Concerto, there are reasons posted in this thread why people seem to think that God WOULD care about the outcome. I don't find them very persuasive. If you do, perhaps you might say why instead of just asking questions.

You started the thread. Why are you unwilling to complete a thought in explanation of your own assertions?

Because I ain't your slave.

Make your own arguments.

So you consider being asked to put some deliberative lead into your logically limp pencil an attempt to enslave you?

Not at all. It is how the game is played.

God must really hate some of those continually bad teams.

No, I think you are committing the fallacy of "Just Asking Questions".

I don't believe in intercessionary prayer, so it's ridiculous in the sense that God didnt step in and cause the result.

However, in my mind prayer isn't about asking for things - I pray in thanks for things I've done or that have happened. I don't really mean "Thanks for stepping in with your noodly appendage or equivalent and making that happen." I mean "I'm grateful for this chance at life and for the strength you give me which enables me to do these things."

Similarly, I thank God for rain which ends drought - even though I don't really think my prayer before or after the event is related to the end of the drought in any way. Prayer is about bringing my life and my thoughts in line with God to make me a better person - you can call it self-centred if you want, but I think that's the whole point. It makes me a better person it doesnt make things happen except through changing me and giving me strength and resolve.

Evidently not. *Sigh*

lulz

I'm still waiting. Sounds like a great discussion to me!

You know what Concerto, I think I agree with you.

God hates what is unholy, what is contrary to his nature. He is love, but something completely contrary and evil cannot be loved.

An all-loving God would, by definition, love even what is evil.

The only way out of this is to claim that evil is not a thing, it is a lack of a thing (goodness).

It's pretty obvious which team is God's favorite

racist ban

It takes more faith to not cheer for the Raiders than it does to cheer for them ldo.

don't you mean sexist?

yes. it was a joke.

There are few more pitiful spectacles in my mind than seeing someone praise god after scoring a touchdown or hitting a home run. That is of course, assuming these pompous, self centered, idiots realize that at the same time god was taking an interest in their athletic triumph, he was ignoring the 3 year old about to walk in front of a bus.

Welcome back (hopefully ).

Thanks bunny. Good to read you guys again. I just hopped on to post a question about table games and of course had to peek in on RGT to see what's happening. Should be back sooner than originally planned though. Getting lots of stuff done that I need to. See you all later. Good luck!

First, lol, you just couldn't resist

Second, I think that you misunderstand people who thank God for these sort of things. While I agree with you that it can seem trite at times, I thank God constantly for my life. Is it really wrong to thank God for the ability to do what you do?

Should I not thank God that I have a roof over my head when so many don't?

I just don't see this as a, "Thanks for giving me more than others" sort of thanks. All of us that post on this site are very blessed, is it really wrong to be thankful of that?

No. I think thanking god for your blessings is perfectly fine. In fact, you absolutely should do so if you believe in a personal god. Of course, I have a ton of questions about why god happens to think you're deserving of a roof while others are not, but that opens up a whole can of worms which I won't be able to respond to.

For now, I'll just say that I have a problem with people who make a big show of "publicly" thanking god. From athletes to family members of a survivor who thank god right in front of loved ones of those who didn't survive (although I certainly cut them more slack than athletes). If you want to pray or get down on your knees in thanks, do so privately. I'm sure god would appreciate the humble intimacy and sincerity of doing so.

And I think you know that this is the main thing that started causing me to doubt the existence of god when I was a firm believer. As a child I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt and could not reconcile why god gave me a better life than others. This was the biggest factor that made me realize there was no god. Talk to you soon and good luck Jib!

It's worth noting that in addition to being a position many on the secular side of the equation subscribe to, there is support in the canonical gospels (Matthew 6 specifically) for this proposition.

Religious poker players often pray to God to help them go far in a tournament. Poker is a predator and victim game. For one man to succeed, another must take an equal loss. So if you were to ask god to bless you in a tournament (or sporting event or whatever) he would then be DEPRIVING someone else of a blessing. God makes you win, he makes another person lose. The LOSERS in poker are people of all shapes and sizes, morality and all.

There is no event predetermined, and god doesn't control anything. **** happens.

Sometimes, evil murderers and rapists have good things happen to them, and moral, donation giving philanthropists get their heads chopped off in a roller coaster accident.

I do not believe in karma, but I believe that being moral and generally good to others may increase the probability of good things happening to you, and I believe that being evil and raping ppl may have very negative repercussions. However, all that is simply common sense.

Plus, I think making god responsible for your achievements and successes is degrading to you and your abilities. Give yourself some credit for christ sake! GOD didn't give you this, you DESERVE this nice **** because of your hard work and effort.