done to children. But god has plans for these children, who now light the path for others who may soon be missing I hope one day you to will beable to experience the amazing gifts god provides to his children I have seen so many of my own blessings Its hard for me to understand people who don't believe
EXCELLENT POST - been thinking this very thing for years - it's like the catch phrase 'getting closure' which is also a bag of bullshit. BRAVO!
So... Brooke... if I'm understanding you right... god manages and interacts with his 'creation' in a way that makes it seem that he does not exist. And we gain god's favor my 'believing' in him, and praying for him, even though he does NOT answer our prayers, or give us any credible reasons to 'believe' in him. Why... what a clever rascal that god fellow is. I'M convinced.
julie wrote: "... rational thought and education makes a person doubt God but rational thought and education can also make you look around at the earth and human race and think it can't just be random."
No... that's not 'rational thought and education'. That is an informal logical fallacy (flaw in thinking) that is known as the 'Argument From Incredulity'… a sub-fallacy of 'Argumentum ad Ignorantiam' (Argument From Ignorance)... also known as the 'Divine Fallacy'. It goes something like this: "I cannot conceive (understand) (imagine) how this might have come to be; therefore… God did it."
Recently, psychologists have been speculating about whether humans are genetically 'wired' for religion... for 'belief' in god(s). I have devoted a great deal of thought to that idea, and I've concluded that we are NOT wired for religion... rather, we are wired for 'self-delusion'. Religion functions as a cultural parasite that takes advantage of that 'wiring'.
Thank you for serving as an example of the dangers of this particular insidious vulnerability.
Trina, I read every one of your articles. This is one of the best. Debbie
I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I can give you several names of people I know personally who have experienced the awesome healing power of prayer. You asked why a loving God would allow things like what happend to this little girl to happen at all. To understand that, you have to understand why anything bad happens in the first place. It's our sin. Humanity has been separated from God and suffered ever since the Garden of Eden. I think that there's more in your life that you're letting on that has turned you off to the idea of God actually existing. I'll be praying for you, even if you don't believe.
To add something else to my comment. God is not a vending machine. He doesn't answer every little thing we want. He also says that we should ask in faith that he will answer without doubt. To pray just to see if it'll happen will not work.
I feel very sad for this writer and I know that they will stand before a Holy God one day and regret their heart. You know if we are wrong then it only caused you a moment's amusement but if we are right it has caused you an eternal damnation. We know that we know that we are right. We don't want anybody to fall for the enemy's logic so ask the Lord to reveal himself to you. How do you know that Caylee Anthony hasn't been spared some horrible debilitating disease that would have been lengthy and mind numbingly painful? God knows things like that we don't and that is why we stand in the Word. All things work to the good to them that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose.
One other thing, The effectual, fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much.....but how many people pray without first examining their motives and their relationship with God?
Wonderful article. I'm not brave enough to say things like this, but it's what I know in my heart. I am grateful to my parents that I was raised not to need the crutch of an invisible zombie-man up in the sky.
First, you need to have faith. Then you need to ask God to show he is there. Trust me, he will. When bad things happen...we may not know why. I hope my story shared with you can explain better:
Sometimes in life we bear our crosses and have pain that is great and we just cannot understand why me, or why us? Sometimes we have the opportunity to understand and see the reasons that we endured the hardships presented us. When I, as a mom of a 19-year old autistic son with multiple medical and psychological needs, feel very overwhelmed or begin to fall into a "why us" mode, I think of my friend *Pat.
15 years ago my friend Pat, and co-worker, was very suddenly met with the grief of losing her young father of 60 years old to a massive sudden death. Pat's father was the epitome of good health. She, along with her family were devastated. The sudden and immediate death consumed Pat as she was not able to say "goodbye". In the same month that her father passed away, her teenage daughter, Sara, came home from school to announce she was pregnant. Sara was a senior in high school and her baby would be a bi-racial child. Pat was then faced with the knowledge that her own daughter is not going to go away to college as planned and a new child to the home is going to be necessary as her daughter cannot support a child on her own...and she had many fears of society and how they would treat a biracial child?
In the same month, only one week later, Pat and Jay's youngest daughter had an uncontrollable nosebleed and a massive headache. Their youngest, Tami, was only 7 years old. Naturally they sat worried as Tami was entered into the cat scan at the local hospital. Pat sat there and wondered how much more heartache and worry could she have in her life? How will she ever get through the grief of her lost father, the unplanned and sudden pregnancy of a teenage daughter and a possibly ill child?
It was later in the day that Pat and Jay's worst fears were presented. Their beautiful Tami had terminal brain cancer. Life was so unfair and how easy it would have been to have turned to God and have hated him for "bringing" so much pain in their once happy carefree lives. Over the course of the next three years, Pat and Jay were truly blessed to have the knowledge of why the pain they've endured...had a reason.
For the next three years, after that awful month of heartache, life moved forward. Slowly, painfully and heartbreakingly they watched their beautiful Tami struggle to play with her new niece and to give her a bottle. They spent many days in and out of the hospital, chemotherapy and watching all the awful side effects that Tami was presented. If there was a chance of a side effect you can be sure sweet Tami was one of the unlucky percentages to have endured it. Through steroids, hair loss, chemo and all that accompanies the fight against the cancer...Tami loved her little niece Briana, and Briana loved her Aunt Tami and many times as a toddler mistakenly would call Tami "ma ma". This brought huge smiles to Tami.
It was now September of 1994 and six weeks prior Pat and Jay learned that it was nearing the end of Tami's battle. It was a battle that was not to be won. Tami was so engulfed with the cancer that at night she could not lay down to sleep as she could not breathe. Pat and Jay took turns sitting up all night in Tami's bed so that she could sit up and sleep comfortably and be able to breathe. Tami was never afraid. Fact is, she talked of how she couldn't wait to meet the angels and how she hoped to be able to have wings and fly in heaven.
One night, in October, Tami passed away quietly and in her mother's arms. Tami was only ten years old.
Attending the funeral of Tami, I was terrified. I had never been to a child's funeral and to think I just saw Tami alive a number of weeks prior I feared attending but knew it was something I had to do. I needed to go to comfort my friend and coworker, Pat. Little did I know, it was Pat who comforted me....or should I say...it was Tami.
Standing outside the funeral home, the lines were extremely long and wrapped around three rooms inside the funeral home. Many children were there with their parents as they were schoolmates of Tami. The crowd was very somber, sad, quiet...tears and nervousness was so apparent by all those waiting in line. As I stood in line I watched all those who were exiting the funeral home. It struck me that many were smiling, laughing and seemed to be happy it was over that they were "out of there". My mind quickly judged, as we humans tend to do, just how wrong it was to walk out of a childs funeral laughing and smiling. Good gracious! What was wrong with those people?
It was about 45 minutes later when my daughter and I stepped into the funeral home...the overwhelming smell of carnation and flowers greeted us at the doorstep. The lines wrapped around three other rooms before we entered the room where Tami lay. The very moment, and I kid you not, the very minute second that we entered that doorway an overwhelming beautiful and peaceful calm surrounded me. It was like nothing I have ever experienced in life. Just a complete "wash" came over me and as I walked up to the beautiful casket and saw Tami with her beautiful lilac colored bow on her completely bald scalp and looked down at the gorgeous lavender taffeta dress...I just knew at that very moment that she was ok. She was an angel. The feeling was almost telepathically communicated to me that Tami was saying "I'm alright and I'm free of pain. I love heaven." It was uncanny. After saying my prayer for Tami, my daughter and I got up and walked over to Pat and Jay. Both smiling and both calming all those who came to visit their precious daughter. In the background little Brianna, now nearly 2 1/2 years old was busy playing and finding new toys to take over and put in the casket with Tami. It was unlike any "wake" that I've ever seen...or experienced. It was almost a joyous occasion....internally. I cannot explain it, but I can tell you that when that "wash" came over me...that joyous feeling entered.
On our way out the door...I saw a plaque above the exit of the funeral home. I will never forget the words and the words summarized the entire wake. Those words stated "Death is merely the gateway into the arms of the Lord". Wow! How profound and how true. I just knew it was true as that "wash" told me so.
Three weeks went by when I stopped by to see how Pat was doing. It was then that I realized the blessings that Pat was given by God. You see...in that horrible month, three long years ago....all had it's purpose. Pat told me that had her father not passed away she would never have gotten through Tami's passing. The knowledge that her own father, Tami's grandfather, would be greeting her at heaven's gate and there to take care of her made her passing bearable. The fact that Brianna, her teenage daughters unplanned pregnancy, was born provided not only Pat and Jay with comfort and joy in watching her grow...but more importantly, she offered Tami the opportunity to "play mommy" and to help care and play with Brianna as both Pat and Jay knew that Tami would never grow to become a mommy herself. The joy was always present in that Tami "took over" with baby Brianna and the thrill of being called "mama" was something that Pat and Jay would hold in their hearts forever. Yes, Tami was able to experience the joy of loving and caring for an infant even if it was for only 2 1/2 years.
Whenever I feel down and wonder "why me"...I think of my friend Pat and how blessed she was to learn the reason as to why the awful life experiences that she endured....had a purpose.
So now when I feel overwhelmed I look for my purpose. Sometimes we all are lucky enough to find that purpose...and sometimes we just never know how our life experience just may have touched and made a positive impact on someone else's life. We are all blessed and I am a firm believer there is a purpose for everything. Keep the faith and perhaps like Pat and Jay, one will be able to understand just why the bad things that have happened....had true purpose.
No need to pray. If that little girl were still alive she would be home by now.
Don't waste your breath praying.
I absolutely, 100% agree with you! I was raised in believing there was someone above watching out and I just can't see how it's possible. So many bad people comitting crimes, and innocent people that have their lives taken to early... Thank you for your honestly.
TRINA, I AM PRAYING FOR YOU NOW!
I absolutely, 100% agree with you! I was raised in believing there was someone above watching out and I just can't see how it's possible. So many bad people comitting crimes, and innocent people that have their lives taken to early... Thank you for your honestly.
Well said and VT... great response. If I were not 1,500 miles away, I would be scouring the streets, the woods, dumpsters, antything to look for this baby. I know I wouldn't be kneeling by my comfy bed praying to the invisible man.
Ok, first things first, as you stated in your article 'It is not for us to question God', what in the world do you think you are doing?
I sense you have a little bitterness in your life. Is something not going quite right for you? Maybe you should pray!
It's people like you that make it seem as though God doesn't answer prayers, because you are a needed prayer if i have ever heard of one.
Everyday miracles are perform on this earth, some people, such as yourself, are just to pig headed to admit that they've witnessed an act of God.
I am not going to be as nice as some of the people that have commented on your article because I am furious at your accusations. Are you just scared that maybe there is a greater power out there and you've gone so far in your life that it is to late to believe now? Well it's never too late.
Let me leave you with a little thought... I would rather live my life believing there is a God and to die and find out there isn't, than to live believing there isn't, and die to find out there is.
Oh, and PS. Trina, I will pray for you!!
Trina, one more thing.... can you let me know if all the praying people are doing for you works???? I would be anxious to know if you see a light, or hear God's voice or something?? lol
BRILLIANT COMMENTARY!! It is nice to see others out there who make sense!!!
Life is all about choices. I choose to follow Jesus and although you might not like it I will pray even for you duckphup. So there go ahead and be your obnoxious(spell check) self but know this you are loved and maybe you haven't expierienced love yet but until GOD decides otherwise I WILL PRAY. i really dont know what has deluded you to the extent that you have so much hate inside of you but if you allow HIM God can take that heart of(chemical) stone and turn it into a heart of LOVE.Go on taste and see that the LORD is GOOD.
ps for you to Trina
I wonder if anyone ever stops to think about the idea that God gives us free will?? He doesn't cause bad things to happen...we, as people do that all on our own. God created us with a free will. I am able to make my own choices. I CHOOSE to believe in God. Why? Just take a look around you once in awhile...the perfect sunset, the beautiful ocean, my adopted children playing in the yard. How could I not believe in a God? My God is a caring, compassionate father. When bad times come my way, He walks beside me, holds my hand and cries with me. I hope that I am teaching my children to believe in God that is loving and kind. I hope He one day has compassion on you as well as you are face to face with Him. I do pray for you...and for al those lost missing children.
My friend, in all honesty i do not agree with anything you have just written; i hope that i don't disgust you on what i am about to say and it is the Truth AND I AM NOT GOING TO SUGAR CODE IT, so i would like to start off by telling you that God sent Jesus down from Heaven to go through all the hardships we go through every day and then die for OUR sins and wipe us clean of every stain. (the reason why is because we were given the rule over the earth and then got tricked into eating the fruit by the serpent AKA the devil, who is only out to seek, kill, and destroy, and thus we sinned against the most amazing One; and in that instance God new that he was going to send His son for us Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." IM TELLING YOU THAT ITS A BEAUTIFUL TRAGEDY THAT IS WON!)But that's not the end of the history lesson Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. if you don't believe me look at this website it shows how the Bible is correct about how the sky was (type in StarofBethlahem.net on Google and it will be the first one in blue and under it it has www.BethlehemStar.net in green click on it and search the page for DVD and it will show you a trailer)
but I challenge you to watch the DVD and then email me back.
i know your like OK this is a lode of crap BUT LET ME TELL YOU that there is a GOD who set this whole world in motion and is with us in the good and even in the most catastrophic events. Though you say that He doesn't care about His children, i say He does because you are one of His children and whether you want to believe it or not He is taking care of you. I mean look around you if you say he is a terrible parent why has He aloud you to have great things in life. And before you go and say look at all the terrible things happening in the world i want to remind you that we are in a spiritual battle between the one who runs ramped and comes to seek, kill, and destroy, and the One who is willing to lay down everything He has (His Son) for us to be with Him; its between Good and Evil.
To tell the truth the quote that you put up has two sides to it side 1:who do you think made those hands (was not the one celled organism) side 2: In the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus is telling the people to help those in need and show them Gods love, but remember its not in your strength but in Gods AKA God blesses to those who are humble before Him.
I LOVE YOU and i hope that you just let my words sit on your mind for a bit.
~Leah
i only have one comment. bbrrruuuwwwwrrpppttt
can you guess what that sound is
God believes in you, even though you do not believe in Him.
Life is truly a spiritual, archetypal battle between the Forces of good and evil. God is not "all powerful," because God gave us free will and therefore cannot control us. Evil forces, including the Devil, battle it out subtly be appearing to present good choices to people.
PRAYING is very powerful. What you are doing is calling forth great spiritual help. Maybe you have been turned off by the mode of beseeching prayer and the kind of people that go along with it.
Instead try praying this-- That you know you have been blessed with a good, solid, questioning mind and want to use it to good -- and you ARE doing that, because it is good to question anything before you believe in it. SO keep up the good work. GOD loves thinkers, questioners, smart people like you.
Prayer does work- it directs an unseen force to align events/people etc so it is answered in the best possible way for the person or situation prayed for. Many miracles have resulted from a few prayers. Manifestation of prayers take time (to our human minds) because of our unique "free will" 3rd dimension "linear time" Earth. Do not give up hope.
Ditto Trina! Of course you're not insane. But I wouldn't blame you if you were driven a bit mad by all these comments.
ps. I like your illustration.
Have you ever heard God works in mysterious ways. If there was no God there would be no people or even a earth.Just look around you and then say there is no God. If you can there is something bad wrong with anyone that can look at there children or the beauty outside and say there is no GOD. Maybe you just need to read the Bible.
I'll pray for you.
DeAnna
Sounds as if YOU are not so sure about atheism yourself-otherwise you wouldn't be question how believers can do so. So what if someone wishes to believe, what's it mean to an atheist anyway?
THE [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt and evil are they, and doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.
psalm 53:1
Thank goodness you are out there with a sane voice!
First, it is not God's will for children to be murdered or tortured. Im not going to criticize the non-believer but get facts straight. We believers also believe that Satan does not care if children are tortured or murdered.
Second, many people prayed for Caylee but what we didnt know is that the sweet girl was already dead by the time we all knew she was missing and seeing as that God doesnt bring dead children back to life, I guess you could say the prayer for Caylee's safe return wasnt answered. Sadly little Haleigh probably died the night she was taken, also before we all knew and started to pray for her. I dont push my religion or beliefs on anyone unlike most atheists. In God We Trust, if you dont like it start your own country!
Yeah, you look like an atheist too!
"The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma."
- Abraham Lincoln, American president (1809-1865).
"I have found Christian dogma unintelligible. Early in life, I absenteed myself from Christian assemblies."
"Lighthouses are more helpful then churches."
-Benjamin Franklin, American Founding Father, author, and inventor
"This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it." John Adams, U.S. President, Founding Father of the United States
Me thinks thou dost protest too much.
You seem very passionate about something you don't believe in. Aside from that, you seem bitter and empty.
Does Abe Lincoln, Ben Franklin, and John Adams also "look" like atheists, Beth? Typical Christian. Thinking you are allowed to judge because you have God standing behind you. Do you know that there is noone perfect and if you consider yourself perfect enough to judge than you are also saying that you are at the same level as "God". Isn't that called something......? hmmmm...}}}wondering{{{
You seem to spend a lot of time explaining why one should not pray and why it is a waste. I think, deep down you know there is something greater than you or me and that person is God. Maybe if you softened your heart you might see the light.
Abraham Lincoln sums it up. LEARN !!
"It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, and to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in Holy Scripture, and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord. And, insomuch (sic) as we know that by His divine law nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisement in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which has preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended power, to confess our national sins and to pray for clemency and forgiveness." [March 30, 1863]
caylee had been dead so there was no chance of finding her alive that was a total hoax orchastrated by casey. haleigh will be found so will dominick, adji, and trent if you do not want to pray don't but don't tell us believers not to get a life and shut up the nonsense.god is real alive and kicking
One other thing, The effectual, fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much.....but how many people pray without first examining their motives and their relationship with God?
Pray doesn't change God. Prayer changes me.
I have one other question for all atheists.....what do you tell your children that are terminally ill? It's been nice knowing you but as you know you are nothing but matter flying around that somehow stopped long enough to form the planets and life? I dare you to look into your child's eyes and watch them as you give them the great hope of faith in a loving creator as opposed to a hopeless destiny as unvalid matter.
Gman anyone can read a speech...look deeper.
In the words of Billy Graham's daughter: " For years, we have asked God to get out of our government, out of our schools, and out of our lives. Being the gentleman He is, He listened and did what the majority asked." The Bible, nor God, ever promised life without pain, but rather comfort for the tears. So many people believe Christians think they will have a perfect life and that bad cannot happen. If Christ, God's only son died so harshly, why should anyone else on earth believe they should be treated better than a sinless, perfect man? We aren't promised a safer, healthier, happier life on earth. We are promised an eternity of perfection.
okay pattyann - what do you tell your terminally ill child? "Sorry, God was bored and decided to give you this horrible disease, but don't worry, I pray for you and maybe if God isn't too busy, you will be saved".
For that matter, why do christians go to doctors? Why not just pray that you will be okay? Doesn't that work?
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