Religion

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)

74. Sure it can.

Tue Apr 28, 2015, 12:57 PM

Apr 2015

Let's say the universe must needs be created by a supernatural thingy. Even if we can't directly perceive that supernatural thingy, whatever it is, does that mean we can't also perceive whether or not the universe required a directing intelligence to be start? We can't see it, and we can't see the tools it wields, ok, but maybe we can see the tool-marks left by its actions?

We infer real data from things that cannot be directly perceived all the time, by the effect they have on other things.

"Second it would be a waste of time"

Must be nice to simply assert a win.

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If prayer did anything you wouldn't have to inform the world you are praying. [View all] AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 OP

It's just phil89 Apr 2015 #1

As has been mentioned many times... TreasonousBastard Apr 2015 #2

This is my understanding as well, or ought to be, for christians. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #6

I wish some of our politicians would take that part of the NT to heart. merrily Apr 2015 #79

not necessarily true. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Apr 2015 #3

when studied the opposite effect was observed. Warren Stupidity Apr 2015 #19

This really upsets you about a person who finds value in prayer. Nobody forces anyone to pray, still_one Apr 2015 #4

If the person praying finds value in it, then by all means they can pray. trotsky Apr 2015 #5

The only way to get extra credit, is to turn it in. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #7

As a Christian, I don't understand why some brag about praying in public, either. BlueCaliDem Apr 2015 #10

Personally whether some "brags" about does not bother me one way or another. The only thing that still_one Apr 2015 #15

When people think that prayer actually works skepticscott Apr 2015 #8

A condolence card is a material thing. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #9

Actually letting someone know that they're thought of skepticscott Apr 2015 #13

It is their issue not yours, no? Why would anyone care, unless they are trying to impose a belief still_one Apr 2015 #16

If I see people bragging about something, I can and will respond to it. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #17

Like bragging about how far they can throw a plowshare? Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #18

Ask them to empirically demonstrate. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #20

I'm sure you have Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #21

Au contraire AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #23

Sure! Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #24

"sending good thoughts to those suffering"? mr blur Apr 2015 #14

Oh, there are more philosophical problems with praying. DetlefK Apr 2015 #11

Give me a minute here . . . LTX Apr 2015 #57

Yeah, I went over-the-top. DetlefK Apr 2015 #58

I keep praying that "true believers" will see the light. Binkie The Clown Apr 2015 #12

I prayed hard last week Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #22

Who is 'we'? AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #25

Humans Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #26

Then no, 'we' do not. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #28

We humans who do. Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #33

I am far from the only one. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #35

Would it bother you if you were the only one? Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #45

I don't, actually. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #46

Except I didn't actually say that, but I might have Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #49

yeah, because posts 22/26 dont exist. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #50

I don't believe you. Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #53

I am aware of a variety of forms of prayer that a variety of types of people exercise. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #55

You don't know what is beyond your 5 sences. upaloopa Apr 2015 #27

And what does it mean to me, when people who believe are prancing about self-congratulating themselv AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #29

It is none if your business if someone feels praying works upaloopa Apr 2015 #30

They make it my business when they frantically post about it all over DU. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #31

Looks like you're digging a big hole with that plowshare Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #34

Did I say I was? AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #36

LOL Your entire OP is a strawman Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #43

You're going to have to specify exacly how it's a strawman, because ive seen you AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #44

No I don't. It is your OP Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #47

It would appear, again, that you don't actually know what a strawman fallacy is. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #48

Really? You can't see it for yourself? Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #51

Yeah, because I didn't just read a nearly 200 post thread about people parading their pious hopes AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #52

It's still not your busines, it's Skinner's, rug Apr 2015 #42

If they wanted to be left alone Mariana Apr 2015 #41

Ridicule is not discussion! upaloopa Apr 2015 #60

Telling me AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #63

Good observation. I didn't mean it to be discussion upaloopa Apr 2015 #65

Not me. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #66

That makes no sense. Bring material upaloopa Apr 2015 #71

Sure it can. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #74

Ok I believe in the power of attraction upaloopa Apr 2015 #77

If you had credible evidence to support it, I might be interested. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #80

No not a nuclear force upaloopa Apr 2015 #82

Anecdotes aren't proof. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #83

I have no desire or need to prove anything to you upaloopa Apr 2015 #84

Ok, so it's a thing that is meaningful to you.i dont see any way it could be AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #85

Woah. Goblinmonger Apr 2015 #68

I don't care didily what they think upaloopa Apr 2015 #72

Like you are reacting to what he thinks? Goblinmonger Apr 2015 #73

You don't get it do you? upaloopa Apr 2015 #75

No, you don't get it. Goblinmonger Apr 2015 #76

I treat a lot of people like shit. It is just that upaloopa Apr 2015 #78

Where did you get the special gift to decide who gets to be treated that way? Goblinmonger Apr 2015 #81

You're right..it's nobody's business skepticscott Apr 2015 #69

Wow, so much going on in one short post. Goblinmonger Apr 2015 #61

People post about a lot of things. We choose to upaloopa Apr 2015 #62

Have you considered that it might be insulting? AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #64

Because it is passed off as doing something great. Goblinmonger Apr 2015 #67

Perhaps it provides some small measure of comfort? For either party. Or both. I see no harm in that. pinto Apr 2015 #32

Definition: beam me up scottie Apr 2015 #37

They should have prayed before the earthquake edhopper Apr 2015 #38

That's pretty crass, edhopper. Would you say that to a Nepalese survivor of the earthquake? pinto Apr 2015 #39

No edhopper Apr 2015 #40

How is "I'm praying for you" any better? trotsky Apr 2015 #59

If someone said they were going to help by mixing up a magic potion skepticscott Apr 2015 #86

I'm sure some of them did. But it was to the wrong god apparently... truebrit71 Apr 2015 #70

Prayer lets people think they have shuffled responsibility onto someone else (God) Kablooie Apr 2015 #54

The inevitable God cop out. longship Apr 2015 #56