Is it important to praise a God?

[Kulindahr]

In religious reasoning, prayer to the tooth fairy is as legitimate as prayer to the God of Abraham.

Well, no, because the tooth fairy only does teeth. Unless a supply of teeth will help in your situation.....




"Captain! It's an iceberg!"
"Shoot it with the tooth cannon -- use magnum molar rounds."
"Aye, sir!"

 

[AlmondMilk]

I'm very split. I grew up in a Catholic household. High school was weird. I was very religious. Post high school was weirder. That's when I began to experiment with other guys instead of the porn watching. After all of these bio classes, I don't see how there can be a God...or even any kind of intelligent design other than the FSM. But I do tend to talk to myself or this God I just claimed I didn't believe in, when I get myself out of a messy situation, a couple sentences back....or say "thank God" or whatever.

Now is it important to praise God? It depends on the person. If that gets you by, then by all means. Just don't push it down my throat or others' throats.

 

[Saybrooke]

I can understand why some don't believe, I didn't for a while.

But I think that having something to believe in is very important, atleast for myself.

And I've said it before and I'll say it again. Many Jubbers mix up Religion and Christianity. I'm not Christion but I still believe in a higher power.

 

[Kulindahr]

I have to agree. Even praying to the flying spaghetti monster would make sense when you take into consideration that god archetypes are external representations of psychological aspects of divinity. So if your mind associates Ganesha with fruitfulness and success then praying to that specific deity will bring you into closer alignment with the traits you want or already possess but are unaware of.

I remember an article that talked about the power of prayer and that it may be more of a psychological way to deal with issues, anxiety, or stress by channeling belief into the idea that there is a divine being who is listening.

Quite the pantheistic/mystical view of the universe.

Your second paragraph reminds me of what I thought was one of my fine moments: I helped a guy get out of an accusation of "enthusiasm" (old theological term) by his church because he'd been caught "speaking in tongues". I argued the logical possibilities: either the "speaking in tongues" came from outside him, or from within. If outside, it's either God or the Devil, benign or dangerous; if it's the Devil, then they should be doing an exorcism, if it's from God, what's the problem?
They said they were confident it was from within him. So I went to the literature, where it says that doctors have determined that what's happening with speaking in tongues is that the brain is being cut loose from conscious reasoning so the language center is being used by deeper psychological levels, trying to express a person's deepest feelings and desires.
So, I argued, if it's from him, it's an expression of his deepest longings and desires. When we express our longings and desires to God, we call it prayer. So he's praying, just not in words we can understand -- but certainly God can.

They talked it over for a while, but they accepted my argument. One made the final comment that even if God doesn't think it's prayer, if that's what speaking in tongues does, it's good for the guy, so he wasn't going to interfere.

 

[Kulindahr]

So in this obscure metaphor is God the iceberg or the Titanic...

Well, it's the iceberg I asked about as being relevant or not, and God the other poster said wasn't relevant, so God ~ iceberg.

I'd rather praise beer

I'm embarrassed. I used to be able to say this blessing in Hebrew:

Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who bring forth grain from the stalk, and beer for the aid of our sorrows.


I can make it through the first part; it's from the Passover meal, but then I go blank.

 

[MoufOfKhaos]

*sigh* tombastep, his avatar changes with whatever topic he feels like being pathological in. Just let it go and kill brain cells the fun way - with beer and video games.

 

[Kulindahr]

I'm very split. I grew up in a Catholic household. High school was weird. I was very religious. Post high school was weirder. That's when I began to experiment with other guys instead of the porn watching. After all of these bio classes, I don't see how there can be a God...or even any kind of intelligent design other than the FSM. But I do tend to talk to myself or this God I just claimed I didn't believe in, when I get myself out of a messy situation, a couple sentences back....or say "thank God" or whatever.

Now is it important to praise God? It depends on the person. If that gets you by, then by all means. Just don't push it down my throat or others' throats.

I think one of the most frequent times I talk to God is when I'm doing my conservation project or similar work, and I come up against a problem to which I see no obvious solution. I'll say, "Okay, God, you designed this stuff -- how do I manage this?" Then after a few seconds I sigh and say, "I know, you leave that as an exercise for the student."

I've never seen God as a jack-in-the-box who pops up when you slap the top of the box and hands out a solution with a smile.

Just saw this.

I didn't say what you're implying. Learn how to read.

That's what you implied -- because if God is real, He's relevant whether you believe it or not.

 

[Saybrooke]

I'm not sure where this loathing of my ideas is coming from. It seems many here are not comfortable with my thoughts. Maybe I should leave the forum? Would that make you feel better?

No! Don't Go! I'd Miss You!! DX

Besides, I think you're right, and what I say goes =P

 

[Kulindahr]

You sure about that?

The two blessings over the meal are about bread from the ground and fruit from the vine.

I didn't say the whole thing is from the Passover, just the first part.

I'm not sure where this comes from, but it has backing in Proverbs.

 

[Rex]

Totally depends on the person and their view of religion or God.

To me personally, I'd say not that important because I don't think I believe in a God.

 

[hotatlboi]

I guess if you believed in one you would feel it was important. I don't so not important to me.

 

[Kabluey]

For me, not essential, but I respect those who believe in something more, and I can understand their reasoning .

 

[houndinmd]

It's as important to praise God as it is to praise the Tooth Fairy.

 

[Musik2400]

Form me its not only not important, but irresponsible to praise any God without solid empirical proof that said God exists. There's too many religions current and dead that have professed pretty much the same ideas, with different names/deities. If you look at Christianity and Greek mythology alone you can draw tons of similarities. Who's to say who IS right about the powers running the world.

I guess my personal beliefs (I identify as Agnostic) would maybe be closest to the jedi, and the idea of the Force. I believe that somewhere in the universe (or maybe through it all) there is a power, a force, SOMETHING that drives change and progress. Whether this force is actually self aware and sentient like a "God" or just an energy that permeates our world (like "The Force") there is something that drives (and not necessarily "controls" existence")

So I choose to believe in this unknown force, and to not praise to any God. Whether it turns out to be the judo-christian god, Allah, Ganesha, or some floating pink gas out in space I don't know, and at this point in time cannot know. So instead of pretending like I do know (and thereby possibly offending a God who MAY exist and I MAY denounce) I just try and live my life. If I wish for something, I'm just wishing. I'm not asking anyone for help getting it, but just hoping in my heart i do. Positive thinking happens to be quite powerful/helpful too.

 

[gsdx]

If you believe in God, then I think it's okay to praise Him. However, I think it's rather hypocritical to praise Him when you win on Jeopardy! or on Wheel of Fortune. Last I heard, God has a thing about 'greed'.

 

[Kulindahr]

If you believe in God, then I think it's okay to praise Him. However, I think it's rather hypocritical to praise Him when you win on Jeopardy! or on Wheel of Fortune. Last I heard, God has a thing about 'greed'.

Those who mouth words opf praise to God for gaining wealth for themselves aren't praising God, they're just using the words to celebrate their own success.

The value of such words is proved by the actions which follow.

 

[gsdx]

Those who mouth words opf praise to God for gaining wealth for themselves aren't praising God, they're just using the words to celebrate their own success.

The value of such words is proved by the actions which follow.

I was talking more about a contestant on Jeopardy! who, upon winning, crossed himself, kissed his finger (I'm not Catholic, but I believe it represents kissing prayer beads), then raised both index fingers toward 'Heaven', looked up, smiled widely, and thanked God.

It's like the people on People's Court who leave the court shouting, "Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Jesus!" I think it's a fair bet that none of that money makes its way into the collection plate.

 

[Kulindahr]

I was talking more about a contestant on Jeopardy! who, upon winning, crossed himself, kissed his finger (I'm not Catholic, but I believe it represents kissing prayer beads), then raised both index fingers toward 'Heaven', looked up, smiled widely, and thanked God.

It's like the people on People's Court who leave the court shouting, "Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Jesus!" I think it's a fair bet that none of that money makes its way into the collection plate.

Same thing -- ego and what is to them wealth.

Though really I'd rather none of it did end up in the collection plate unless their church follows the ancient tradition that 1/3 of what goes in the plate goes to the poor.

 

[diamondstar]

For someone like me who believes in a God, praying to him is important to me. I thank Jehovah for everyday that I awake and in good health. However, I don't agree nor like half the stuff taught in the bible and as a "witness" (for those on here, am a hypocrite which is correct). I don't like going to church, do not care for the brothers or sister their, find the watch tower boring, and utterly find it meaningless to go to the Hall just to show my fellow "brothers and sisters" that I too love Jehovah. Despite some powerful opinions, I do love my God, but just not in the way which would seen normal or witness like. The only reason I even attempt going to the Hall is for my father. Personally I would rather just live life and if Armageddon happens during my lifespan, I will face any reward or punishment Jehovah will place upon me. Furthermore, I don't care if other people praises a God or don't believe in one. To me, the point of being a human is to respect one another.

 

[Kulindahr]

"Jehovah".

A bastardized word born of three languages and ignorance.

Poor God -- the silliness He has to put up with. No wonder He desires some praise.