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[hadtoomuch]

 Just finished listening to "God is not Great" by Christopher Hitchens. Very, very interesting and enlightening book, at least to me. It's brought up a point that i wish i had the balls to say in other forums (i'm looking at you, facebook).

Why do people in general feel the need to tell people who are bereaved or who are going through a hard time or

Comments

[raphaela]

I rarely pray anymore. When I find myself communing with God, it is generally to offer thanks. Otherwise...

I miss the times when I felt like I could petition through prayer and believed in an answer, and sometimes, I wish I still believed it. Other times, I am thankful that I understand that life just happens around us, and it is our responsibility to meet the challenges with character and honor--no matter what they are.

I hate hearing people say that something happened because it was God's will. I won't even get on my soapbox about it, but I hate it.

All that said, I think people say it because it is a comfort to them. They don't know what to say--life and death are still spiritual mysteries, so they do the rain dance, kill the fatted calf, and hope the angry god is appeased. We, even in our modern churches, are still very superstitious.

It never hurts to be surrounded by positive energy--I believe in the science of that--but I do not want people praying, "thy will be done" over my sickbed. They better be praying, "Get up, Lane!"

[hadtoomuch]

Thank you! it's nice to have someone who agrees with me. Sometimes i get so frustrated with the overtly religious factions that exist on my facebook. if it were any other topic, i might make comments, but you're right, it is a comfort. and when life is so hard, why take that away from those who believe?

(Its kismet or something maybe that my ipod shuffled john taylor screeching 'my own way' from the :live cuts album, right?)

I agree that the positive energy helps - surely if you're able to make the injured party smile for even a second that helps. Studies have been done that show when others are surrounded by people who perceive others around them giving positive support that person will generally have less complications while healing than people who offer no support. I'm just not sure that offering prayers is as helpful as one can be in that situation. If i have to sit on my hands i will (and do quite often) to keep the peace.... as long as they don't start preaching it to my son until he's old enough to realize he always has a choice. That's the balance under this that is hard to strike.