Prayers

Tropez

marisco wrote: »

I bet far less wars or political divisions would be caused by it too

You ever seen that episode of Red Dwarf where it turns out the evolved cats had a religious war over whether hats should have been red or blue (and it turns out they should have been green)? I'm pretty sure that there's always someone willing to start a religious war over the slightest thing.

Heck, you've got militant zealots among the Christians, Jews and Muslims and yet it is actually pretty obvious they all worship the same god.

heartbreak_star

Tropez wrote: »

You ever seen that episode of Red Dwarf where it turns out the evolved cats had a religious war over whether hats should have been red or blue (and it turns out they should have been green)? I'm pretty sure that there's always someone willing to start a religious war over the slightest thing.

Heck, you've got militant zealots among the Christians, Jews and Muslims and yet it is actually pretty obvious they all worship the same god.

Yep - in the book it's over whether the All-Father is called Cloister or Clister (I think).

I think - even though my dad was religious - that even as a child I believed in doing things for myself rather than praying and waiting. Even making a mistake teaches you something.

HBS x

marisco_2

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Even making a mistake teaches you something.

This is something I tell the kids I teach all the time. Often brings a little smile to a tear stained face. It is so true though, you do learn from your mistakes and the lesson is far more ingrained than if you get something right first time. That's what I keep telling myself anyway, as it makes my umpteen mistakes easier to live with

Tropez

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Yep - in the book it's over whether the All-Father is called Cloister or Clister (I think).

I think - even though my dad was religious - that even as a child I believed in doing things for myself rather than praying and waiting. Even making a mistake teaches you something.

HBS x

My mum was religious and I attended C of E schools right from primary to secondary.

I've never felt that it was true though because there's just too much that makes no sense. I think it is simple human arrogance to think that we're that special that we put here by some supreme being. We're a microscopic speck in existence, sitting on a comparatively small planet in a comparatively small galaxy. The Milky Way may contain two trillion planets and it would take over 100,000 years to cross at light-speed yet it is far from the largest galaxy we know about. There are stars shining in the night's sky that don't exist because they went supernova thousands of years ago and the light has only just reached us. Down to everything, we're just a blip in a 13 billion year old galaxy in a universe infinitely older.

In spite of this, we insist that we're important. Even outside of god - the aliens all visit us, don't they? Yeah, right... Because we're that interesting. We still go around shooting each other over the interpretation of some stuff written 2,000 years ago, stuff that has been inaccurately translated into our languages because when the Bible was finally translated into Germanic languages, certain words used in the Bible didn't exist in Germanic languages and so were substituted.

But moreover, if god really has some sort of plan for me, personally, then what type of messed up game is he playing? According to someone on this thread, I'm going to hell, despite the fact I'm actually a pretty decent person all told. I really can't understand why anyone pays attention to what is in the Old Testament as well. As a collection of mildly interesting stories it has a purpose, but as a doctrine to live by? The thing supports and encourages rape, murder of rape victims, murder of homosexuals, slavery, human sacrifice and genocide, among other atrocities. I'll never understand why Christians don't just stick with what Jesus is supposed to have said because he didn't run around supporting that nonsense.

Brighton_belle

shaz77 wrote: »

So how do I ask for help to lead a more happy and fulfilled life? I do pray but it hasn't happened.

Perhaps God's desire/plan for your life is for your to learn how to be proactive in your life? Perhaps he thinks you were born in one of the most affluent and privileged societies on earth. That you have your health (I've made an assumption there) and enough money not to fear starvation and enough security not to fear armed gangs breaking down your door any minute.
Perhaps having had all these advantages and found it so easy to have a great career, he now want you to work hard to find out what would make you fulfilled and then to go do it. Otherwise isn't there a danger of treating god like a sweetie machine of 'I want' and expecting it to drop in your lap?

Don't think I am unsympathetic OP, it is hard to feel as you do and to struggle to find a way out. I would recommend counselling or a life coach to really find what it is in life that makes you feel alive.

System

Fosterdog wrote: »

The question was mostly aimed at you but there's nothing stopping others from giving their views or experiences if they want to. Of course you don't have to answer if you don't want to I'm just generally curious and like to understand why people believe what they believe.

I'm not biased or brainwashed. I'm not even discussing my beliefs I am giving the OP the benefit of advice based on a Christian viewpoint.

onlyroz

Judi wrote: »

Be honest with God.

Trust that God has a purpose for making you wait.
Psalm 62:8

Serve the Lord.
1 Peter4:10

Ask God to supply your needs.
Philippians 4:19

Prepare yourself for Gods answer.

Look for ways to enjoy life.

Be thankful.

To me, all this boils down to is "accept your lot in life", which is such a backward anti-progress way of thinking. What about encouraging people to better themselves? To investigate their surroundings with an enquiring and scientfic mind? But of course, it's far better for the Church to have us all believe that they know best and to not bother attempting to think for ourselves.

To the OP - if you've tried praying and got nowhere I'd suggest, as others have, that you take a more pro-active stance. If you're depressed then ask your GP for a referral. If you're bored then take up some new hobbies and join some local social groups. If you're unfulfilled in your job then think about retraining. There are plenty of ways to acheive fulfilment without having to resort to prayer.

Prothet_of_Doom

My dad, often prays for guidance. Whilst I see the time he does this as a quiet time to reflect and think things through, he sees it as a message from GOD.
It matters not who is right, because he rarely makes ill thought out decisions. (

onlyroz

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

My dad, often prays for guidance. Whilst I see the time he does this as a quiet time to reflect and think things through, he sees it as a message from GOD.
It matters not who is right, because he rarely makes ill thought out decisions. (

I can see the benefit of having a quiet time each day to reflect on what you've done, and to prepare yourself for the things you still have to do.

I once asked a Christian friend of mine what they thought of some of the Eastern meditation techniques. He said that he tried a technique where you are meant to empty your mind of all thoughts, but he had to stop because he felt an "evil presence" and became worried that he was about to become possessed by a demon :eek:

heartbreak_star

onlyroz wrote: »

I once asked a Christian friend of mine what they thought of some of the Eastern meditation techniques. He said that he tried a technique where you are meant to empty your mind of all thoughts, but he had to stop because he felt an "evil presence" and became worried that he was about to become possessed by a demon :eek:

You what? Really? *eyebrow raise*

I do yoga to try and empty my mind

HBS x