The existence of God and the efficacy of prayer

blue triangle said:
Let's just say a 'field of consciousness' from which everything came and which all religions are attempts to understand. Most have a name for this Consciousness, and although Buddhism doesn't, it does have concepts such as Infinite Love and the Buddha Nature. Let's say they are all like the blind men touching different parts of the elephant, because I don't want to lean towards any particular religion for this question. Let's callit Infinite Consciousness, or IC for short.

Let's just say, hypothetically, that it is proven beyond all doubt that IC exists, that IC gave birth to your consciousness in some way and that you can contact IC through prayer. Would you pray to IC?
Click to expand...

Religions are not out to "understand" a "field of consciousness". They already have all the answers and they tell you how things are. And very few if any will define their god in this manner.

Everyone has prayed. Every child realizes quickly that prayer is bunk. -Until it is "explained" to them how "god works in mysterious ways".
 
blue triangle said:
Let's just say a 'field of consciousness' from which everything came and which all religions are attempts to understand. Most have a name for this Consciousness, and although Buddhism doesn't, it does have concepts such as Infinite Love and the Buddha Nature. Let's say they are all like the blind men touching different parts of the elephant, because I don't want to lean towards any particular religion for this question. Let's callit Infinite Consciousness, or IC for short.

Let's just say, hypothetically, that it is proven beyond all doubt that IC exists, that IC gave birth to your consciousness in some way and that you can contact IC through prayer. Would you pray to IC?
Click to expand...

1. How...odd. Especially given that your concept of "IC" directly contradicts your bible's concept of "YHWH Elohim".

2. As I asked above, how do you think such could be "proved"?

3. FYI, this is not a crowd to which to try to sell a "gotcha"...
 
blue triangle said:
Let's just say, hypothetically, that it is proven beyond all doubt that IC exists, that IC gave birth to your consciousness in some way and that you can contact IC through prayer. Would you pray to IC?
Click to expand...
No. If it exists, I have nothing to say to it and doubt it has anything to say to me.
 
Maurice Ledifficile said:
Religions are not out to "understand" a "field of consciousness". They already have all the answers and they tell you how things are. And very few if any will define their god in this manner.

Everyone has prayed. Every child realizes quickly that prayer is bunk. -Until it is "explained" to them how "god works in mysterious ways".
Click to expand...

Given the hypothetical conditions I've outlined, which are that God exists and that you can contact him through prayer, would you pray?
 
Slowvehicle said:
1. How...odd. Especially given that your concept of "IC" directly contradicts your bible's concept of "YHWH Elohim".

2. As I asked above, how do you think such could be "proved"?

3. FYI, this is not a crowd to which to try to sell a "gotcha"...
Click to expand...

It's a hypothetical situation. What would your response be?
 
MetalPig said:
I wouldn't, since prayer has been proven ineffective in the past. There is no reason to think that God will suddenly start to listen when we get proof of his (?) existence.
Click to expand...

Another in the 'no' camp then, although I think you've misunderstood the question.
 
blue triangle said:
Anything you want. Think of it like a person adopted at birth meeting their biological father.
Click to expand...
Not a good analogy, as I could have a proper conversation with my biological father.

Would this hypothetical entity be able to answer my questions?

Can this hypothetical entity affect anything, eg could it heal someone I love of cancer if it thinks I've asked it nicely enough?

If not I can think of nothing I'd want to say to it.
 
fagin said:
I might have a chat if he asked me to be his FB friend. But prayer sounds like such a one way method of communication. What's wrong with a beer and a chat.
Click to expand...

You're assuming that prayer is a one-way thing. So you're in the 'maybe' camp then?
 
blue triangle said:
It's a hypothetical situation. What would your response be?
Click to expand...

My response would be to continue to wonder why you avoid answering questions. It's a pointless, contrafactual hypothetical; omphalistic onanism. The "IC" you posit is incompatible with the "YHWH Elohim" you keep pimping.

If up were down, would you still be afraid of spiders?

How is it that you consider this "proof" might be offered?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom