Do you think prayer is real? Your opinion?

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Sorry - ad hominem? Where? I'm not seriously suggesting you're a dog, though I actually think that would be brilliant. I'd love to meet a talking dog (or at least a typing one). Unfortunately there is no evidence for such a creature. The only dogs that type usually type gibberish, rather like Dan Brown.
(Now THAT was a snipe! )



Can't be God. It was the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Do you know otherwise? You can't even describe what your God looks like, while I can draw a rough sketch of mine...



Really? Where is Noah's Ark? There have been numerous expeditions to Turkey to find it, and none have succeeded. Where were Sodom and Gomorrah? What was all that gibberish about Mary and Joseph returning to Bethlehem for a census (which isn't even how a census works!)? And how is it that an entire race of slaves are led out of Egypt without the event either affecting Egyptian development or even getting a mention in their texts? Along with several plagues, which might attract a brief footnote somewhere? Come to that, where was the Tower of Babel? Where was Eden supposed to be? How do the South American and Australian Aborigine civilisations tie in with biblical history, which includes a global flood?

I'm not a biblical scholar, and I'm way underqualified to go into historical details, but you could probably find better cases than I can put together with some proper Googling. It's very hard to actually *prove* the bible, as it has been such an influential book. Many other sources have been affected by it.



It would have to be a big box. Here's a good contender - is God inside the universe? If yes, the universe is your box. If no, how can that be? The universe by definition contains everything.

No ad hominems or other attacks are intended. This is all rather fun.

NO. I have prayed so many times, and it DOES NOT work. If anything, it's just made everything worse for me. I did my last prayer ever, a bit over a week ago, and tried to put all my energy into it. While making that prayer, I decided it will be my last... my last try at it, ever.

I voted that it is coincidental, if it seems to work - however, if anything, if it'd truly work, it'd probably be answered by extraterrestrials.

I do know God created everything because the Bible tells me so. I believe the Bible is a true and everlasting account. Faith - you gotta have it to get it.

Isn't it funny how this 2000 year old book from the middle east makes sense for people today? Isn't it amazing that the Bible has topped the bestseller list for 2000 years?

A simple google or a visit to any local church will reveal all the answers to Thom_Fuleri's questions. (though, I've come up with better questions myself.) I'm not holding Sunday School class today.

Well, you are at a site for people dealing with Autism and Asperger's and you state that I have implied I am a dog. (through some wild methodology.) You're actually surprised I would take your words literally? That's more mean on top of calling me a dog. And you find this fun?

Please stop already.

Prayer is heard by a God and can be answered. God is omnipotent and if He so wills, being the King of kings, to grant requests then it is His business. What's wrong with a lot of Rhema churches is their presumptuousness that God will grant anything so long as they have enough "faith". But they contort promises from the Bible and put words into God's mouth claiming He's said things which He has not and then demanding that they be rewarded. They treat God like a magical gift giver, and that is wrong. God is the King of everything, not everyone's slave to bring this item or that item. God is not a genie in a bottle, God is Lord over everything instead and He should be respected as such and not treated like we have any right to demand anything from Him. What God does give us we should accept with gratitude and acknowledge Him with thanksgiving.

Yes, "Santa-Claus theology" has misled many people into ultimately believing "God" is either non-existent, dead or just a jerk.

Yeah, it's the whole rhetoric of "faith", where it treats Faith itself as a god and turns God into a magical force to be used. It's stupid and worthless. The Creator of the heavens and the earth is not a stupid little genie in a bottle to grant everyone's wishes. He's LORD, not errand runner. If God grants a request, such should never be considered an expectation - a "You OWE me this" - but a matter of gratitude and understanding that it is not anything of our puny selves that He's decided to be generous but out of His own character of generosity alone.

I'm with you on that.
Don't see what that has to do with prayer, or faith, though.

If anybody ever tries to proselytize to anybody, the prospective convert (if sane) should know that everything being presented is based on holy wri.

The prospective convert then chooses whether or not to believe. The operative word is believe, because he knows that he'll then be believing in a conclusion that has no proof or premise. It's different from, say, when you believe your teacher when she tells you that gravity is the force between you and the earth.*

(*which is, coincidentally, also wrong, and actually proven to be wrong by Einstein.)

Well said, and then people get all fearful and feel "attacked" whenever that kind of thing is even suggested to them and their mere belief system begins to crumble ...

... and that is why I always shy away from "believing in" any given doctrine or dogma. I surely do *believe* certain things, but I do not "believe in" -- I do not place my measure of faith in -- any mere collection or accumulation of mere beliefs.

Hmmm, I had thought we were going to refrain from attacking someone else's opinion...

Calling anyone's faith "stupid and worthless" is your opinion but it is also an attack. Right? I mean, you could use less, inflammatory words to express your opinion, couldn't you? Why do you have to tear down someone else to puff up your own belief?

I have no problem with your opinion. I know what I know. It seems you are the one who's getting upset. I suspect, because of your wording, you may be trying to stir someone into a confrontation.

You've also inaccurately attributed wishing to anyone who ever prayed. I think you have intentionally misunderstood. I hope you find your way out of your darkness soon. It's hurtful to others.

Good feelings lower your stress response and keep your stress hormones at a proper level which generally would give you a healthier life. Proves something, learn something about medicine.

I know a lot of Aspies here have experienced the stress of being in high school and feeling as though they couldn't reach their potential because of their negative feelings. Feeling good, would have been beneficial for them in this situation. Even though Aspies are not as likely to believe in something they can't touch, I'm sure some have helped themselves with prayer.

all of the above

You assume. You do not know the bible is correct. If you know so well, then please provide evidence. Not faith, evidence. Facts. Something concrete and undeniable.

The bible makes sense? Of course you are ignoring the multitude of flat out lies and contradictions it contains, you must be. After all, we all know that demons cause disease, slavery is a good thing, and women who aren't virgins on their wedding night need to die! Of course! That all makes perfect sense!

it is even worse than the options...

it has a negative effect according to this study:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/healt ... wanted=all