tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post5685534969562804937..comments2023-09-20T10:04:35.379+02:00Comments on 2000 Years of Deception: Prayer, What's it all about?Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-31475853157128393562008-11-09T18:21:00.000+01:002008-11-09T18:21:00.000+01:00I am a little behind here.Prayer. What to do with ...I am a little behind here.<BR/><BR/>Prayer. What to do with Jesus' words about asking and receiving and the reality of asking and not receiving. I am not sure one can really sufficiently answer that question.<BR/><BR/>But what does one say when someone believes his prayers were answered? Was it a fluke of nature? It was going to happen anyway? The last option is basically the Calvinist understanding of God. God answered because it was his will (according to this belief system). OK. Then, as you asked, "Why bother?" Their response is 1) God wants us ask 2) Prayer does not change things but the person praying. But however all that works out, are all claims of prayer having been heard and God "intervening,"explained by natural causes and effects?<BR/><BR/>Possibly. But I am not convinced of ALL prayer. And even if it is how can I be certain?<BR/><BR/>But God is not Aladin stuck in a bottle and if we rub the bottle, he grants our every wish. Prayer is not about having enough faith to get what we want, nor is it about ourselves. If what you said is true about the Jesus' teaching on prayer, that it's intercessory, then it can't be about me. It is about others.<BR/><BR/>Good question thoughPecheurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03522047175277715854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-64540444365391788262008-10-08T20:46:00.000+02:002008-10-08T20:46:00.000+02:00This actually puts me in mind of Rhonda Byrne, Joe...This actually puts me in mind of Rhonda Byrne, Joe Vitale and other self-help sham gurus plugging the "ask, believe, receive" philosophy of the "Law of Attraction". Rather than asking God, though, the point is that the universe will give it if you somehow attract the right vibes. <BR/><BR/>Isn't it thought that Paul's interpretation of Christ might have little in common with what earlier followers believed and what Christ supposedly intended? That Paul's epiphany gave him what he thought was justification to re-think what Christianity meant while he took stock of his own life and compared his purpose to Christ's.<BR/><BR/>It's been a while since I read anything about that, though, so I might not have the right memory of it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com