I am one who always never really followed my religion that strongly sure I celebrated the holidays and the traditions with them but that seem to have slided with the times. Now the only times I really turn to prayers are in times are crisis, which I now find sad and hypocritical. I am starting to feel odd about this maybe because there are things going on in my life again and because of friends that I care about are also suffering. I am turning more to praying to ease my self conscious and to also give hope that there is some god there listening and that he will help those I pray for. What I don't understand is why I don't do it when there is no crisis in my life and things are going well. Am I just rambling, any other thoughts?

I think when things get bad, we realize that so many things are not important, and that our priorities are messed up most of the time.

Turning to God is a common answer for this because we realize that powerlessness sucks, and only He could have the power to overcome things we see as impossible obstacles.

Regardless of your beliefs about it's truthfullness or value in praying, you do no harm, and the action I think makes you a better person for the selfless action of caring about another enough to make every effort.

But as the Bible says, thinking good thoughts, or saying good things, is not a substitute for doing good actions as well.

As far as is it hypocritical?...I can't cast the first stone..But I got the second one ready to fly!

"Religion is a crutch for people not strong enough to stand up to the unknown without help...." Robert Heinlein

Religion is turned to due to fear

Fear of death. Fear of punishment. Fear of not being loved. Fear of insignificance. Fear of exclusion. Fear of not understanding.

When times are tough you are anxious. You are scared. It is only natural to ask for help. That it is from an irrational source matters not - fear overrides common sense

Yea, much better to just realize that it doesn't matter anyway because you will cease to exist soon and nothing has any value anyway.

Way to lift the spirit there Kram.



And Jesus isn't a crutch...He's a stretcher. You can't even limp yourself into heaven.

Truth in all those thoughts. Fear is something I never did deal with well, especially with the unknown. but it doesn't hurt to try or it doesn't hurt to give. I suppose that's one reason why I became a nurse. Sometimes I just don't understand his reasonings for what he does and the reasons for why he does it. Sometimes being a nurse you know just way too much and you just don't want to know the truth. On Facebook today I wrote this quote "sometimes life is not truly fair, you just have to fight back harder when it bites you in the ass". Nothing more truer than that could be said at this time is how I am really feeling. Oh Lord give me strength to fight and to keep positive and to help my friend as well. Amen

Most people find even more value in their lives when they realize that they don't go on forever.



Well, there's always money!


But to seriously speak to Rose's comments, I think the real power of 'prayer' is in staying positive and having some hope, something to look forward to. The mind has tremendous power to keep us going on and creating life, or to let us dwindle and fade.

I'll just add that one can look forward to fulfilling their purpose in life with our without religious belief; the human spirit does not belong to any particular religion, and we each need to cultivate it in ourselves.

That said, I do not think prayer is the real solution here. In order to really win over depression, one has to change their thought patterns and activity level, which I know Rose is in the process of doing, and I know she can succeed with a sustained effort.



You??? Never.

My eyes are bleeding after reading this.

ah Vb my friend it's just not the depression, not this time. That part in me has improved . More to it I am afraid. Lets call it an unexpected re-occurrence, or a battle with an old fight that I thought I had defeated. Heading for some more testing and surgery on Friday

As for the rambling yes I do admit to it.



that confusing is it. actually I think KramitDaToad hit it right on the nose

Bummer that all studies done by almost every reputable expert in the area proves that a person who is religious is much more likely to have happiness, live longer, be healthier, and be thinner than people who don't have religion.

But keep hoping..nobody ever got hurt by hope and faith...

oh really?

the response of pain is obvious but was it from a lost of faith? Sometimes Austin in times of suffering and pain we often blame our losses on faith. Is it maybe we set our expectations to high or set ourselves to fail or did we do something wrong. We have to re-evaluate and look at everything but then there are times where things just do not make sense at all and that you can't account to why. So you just pick up the pieces , fight the best and move on with life cause if you don't then you lose. Don't spend your life trying to figure out the why because it's just not worth it, you will never find out the answer. What you have to do is believe in yourself, trust and love yourself and then you can find the same in others. Sure it's okay to be angry for a day or week but to carry that anger for more than that is not normal or worth it.

Well, except this woman.....

http://www.rickross.com/reference/cscience/cscience25.html

Sendeca — A woman who declined emergency medical care because of her faith died Wednesday from injuries related to an automobile accident on Dec. 8, authorities said.

Jane Elizabeth Roberts, 74, of 407 S. Walnut St., Seneca, received a concussion in the Dec. 8 automobile accident. She was driving on North Pine Street near Northside Elementary School, toward U.S. 123, when her car ran off the right side of the road and down an embankment, striking several small trees.

Ms. Roberts, a Christian Scientist, had no visible injuries and refused to be transported to the Oconee Memorial Hospital emergency room, according to Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis. He said the only help she requested was help from her vehicle to the road and then a ride home from police, which was provided.

Officers asked her again at the accident scene if she wanted medical assistance, but she declined, citing her Christian Science faith. According to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, Christian Science is controversial because of its encouragement of prayer for healing rather than use of modern medical treatments. It was founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879 after she was healed, which she believed was because of her Christian faith.

A member who answered the phone at the Christian Science reading room in Seneca Wednesday night said Ms. Roberts had relied on prayer for healing for her entire life, and wanted to continue to do so.

Ms. Roberts had been at her home since the accident and someone was with her around the clock. She had become increasingly unresponsive over the last several days before her death, Mr. Addis said. He added that family members were present when she died. He was called to the house by Emergency Medical Service workers.

Ms. Roberts had no pertinent past medical history and no attending physician, Mr. Addis said.

An autopsy showed that a concussion led to swelling of the brain, which led to respiratory failure, Addis said

other examples in which people refuse help which could save them such as
blood transfusions or any other emergency procedures like tracheotomies, chemo etc that are proven to save lives. good points Vb.

proven to save lives......?

ok some lives. are you looking for the proof El Guapo?

Is it better to die than to have a life saving procedure as a trachea when your windpipe is crushed? Or is it better to suffocate to death? I suppose it is the person choice.

or to have a blood transfusion when it can save your life, when you lost more than you can live without. Or to have Plasma or any blood by products. Would you rather bleed to death?

As far as chemo goes now, it has saved many Cancer patients or had extended there lives. there are numerous drug agents that have worked for some people. As for the research there is plenty of it out there I suggest pub med for that.

Rose I have no idea what you are talking about. You typed this sentence:



...that are proven save lives...what? You stopped typing mid thought and then put a period.

...that are proven to save lives should be used regardless of what the parents religious background is.

...that are proven to save lives should be used regardless of a parents wishes to do alternative treatments.

Are these in the ball park?

I'm fairly certain that Rose is JJJ. js.

Norm Crosby lives. This sentence has more than one meaning. I had to read it a couple of times to understand what she meant.


I guess she decided not to take the advice of Theresa.

No that's not true, I have taken Theresa advice but if you had read the thread from the beginning then you might have a little understanding and compassion when someone is going through a rough period of time. I just happen not to put a reference to El Guapo remark so I can see why he question my thoughts. As for me I have to face surgery again in less than 10 hours to see if the Cancer I had years ago had returned.

Slink I am glad you are perfect, I did think there was such a human that existed.

brvheart your just a piece of work as well

Sorry to hear this. Good luck!

when the rain comes down, its cats and dogs

Rose, my heart goes out to you. Keep the positive thoughts and fight the good fight.

thx Theresa and slink heading in now gl to me.

what the fuck is the matter with you?

If you're not JJJ, (which I still think you are) then you should absolutely be flattered. JJJ is one the smartest dudes on the forum.

brvheart, I too suspected something like this at once point, but we have confirmed beyond a doubt that she is a real person.

He already said OT:Religion doesn't count in the stats...so relax there suck up king.

thx Jonas, yes I am a real person and Have spoken live with a few FCP members. As for today's surgery, it was a minor procedure to confirm that I am heading for more extensive surgery under general anesthetic sometime soon as my fear was confirmed. Because I am a nurse my surgical date will most likely get pushed ahead will find out more next week. Pretty upset but will push the fight because I am one that never gives up. I appreciate the support I am getting from my fcp friends, your all so great and I love you all for it.

Best wishes for you Rose

thx BG and Sportsmack

I'm still suspicious... but I hope everything goes well, and that you use this experience to come into a relationship with Jesus Christ. I'll pray for you on Tuesdays, when I pray for other people on FCP.

oh my god i hope your serious.

fyp

thx for the prayers I do appreciate that, however how can I prove or challenge those doubts of who I am. I talked with chrozzo, savagebel, on the phone. IQ, AAsnake88, Cardcore, VT, pocketdueces, and a few others that I have played Chinese poker with over skype. Do you need any other proof.

JJJ is smart enough to get some girl he knows, like his wife, to play the part. Nice try Joey!

lmao

I have talked to her. I lost my phone and she was on AIM. I asked her to call it so I would find it by the ring. I found it and answered. She sounded very jolly.

He would also have to have either fabricated several newspaper reports, or stolen the identity of an actual person.

Are you trying to imply that that wouldn't be childs play for JJJ?

you right I forgot the newspaper clippings , good one Vb

Yikes. Now that I am posting on this God forsaken site I suppose I can dally around in this as-close-to-philosophy-as-I-can-get section. Some say that there are no atheists in foxholes. I can tell you from experience that this is a lie. Unfortunately any sane person would in fact be a deist, so these death-facing non-believers are idiots and quite possibly assholes.

If any of you so-called critical thinkers would like to debate this point please let me know. I'll clear some space on my schedual and trounce you quite thoroughly for both your sake and the sake of our readers.

welcome to the forum and to this happy place

Why thank you, Mr. T. Might I add that your performance in episode 3, season 1 of the A-Team you made me weep unabashedly with your subtle performance.

Well, that would add about seven levels of complexity and incongruity to the exchanges between her/me and Suited.

But you know what they say, a washed pot never boils.

nice to meet the person who I am accuse of being lol

I think you mean the reverse of that, but hey, what’s good for the goose walks and talks like a duck.

Just got off the phone with spademan cause I couldnt understaND why he hasnt thrown any insults in this thread yet.

Turns out his comp is down and asked me to post his thoughts.Unfortunately I couldnt comprehend most of what he said, but basically he said somethingh about a magic flying wizard zombie, and his unemployed carpenter son,and anyone who buys this crap is a moronic scumtoothed imbecile.

you know the way today has been going nothing in this place surprises me anymore including this insult cause it's been one after another. Even in the religion forum there is no hope.