General Discussion

marions ghost

(19,841 posts)

99. Directing thoughts of sympathy and compassion

Thu May 23, 2013, 01:00 PM

May 2013

...wishing & hoping for the best for others (or yourself)...is not servility. And is it useless if it helps you to help others in need? Asking for strength--even if it amounts to self-hypnosis--is that weak?

Whether prayer or self-hypnosis--some people need it. Now Religion (as opposed to praying/wishing)-- certainly can be carried to an extreme, as we see in this country today. But the simple act of wishing for the best--directing positive thought toward a person or a problem--that's what I call love & kindness & empathy. I think we need more of that good stuff.

You can make a religion out of anything--money, career, science, art, children, designer handbags. Doesn't have to be the standard religious traditions. That's what I'd worry about--the religions of greed and acquiring of power and things-- not the act of asking for help in this hard life.

Live & let live.

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"The best thing you can do is pray" [View all] Demo_Chris May 2013 OP

Then send RudynJack May 2013 #1

How do you know they are fake? hrmjustin May 2013 #20

Be still and know ... GeorgeGist May 2013 #29

Your view not mine, but I respect your view. hrmjustin May 2013 #33

They're real Christians all right... Deep13 May 2013 #52

Well we disagree but I respect your view. hrmjustin May 2013 #54

Thanks. nt Deep13 May 2013 #62

Just curious MNBrewer May 2013 #104

I respect that he is not a believer. I respect the fact that others have differences from my view. hrmjustin May 2013 #107

so "respect" in the sense of "accept and acknowledge" MNBrewer May 2013 #108

Accept and acknowlege, and live in peace with and discuss rationally about it. hrmjustin May 2013 #109

+++ marions ghost May 2013 #110

The best thing you can do to help at this point is donate Lex May 2013 #2

+1,000,000,000,000 Dawson Leery May 2013 #3

As the saying goes, "Two hands working does more than a thousand clasped in prayer." sakabatou May 2013 #4

One finger texting 'REDCROSS' to 90999 pokerfan May 2013 #32

Prayer does not hurt. hrmjustin May 2013 #5

Are you not amazed at how quickly posts like this crap come out to spew their stuff? It reminds me CAG May 2013 #12

People have their opinions and I respect that but a little respect back would be nice. hrmjustin May 2013 #17

Agree LostOne4Ever May 2013 #73

Actually I understand what th OP was trying to say but it came out very wrong. hrmjustin May 2013 #88

They have it ready to go Union Scribe May 2013 #48

Its unfortunate that we can practically predict their behavior. They really need CAG May 2013 #50

It doesn't hurt, no RudynJack May 2013 #15

that is your opinion that it doesn't help the victims. hrmjustin May 2013 #18

I'm not denigrating prayer. RudynJack May 2013 #22

I understand your point of view. hrmjustin May 2013 #23

It's fine if it helps you, but it does nothing for those you are praying for... cynatnite May 2013 #66

Your view and I respect it. I don't agree that prayer does nothing for people. hrmjustin May 2013 #67

I'm not sure if you understood what I was saying... cynatnite May 2013 #68

I get that point of view and yes it is a logical point of view,but I do think praying for someone hrmjustin May 2013 #69

Except it has been demonstrated that prayer can actually hurt... Gravitycollapse May 2013 #76

I really don't think it demands a response. undeterred May 2013 #6

Post removed Post removed May 2013 #27

Atheists "pray" with donations! n-t Logical May 2013 #7

christians do too CAG May 2013 #10

Donations are proved to work! n-t Logical May 2013 #41

Are we wrong to pray. If we honestly have faith what is wrong with that. hrmjustin May 2013 #43

As do believers! hrmjustin May 2013 #13

I was out and somebody told me that nadinbrzezinski May 2013 #8

I'll let all of the churches in the area that are providing food, lodging, and support to know CAG May 2013 #9

You think Freepers are Atheists? nt Demo_Chris May 2013 #28

Yep, plenty of them are, their just not stupid enough to turn off people from their CAG May 2013 #35

I did not know that. I thought they were HARDCORE social conservatives other there... Demo_Chris May 2013 #37

Being a social conservative does not mean one is religious. kwassa May 2013 #53

there are some. hrmjustin May 2013 #38

Those churches apparently agree with the OP. Mariana May 2013 #42

I doubt they would agree with the whole OP! hrmjustin May 2013 #45

No, it does not hurt. Lady Freedom Returns May 2013 #11

science can save lives hfojvt May 2013 #14

Don't you ever give it a rest? cordelia May 2013 #16

small and petulant are an understatement CAG May 2013 #26

Thank you. Some days are more difficult than others. cordelia May 2013 #92

"Typically I am tolerant of this kind of thing" pintobean May 2013 #19

Have you been watching the Oklahoma news? Demo_Chris May 2013 #31

Do you need a waaaambulance? pintobean May 2013 #40

Its too bad science can't teach you how to turn off the television. undeterred May 2013 #47

Or be a little bit more compassionate describing watching people whose neighborhoods have just been CAG May 2013 #55

Intolerance stinks. undeterred May 2013 #58

Maybe they were blinded with science Puzzledtraveller May 2013 #87

+ a million. Really ignorant, really ugly, really stupid OP. Number23 May 2013 #90

I seriously doubt that you are tolerant of anything CBGLuthier May 2013 #81

. Bobbie Jo May 2013 #86

Thread Winner. Number23 May 2013 #91

Yes, indeed! cordelia May 2013 #93

I have been biting my tongue as well... truebrit71 May 2013 #21

I'm sure there were lots of prayer before the tornado. Please spare me the CAG May 2013 #30

That's because we're not the deluded ones... truebrit71 May 2013 #82

that`s your opinion madrchsod May 2013 #24

bless you! H2O Man May 2013 #25

Thanks. nt Demo_Chris May 2013 #36

My heart goes out to the people suffering there. Arugula Latte May 2013 #34

"I'm an atheist AND I DEMAND ATTENTION!!!" nt Dreamer Tatum May 2013 #39

heehee CAG May 2013 #44

As opposed to the people demanding attention by demanding that everybody pray? Arugula Latte May 2013 #46

Right? truebrit71 May 2013 #85

Who did that? When? Didn't see it in this thread. Did I miss it? cordelia May 2013 #94

It's all over social media. "Pray for Oklahoma!" Arugula Latte May 2013 #97

Yeah, I heard that too, Demo_Chris. chollybocker May 2013 #49

Even though I've never said a kind word about Gov Fallin, I bet she's working her a*& off tonight, CAG May 2013 #57

Hope so. It's her job, after all. chollybocker May 2013 #65

If I were governor, right before being assasignated I would say... Deep13 May 2013 #51

Some of us who live far away and have nothing to give can't do anything more? Are we wrong to hope Rowdyboy May 2013 #56

Well said! hrmjustin May 2013 #59

+1 Bobbie Jo May 2013 #61

It is hateful and hate is non-rational. Despite OP's words extoling science, that contempt comes patrice May 2013 #70

It's amazing how much spite comes to the surface in a time like this. AngryOldDem May 2013 #80

uh . . . not very anarchic of you, Chris, in fact, quite the opposite of that, Authoritarian. nt patrice May 2013 #60

it's not the "best thing" for everyone, but for some they really can't do much JI7 May 2013 #63

The best thing you can do LostOne4Ever May 2013 #64

THANK you! patrice May 2013 #71

I don't believe in the traditional guy in the sky but I do believe in the power of tavalon May 2013 #72

Seriously, if someone offers me "good vibes" and someone else offers "prayers".... Rowdyboy May 2013 #74

As I said on another thread, we all bleed red. tavalon May 2013 #75

Goddammit, I'm HIV positive and they don't want mine. But thank you for doing what you can tomorrow Rowdyboy May 2013 #77

Sorry, dude, they wouldn't take mine either tavalon May 2013 #89

Well under control due to good medical care and adequate perscription drug coverage.... Rowdyboy May 2013 #96

That is magnificent to hear tavalon May 2013 #111

+1 In_The_Wind May 2013 #79

Oh looky, another ones of these... Inkfreak May 2013 #78

Praying is wishing marions ghost May 2013 #83

praying is useless begging datasuspect May 2013 #98

Directing thoughts of sympathy and compassion marions ghost May 2013 #99

money talks datasuspect May 2013 #100

OK LOL marions ghost May 2013 #105

OUTRAGE! Puzzledtraveller May 2013 #84

k&r Phillip McCleod May 2013 #95

Know what makes me crazy? THANKSGIVING SERVICES after natural disasters. MotherPetrie May 2013 #101

Is it not possible to pray sarisataka May 2013 #102

I don't know who said that quote...but the best thing you can do is plan ahead and listen to.. Tikki May 2013 #103

is there an Ap for praying ? olddots May 2013 #106