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Originally posted by Toromos
Sometimes when someone is new to a faith practice, they are excited and wish to share their excitement with others.
Originally posted by MajorMalfunction
I am going through an extremely difficult time in my life right now and one of my best friends keeps asking me how it would hurt to pray. Couldn't I try it just once?
Originally posted by MajorMalfunction
A link in the ads to the right of the Recent Posts list got me wondering ...
If a religion's truth is obvious and all should be able to see it, why does it need defending?
Shouldn't it be enough to know that one is right and not have to explain and justify one's faith?
I ask this not to be facetious, but out of real curiosity. Because the way some of the actual people in my real life act makes me wonder who they are trying to hard to convince about their faith: me or them?
I am going through an extremely difficult time in my life right now and one of my best friends keeps asking me how it would hurt to pray. Couldn't I try it just once?
No! I don't believe! I've told you this repeatedly and it really annoys me that you won't respect my right to NOT believe the way I respect your right TO believe. I don't argue with her about her god, I just accept that we have different views about the subject.
The vehemence that some people exhibit when "defending the faith" reminds me of cultists and junkies, peer pressure. In my lifetime, I've found, with any other subject, if a person keeps insisting on their point of view despite another's obvious disagreement, that the insistent person is trying to convince themselves more than the other person.
Any thoughts on this?
Originally posted by NJE777
I think prayer helps people not necessarily because it by miracle sorts the issue, but I feel when people pray or talk about an issue troubling them, it helps because they are giving the carp over to someone else, God. Most of the time, the thoughts and words end up on the astral plane.
[edit on 28-4-2007 by NJE777]
Originally posted by helen670
I would suggest you tell her to pray for you, if that is what makes her happy and see how things go from there.
Originally posted by Occam
Far too many Christians seem to have had an empathy lobotomy - they can't really understand that others may have different views from theirs.
Occam
Originally posted by JeSuisAKittyCat
The missing ingredient to religion I believe is doubt.. once there is doubt the faith seems to subside.