Comments on: The Prayer Challenge http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/10/the-prayer-challenge/ Atheism with Positivity Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:24:57 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: vern http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/10/the-prayer-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-3616 vern Sat, 13 Jan 2007 20:27:51 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/10/the-prayer-challenge/#comment-3616 <blockquote>realizes how many smart people (defined as those with whom he agrees) believe in god</blockquote> Apparently he doesn't know what smart people are, either; <strong><em>G. GORDON LIDDY?!?!?!</em></strong> Puhleeze!

realizes how many smart people (defined as those with whom he agrees) believe in god

Apparently he doesn’t know what smart people are, either; G. GORDON LIDDY?!?!?!

Puhleeze!

]]> By: Anne Barnstead-Klos http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/10/the-prayer-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-3615 Anne Barnstead-Klos Sat, 13 Jan 2007 20:16:24 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/10/the-prayer-challenge/#comment-3615 May I add that I read this guy's "conversion story" and am compelled to deny that Jeff Miller was ever an "atheist". He was a hedonist perhaps. Or intellectually lazy, or just a self-absorbed, mindless adolescent. But his use of the word "atheist" to describe himself seems more of a tool to demonstrate the supposed enormity of his conversion, the fanciful story of which is extremely typical of the non-rational. My favorite quote is this one: "Fortunately, we had moved to an area that had a Catholic radio station and also had EWTN on cable. The questions asked and the answers given on <em>Catholic Answers Live</em> were an important part of my intellectual conversion. " I also enjoyed the part is where he is listening to G. Gordon Liddy explain the five proofs for the existence of god and realizes how many smart people (defined as those with whom he agrees) believe in god. This guy has no clue what "atheist" means. May I add that I read this guy’s “conversion story” and am compelled to deny that Jeff Miller was ever an “atheist”. He was a hedonist perhaps. Or intellectually lazy, or just a self-absorbed, mindless adolescent. But his use of the word “atheist” to describe himself seems more of a tool to demonstrate the supposed enormity of his conversion, the fanciful story of which is extremely typical of the non-rational. My favorite quote is this one: “Fortunately, we had moved to an area that had a Catholic radio station and also had EWTN on cable. The questions asked and the answers given on Catholic Answers Live were an important part of my intellectual conversion. ”

I also enjoyed the part is where he is listening to G. Gordon Liddy explain the five proofs for the existence of god and realizes how many smart people (defined as those with whom he agrees) believe in god. This guy has no clue what “atheist” means.

]]> By: Anne Barnstead-Klos http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/10/the-prayer-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-3614 Anne Barnstead-Klos Sat, 13 Jan 2007 19:59:19 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/10/the-prayer-challenge/#comment-3614 My husband tells the story of an experiment he wanted to conduct in high school. He went to an all-boys' Catholic school taught by "brothers." One of them, Brother Ray, would lead his freshman boys in prayer each morning for freedom from temptation, world peace and "success in studies." Hubby got very curious about the effects of praying and proposed to Brother Ray that the class be divided into two groups. Group One would study for their mid-terms and not pray for "success in studies." Group Two would study for only 1/2 the time of Group One, and for the other half they would pray fervently for "success in studies." Then the test results would be analyzed to assess the results of the praying for success in studies vs. the results of actually studying for it. Brother Ray sent him to the Headmaster who called his parents. He was grounded for two weeks. He says it was the beginning of his road to atheism. If prayer had power the world would be a very different place. My husband tells the story of an experiment he wanted to conduct in high school. He went to an all-boys’ Catholic school taught by “brothers.” One of them, Brother Ray, would lead his freshman boys in prayer each morning for freedom from temptation, world peace and “success in studies.”

Hubby got very curious about the effects of praying and proposed to Brother Ray that the class be divided into two groups. Group One would study for their mid-terms and not pray for “success in studies.” Group Two would study for only 1/2 the time of Group One, and for the other half they would pray fervently for “success in studies.” Then the test results would be analyzed to assess the results of the praying for success in studies vs. the results of actually studying for it.

Brother Ray sent him to the Headmaster who called his parents. He was grounded for two weeks. He says it was the beginning of his road to atheism.

If prayer had power the world would be a very different place.

]]> By: vern http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/10/the-prayer-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-3403 vern Fri, 12 Jan 2007 00:46:28 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/10/the-prayer-challenge/#comment-3403 Uummmm... that guy doesn't sound like an atheist to me. Sounds more like a punk who never doubted the existence of a xtian or catholic gawd but liked to pretend to himself and everyone else that he did so he was "cool." Kinda like men who take classes on feminism ostensibly to be more in tune with women but upon closer interrogation reveal their true purpose to be "meeting hot chicks." Moreover, he definitely sounds like a sheep, ready and willing to be led along by the strongest voice. Case in point; <blockquote>As Augustine said, "I would not believe the Gospels if it were not for the Church."</blockquote>Augustine believes in the gospels because a bunch of people claiming their own authority over the massess shout over and over again how true must be their words. Likely our "ex-atheist" but not really friend here accepts the same logic; the pope claims authority over all that is catholic so he must be believed and believable. And I, as a catholic, must adhere to every dictum because he is the pope. And the pope has authority. Etc, etc. etc. Another annoying aspect of this "conversion" (more like reaffirmation) story is the quote from C. S. Lewis which is followed up by admission that he is not well-read in the sense of broad-spectrum exposure. Specifically he states that he "read little outside of SF except general magazines on science." That's not really what I'd call someone comfortable with their position; avoiding anything that might be contrary. Anyway, I've rambled enough. Love the blog... Uummmm… that guy doesn’t sound like an atheist to me. Sounds more like a punk who never doubted the existence of a xtian or catholic gawd but liked to pretend to himself and everyone else that he did so he was “cool.”
Kinda like men who take classes on feminism ostensibly to be more in tune with women but upon closer interrogation reveal their true purpose to be “meeting hot chicks.”

Moreover, he definitely sounds like a sheep, ready and willing to be led along by the strongest voice.
Case in point;

As Augustine said, “I would not believe the Gospels if it were not for the Church.”

Augustine believes in the gospels because a bunch of people claiming their own authority over the massess shout over and over again how true must be their words.
Likely our “ex-atheist” but not really friend here accepts the same logic; the pope claims authority over all that is catholic so he must be believed and believable. And I, as a catholic, must adhere to every dictum because he is the pope. And the pope has authority. Etc, etc. etc.

Another annoying aspect of this “conversion” (more like reaffirmation) story is the quote from C. S. Lewis which is followed up by admission that he is not well-read in the sense of broad-spectrum exposure. Specifically he states that he “read little outside of SF except general magazines on science.”
That’s not really what I’d call someone comfortable with their position; avoiding anything that might be contrary.

Anyway, I’ve rambled enough.

Love the blog…

]]> By: spin sycle http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/10/the-prayer-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-3399 spin sycle Thu, 11 Jan 2007 21:05:53 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/10/the-prayer-challenge/#comment-3399 nothing's happening so i would sarcastically guess that someone's praying equally hard against them. nothing’s happening so i would sarcastically guess that someone’s praying equally hard against them.

]]> By: Siamang http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/10/the-prayer-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-3385 Siamang Thu, 11 Jan 2007 17:36:33 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/10/the-prayer-challenge/#comment-3385 If world prayer could solve ANY of the worlds most pressing problems, that would be proof of its effacacy and I'd be convinced. So two birds with one stone. They should get praying on that hunger thing. If world prayer could solve ANY of the worlds most pressing problems, that would be proof of its effacacy and I’d be convinced.

So two birds with one stone. They should get praying on that hunger thing.

]]> By: Karen http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/10/the-prayer-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-3384 Karen Thu, 11 Jan 2007 16:48:18 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/10/the-prayer-challenge/#comment-3384 Another site I read reported on a (now apparently defunct) Protestant effort to organize a worldwide prayer hour against the Blasphemy Challenge. As one of the posters there pointed out, if worldwide prayer could be organized, and it's adherents believe it to be so very effective, why would they waste time praying against some kids making YouTube videos? How about a worldwide prayer effort against world hunger, against war, against forced child labor, exploitation of widows, etc? Let's see some results on those fronts first. I'd imagine the Blasphemy Challenge would be way down on the list of a real supernatural deity's priorities. Another site I read reported on a (now apparently defunct) Protestant effort to organize a worldwide prayer hour against the Blasphemy Challenge. As one of the posters there pointed out, if worldwide prayer could be organized, and it’s adherents believe it to be so very effective, why would they waste time praying against some kids making YouTube videos?

How about a worldwide prayer effort against world hunger, against war, against forced child labor, exploitation of widows, etc? Let’s see some results on those fronts first. I’d imagine the Blasphemy Challenge would be way down on the list of a real supernatural deity’s priorities.

]]> By: Brodie http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/10/the-prayer-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-3380 Brodie Thu, 11 Jan 2007 11:29:49 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/10/the-prayer-challenge/#comment-3380 And what's with the sacrifice? Is he going to slaughter a goat? Or prepare a salad? I didn't know people sacrificed anymore. And what’s with the sacrifice? Is he going to slaughter a goat? Or prepare a salad? I didn’t know people sacrificed anymore.

]]> By: Richard Wade http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/10/the-prayer-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-3377 Richard Wade Thu, 11 Jan 2007 09:23:31 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/10/the-prayer-challenge/#comment-3377 Tell them to stop! Tell them to stop! Ahhhhgh!! I know they're praying for me! I can hear it! Ahhhhgh! I can feel it! No! Noooooo!! It hurts! Ahhhhhgh! Huh? Oh, it wasn't for me? Oh. Never mind. Tell them to stop! Tell them to stop! Ahhhhgh!! I know they’re praying for me! I can hear it! Ahhhhgh! I can feel it! No! Noooooo!! It hurts! Ahhhhhgh!

Huh? Oh, it wasn’t for me? Oh.

Never mind.

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