Open letter to God

[kittynh]

As it is well known that I am one of the few Christians on this site, I'd like to try a test of the power of prayer. This is only a test....

Dear GOD,

As you know, I have always been a good Christian, except for those donations to JREF. Part of my Christian belief has been never praying, wishing or hoping (too hard, I mean other than joking) that an enemy of mine would be hurt or killed or even get a parking ticket. I've not participated in religious services or churches that curse their enemies or even watched the 700 Club when they prayed for Saddam to die.

But now, just as a test mind you, I'm wondering if you could give someone leprosy, a really fast acting type that would make their fingers fall off before they could even get a good diagnosis...

Not just anyone, but someone I pick!

Just wondering, hey, there could be some money in it for us! And for you GOD, I'm willing to go 80-20 (hey, YOU get the 80!!!)

Just kidding, don't hit me with a lightening bolt.

Kitty"

 

[7th sextile]

Kitty:
Just heard from God,she said not to worry,he only
uses the "lightening" bolts on the morbidly obese,
and then only if they ask.

Also wanted to let you know She doesn't do
leprosy much anymore.(It's a bit of a sore point
from NT days-"Hey Son,did you write down your
autobio and words of wisdom yet?"
"Can't someone else do it?Every time I turn
around-another freakin' LEPER!!!"

yr faithless correspondent
7th

 

[Blue Monk]

You know kitty, you really could have just sent me a PM.

 

[Navigator]

 

[wittgenst3in]

Navigator that photo will haunt my dreams untill the end of time.

Edit: No offence to those with a debilitaing disease. Seeing medical conditions always makes me queesy.

 

[kittynh]

Navigator, just on the offchange that you are GOD, wrong person!

But yeah, that's the effect I'm kind of going for...

Mind you could this person win the lottery also? I mean one of those big lotteries? That way I wouldn't feel so badly.

You can leave the nose and all that.

Blue Monk - sorry, I think it was some other prayer that I did that took care of your...well, you know, I used the same prayer once on Pool Boy (oh, when all that Christian power goes to my HEAD).

In a way, maybe the fact that prayer doesn't work is a good thing!

 

[Rose]

Dear God:

As you know, I do not believe in you. However, to be fair to the christians with whom I discuss religion, I have decided to do as they suggest and pray. Not just pray, but to pray for something specific. You see, the christians say that if you ask, you will receive proof that You exist. Now, You know I have a slightly different idea of what proof is. They also ask me all the time what evidence it would take to convince me. I think that my request/demand/prayer will provide anyone and everyone concerned with the evidence that You, the Christian God. is the " real" God. If I don't hear from you in a week, then I'll have to consider attempting this again, with prayers to other Dieties, until I get the right one. After all, an immortal soul is a terrible thing to waste...

Oh, what did I wish to ask? It's Simple God. I wish you to take 25 terminal patients, and the end stage of their disease process, and cure them. Of course, You will know which 25 have adequate documentation of their disease processes to convince even a skeptic like me. Oh, and the cures should occur in a 24 hour period, in a geographically restricted area(like my home town, just to make sure I hear about it). Thank you very much for this, inasmuch that if I hear from you I know both a) I DO have a soul and b) I will know which God is the right one.

Tempt not the Lord thy God? Sorry, I don't understand that. How can one tempt You, God? Anyways, eagerly waiting to hear from you, Rose

 

[Radrook]

I think that God has finely tuned his receiver so that certain types of prayers on a certain frequency never get through.

 

[The GM]

I think that God has finely tuned his receiver so that certain types of prayers on a certain frequency never get through.

You have proof that God ignores prayers?

 

[Navigator]

After all, an immortal soul is a terrible thing to waste...

I would say that being immortal, waste is neither here nor there.

Would I be correct in assertaining tht these prayer requestments are posted in the intent of immature mockery?

What is it about being a 'sceptic' which prompts such outbursts of immaturity?

Is there a 'need' to feel somehow superiour of intellect? No - that can;t be the reason.....perhaps some nasty religious familiar abused the child and ultimately 'god' gets the blame?
A way to get attention...? A Mystery in itself?

While I agree that the xian god concept is somewhat tyranical - actually...more like something which embraces the whole spectrum of human emotion, I personally have had no reason to use this fact as a preventative to Soul exploration, nor a reason for argument in favor of there being no God.

Beliefs aside, what we call ourselves might not signify anything in particular, alongside how we behave as individuals towards each other.

 

[kittynh]

Honestly I AM a Christian. Not a fundie.

My own belief is that GOD has a great sense of humor, thus the platypus!

One of the religious leaders that I get along pretty well with does have a firm belief in the "power of prayer". He said God answers all prayers, but the answers are always, "Yes, No or not right now". Fundies teach that the answer is never NO and that if your prayer isn't answered YOU are the one at fault.

 

[Iacchus]

You have proof that God ignores prayers?

5 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.

6 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.

7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. ~ Matthew 6:5-8

 

[ehbowen]

Honestly I AM a Christian. Not a fundie.

My own belief is that GOD has a great sense of humor, thus the platypus!

One of the religious leaders that I get along pretty well with does have a firm belief in the "power of prayer". He said God answers all prayers, but the answers are always, "Yes, No or not right now". Fundies teach that the answer is never NO and that if your prayer isn't answered YOU are the one at fault.

You are way out of line. I am a fundamentalist--and proud of it--and I have never taught or even heard anyone in any church I have ever been a member of teach that "if your prayer isn't answered YOU are the one at fault."

I do acknowledge that that kind of teaching is out there, most notably in certain Charismatic circles--but by no means all of them, either.

In my opinion, the missing link in the question of unanswered prayer is, in most cases, persistence. Take the post from Rose, for example. "If I don't hear from you in a week...." Wow, a whole week. Rose, I've got news for you. There is a certain prayer request I have had on my mind, in various forms, since 1975. And in all that time I have yet to receive an answer which I would consider satisfactory. Does this discourage me? Not in the slightest. I am convinced that what I am asking for is compatible with the nature and character and will and plan of God; therefore, I am determined that I will keep on asking until I receive exactly what I ask for or something which I agree is even better. It may take the entirety of my lifetime. If so, then I will consider my life well spent.

 

[The GM]

I've seen you quote that before. (I believe it was you at any rate! )
Key point here, though...I didn't ask for scripture, I asked for proof. So since Radrook, the self described Christian, made the statement that God filters out certain prayers, I want proof of that absolutely outrageous claim. Did God zap that message to him in a daily brief? Perhaps God held a teleconference on the subject?
For other Christians in the gallery tonight...Do you think God filters out certain people's prayers? Would God refuse to listen to the desperate plea of an Atheist, for instance? How about thanksgiving offered up by a Shaman? What about the angry accusation from a Wiccan?
I'll be interested in the answers.

 

[evildave]

Well, you see, they have 'god' in their hearts, so whatever their hearts tell them is what god says, and who in the world needs more proof than that?

 

[Iacchus]

I've seen you quote that before. (I believe it was you at any rate! )

Yes, I have posted it before.

Key point here, though...I didn't ask for scripture, I asked for proof. So since Radrook, the self described Christian, made the statement that God filters out certain prayers, I want proof of that absolutely outrageous claim. Did God zap that message to him in a daily brief? Perhaps God held a teleconference on the subject?

Except that it is proof that it's understood what you're asking about, even in the Bible.

For other Christians in the gallery tonight...Do you think God filters out certain people's prayers? Would God refuse to listen to the desperate plea of an Atheist, for instance? How about thanksgiving offered up by a Shaman? What about the angry accusation from a Wiccan?
I'll be interested in the answers.

God is the god of all things, therefore He knoweth what we need before we ask.

 

[ehbowen]

For other Christians in the gallery tonight...Do you think God filters out certain people's prayers? Would God refuse to listen to the desperate plea of an Atheist, for instance? How about thanksgiving offered up by a Shaman? What about the angry accusation from a Wiccan?
I'll be interested in the answers.

My opinion: No God who is worthy of the title of "God" ever forgets or ignores any prayer, regardless of its source. I am convinced that, in the long run--nota bene, I say the long run--everyone who asks will either receive what they ask for or else will receive something which they themselves will agree is better than what they had asked for. It may take a long time for this to happen. But I am convinced that, eventually, it will indeed happen.

 

[Radrook]

Beliefs aside, what we call ourselves might not signify anything in particular, alongside how we behave as individuals towards each other. [/B]

Excellent insight!
Anyone can claim to be anything.

But does the behavior give testimony to it?
I had a self proclaimed born againer watch calmly as his dog tried to tear me limb from limb.

So I have long ago been disabused of the noton that claims of membership in the Christian ranks mean anything at all except a claim.

 

[Pixel42]

I am convinced that, in the long run--nota bene, I say the long run--everyone who asks will either receive what they ask for or else will receive something which they themselves will agree is better than what they had asked for. It may take a long time for this to happen. But I am convinced that, eventually, it will indeed happen.

When I was 10 I prayed that my father would stop sexually abusing me. I'm now 50, and have still not received anything approaching an answer to this prayer.

I'm currently reading Terry Pratchett's Discworld novel 'The Truth' and just came across this quote:

"Prayer is a sophisticated way of pleading with thunderstorms".

Says it all.

 

[kittynh]

Excellent insight!
Anyone can claim to be anything.



And oddly enough, no one has yet picked up on the fact that this post has nothing to do with religion. AC said I'm too clever for my own good in a thread. I guess I'm too clever for my own venting jokes too.