Why do Christians pray to their god?

[Shaker]

Actually, a ringing endorsement of prayer is exactly what it is.

Not if you hold the opinion of Lewis that I do, it ain't.

The point of Christianity

I'm delighted that somebody claims to have come up with one at last.

is that it should lead to the improvement of people

So it's as superfluous as ever, then, given that most people who are not in some way damaged (perhaps by early life events) work that one out for themselves by a little introspection, some thought as to the effect of their actions on others and the deployment of their evolutionarily-bestowed empathy.

[Hope]

A lot of people - the lucky ones, certainly - love their parents; but they also want to live their own independent lives in their own way and on their own terms, forming their own views and doing their own thing. Actively wanting a parent figure as an adult is indicative of something immature and even unhealthy.

Unfortunately, none of us are able to "live their own independent lives in their own way and on their own terms, forming their own views and doing their own thing".  We have social mores to adhere to, we have legislation to restrict our behaviour to, we are beholden to other human beings for our existence and being.  As John Donne says, 'No man is an island, complete unto himself'.

To think that one can be independent, live life on one's own terms and doing one's own things' is to be hugely naive.  Even forming one's own views is a misnomer - unless one isolates oneself to the extent that you don't read/listen to/converse with anyone else.

[Shaker]

... none of which yawn-making waffle has anything to do with a parent-child relationship and the infantilising effect of a permanent divine parent, which was actually the substance of the discussion at that point.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Shaker,

To me it's not merely bizarre but demeaning and infantilising - I think you said only a few days ago that the ultimate goal of a parent is to raise secure, stable offspring who will grow up to be independent adults not needing parents (which in most cases they won't have anyway, eventually). The analogy in theistic terms seems to encourage a state of perpetual childish dependency.

Not often you are wrong, but............

Independent adults not needing parents, now who might they be?
 

The analogy in theistic terms seems to encourage a state of perpetual childish dependency.

No, we grow up but the Father is still there for advice and guidance, just like my earthly Mother and Father who are both dead but still there for advice and guidance.

Gonnagle.

[floo]

Some adults might need advice and guidance from their parents, others would be better off without it. The only advice you would get from god, if it existed, was how to be evil!

[Shaker]

Some adults might need advice and guidance from their parents

I've met people for whom the reverse is very much the case.

[floo]

I've met people for whom the reverse is very much the case.

So have I, me for instance!

[Maeght]

If it is all about the person praying rather than the deity being prayed to why to people talk about their prayers being answered?

[Bubbles]

Yes, you're right.

Unless you have a downright abusive upbringing there's certainly a very real safety offered by good parents/parenting; it should surprise nobody that, coming so early in life as it does, that remains the ideal haven to which it would be wonderful to return no matter how old we are.

Unfortunately it can't be done, save in the imagination.

I sometimes wonder about the childhoods of some of the more, God is some sort of terminator, Christians.

Not everyone has the same father figure, and maybe their veiw was coloured by what they expect of a parent.

[2Corrie]

That's right, why do Christians pray to their god?  I never really got the point.

Don't you talk to your father?

[floo]

Don't you talk to your father?

The blanky deity isn't anyone's father!

[Shaker]

Don't you talk to your father?

Some people don't talk to their fathers while they're alive; all of them find it incredibly difficult to hold a proper conversation if they're dead.

[floo]

Some people don't talk to their fathers while they're alive; all of them find it incredibly difficult to hold a proper conversation if they're dead.

Not unless you use a medium!

[Hope]

The blanky deity isn't anyone's father!

And you have evidence to prove this assertion, Floo?

[BeRational]

And you have evidence to prove this assertion, Floo?

That's the default position.

YOU have to demonstrate that it DOES exist.

YOU have the burden of proof, as you are making the claim that something actually exists.

[floo]

And you have evidence to prove this assertion, Floo?

You can't prove it exists let alone is anyone's father. If it was it would deemed totally unsuitable in today's society!

[Hope]

The only advice you would get from god, if it existed, was how to be evil!

Again, what is your evidence for this assertion, Floo?  I do agree, however, with your previous point that some people like to be able to talkj with an get advice from their parents.  My father died when I was 28 and I have always felt that I missed out on discussing some of the big events of my subsequent life with him.  I have been very fortunate to be able to find a couple of older folk with whom I have been able to talk through issues and concerns in an open manner.  One a fellow Christian, one a fellow railway enthusiast.

[floo]

Again, what is your evidence for this assertion, Floo?  I do agree, however, with your previous point that some people like to be able to talkj with an get advice from their parents.  My father died when I was 28 and I have always felt that I missed out on discussing some of the big events of my subsequent life with him.  I have been very fortunate to be able to find a couple of older folk with whom I have been able to talk through issues and concerns in an open manner.  One a fellow Christian, one a fellow railway enthusiast.

You obviously haven't read the Bible!

Some people might get good advice from their parents, others certainly wouldn't!

[Hope]

You can't prove it exists let alone is anyone's father. If it was it would deemed totally unsuitable in today's society!

Again, that's two totally unsupported assertions, Floo?  I'm afraid that you can't use assertions as evidence.  As for your second point, unconditional love seesm to be a serious plus as far as modern society is concerned.  It is something that I seen all too little of amongst some of the people I've worked wih.

[BeRational]

Again, that's two totally unsupported assertions, Floo?  I'm afraid that you can't use assertions as evidence.  As for your second point, unconditional love seesm to be a serious plus as far as modern society is concerned.  It is something that I seen all too little of amongst some of the people I've worked wih.

You asserted this god into existence in the first place, so it can be ignored until you have compelling evidence.

Piling assertion upon assertion does not count.

[Shaker]

Again, that's two totally unsupported assertions, Floo?  I'm afraid that you can't use assertions as evidence.

And my Spetsnaz-spec. ironymeter becomes a scattered, smoking heap of cogs and bolts on the floor yet again.

[floo]

Again, that's two totally unsupported assertions, Floo?  I'm afraid that you can't use assertions as evidence.  As for your second point, unconditional love seesm to be a serious plus as far as modern society is concerned.  It is something that I seen all too little of amongst some of the people I've worked wih.

Hope that is good one, coming from the master of assertions.

The default position must be disbelief, until fairy stories, like those in the not so good book, have evidence provided to prove they have veracity!

[Hope]

You obviously haven't read the Bible!

It is precisely because I have read the Bible that I've challenged your assertions.  I accept that anything that doesn't pass a 21st century AD filter is unacceptable to you - but sadly, we've only had 15 or so years of the 21st century so judging anything outside that period by 21st century filters is unrealistic.  I suspect that you would regard the various Poor Laws passed in the 1800s - aimed at improving the welfare of the poor - as 'unacceptable'.  By today's standards they clearly are, but without them we would likely not have today's laws in the first place.

Some people might get good advice from their parents, others certainly wouldn't!

I wouldn't disagree, but on the strength of the advice I got from my father (and mother) during my first 28 years of life, I don't doubt that I would have continued to get this level of advice from my father.

[floo]

It is precisely because I have read the Bible that I've challenged your assertions.  I accept that anything that doesn't pass a 21st century AD filter is unacceptable to you - but sadly, we've only had 15 or so years of the 21st century so judging anything outside that period by 21st century filters is unrealistic.  I suspect that you would regard the various Poor Laws passed in the 1800s - aimed at improving the welfare of the poor - as 'unacceptable'.  By today's standards they clearly are, but without them we would likely not have today's laws in the first place.
I wouldn't disagree, but on the strength of the advice I got from my father (and mother) during my first 28 years of life, I don't doubt that I would have continued to get this level of advice from my father.

So are you trying to say we should take what is in the Bible with a big pinch of salt?

[OH MY WORLD!]

And what book and chapters are reading today floo. Too funny!