I am sorry, I just need to vent something...

[Thebestoftherest]

Funny how no-one ever says "I don't like it but it's god's will, so I'd better go along anyway." No, always decisions that just happen to align with whatever they happen to think or want.

Hm, I dunno. "Sending Thoughts and Prayers" has a pretty strong vibe of accepting the worst despite wishing the better. That is, presuming the person who "sends thoughts and prayers" actually wishes the situation to be better than it is, which I'm not entirely convinced to always be the case.

You think that, but as Christian we something "send Thoughts and Prayers" because "Thoughts and Prayers" are not money.

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

The United States never was a Christian Nation (TM), and Christian Nationalism is evil. Sadly, religious extremism is also written into our nation's DNA.

[McAvoy]

Funny how no-one ever says "I don't like it but it's god's will, so I'd better go along anyway." No, always decisions that just happen to align with whatever they happen to think or want.

Hm, I dunno. "Sending Thoughts and Prayers" has a pretty strong vibe of accepting the worst despite wishing the better. That is, presuming the person who "sends thoughts and prayers" actually wishes the situation to be better than it is, which I'm not entirely convinced to always be the case.

You think that, but as Christian we something "send Thoughts and Prayers" because "Thoughts and Prayers" are not money.

I always took it at face value of just basically 'this is the best I can do or say' but I know some actually believes that prayers and thoughts actually does something. To me it's just like sending positive vibes your way, sending my love etc.

Unless you are a religious person, you know that thoughts and prayers is more useless than Monopoly money. At least Monopoly money can be used within the game. It's not like you can save up those thoughts and prayers to get one super prayer wish or something.

[Madner Kami]

Funny how no-one ever says "I don't like it but it's god's will, so I'd better go along anyway." No, always decisions that just happen to align with whatever they happen to think or want.

Hm, I dunno. "Sending Thoughts and Prayers" has a pretty strong vibe of accepting the worst despite wishing the better. That is, presuming the person who "sends thoughts and prayers" actually wishes the situation to be better than it is, which I'm not entirely convinced to always be the case.

You think that, but as Christian we something "send Thoughts and Prayers" because "Thoughts and Prayers" are not money.

I always took it at face value of just basically 'this is the best I can do or say' but I know some actually believes that prayers and thoughts actually does something. To me it's just like sending positive vibes your way, sending my love etc.

Unless you are a religious person, you know that thoughts and prayers is more useless than Monopoly money. At least Monopoly money can be used within the game. It's not like you can save up those thoughts and prayers to get one super prayer wish or something.

What infuriates me about "Thoughts and Prayers" is, it's complete uselessness and it's very subtle manipulative malevolence. Let's presume for one moment, that there is a God (since it's usually monotheists saying that, let's just roll with it):

God is omnipotent. He could have prevented it. But didn't. So either he choose this to happen specifically for a reason or he choose not to intervene for a reason. Thoughts and Prayers do... Nothing.
God is not omnipotent or he's faced with a form adversary or adversity that he can not overrule or overcome at this given happening for whatever reason. Thoughts and Prayers will do... Nothing.
God isn't all-good, but actually malevolent or ignorant to some degree. Well, he either wanted this to happen or just doesn't care. Thoughts and Prayers do... Nothing.
God does not exist. Thoughts and Prayers are gonna do... Nothing.

So if all you are gonna do is acknowledge the fact, that you can't change what happened, even if you potentially might want to change what happened, then just fucking say so. "I wish I could help you or change what happened. I'm sorry." Acknowledge the fact that bad shit sometimes happens and that there's nothing one can do about it in the end, other than stand up and go on with your life. This is infinitely more helpful to a person in a bad situation, because it demonstrates sympathy, honesty and shows a path ahead. You know what does nothing of that? Thoughts and Prayers. Thoughts and Prayers, even under the best circumstances (there is a benevolent, all-powerful God) is standing there, pretending you are gonna do something, despite knowing that nothing is going to happen. At worst, it's giving people false hopes and trapping them in a bad state. Fuck off with this shit. Nothing's going to fix what happened. Loved ones will stay dead. Your house will remain collapsed. Your bank account stays empty. What a person in that situation that can't be resolved needs is, sympathy and someone to talk to. Thoughts and Prayers delivers neither and worse yet, the person who just said that, is going to turn around and walk away.

[McAvoy]

Funny how no-one ever says "I don't like it but it's god's will, so I'd better go along anyway." No, always decisions that just happen to align with whatever they happen to think or want.

Hm, I dunno. "Sending Thoughts and Prayers" has a pretty strong vibe of accepting the worst despite wishing the better. That is, presuming the person who "sends thoughts and prayers" actually wishes the situation to be better than it is, which I'm not entirely convinced to always be the case.

You think that, but as Christian we something "send Thoughts and Prayers" because "Thoughts and Prayers" are not money.

I always took it at face value of just basically 'this is the best I can do or say' but I know some actually believes that prayers and thoughts actually does something. To me it's just like sending positive vibes your way, sending my love etc.

Unless you are a religious person, you know that thoughts and prayers is more useless than Monopoly money. At least Monopoly money can be used within the game. It's not like you can save up those thoughts and prayers to get one super prayer wish or something.

What infuriates me about "Thoughts and Prayers" is, it's complete uselessness and it's very subtle manipulative malevolence. Let's presume for one moment, that there is a God (since it's usually monotheists saying that, let's just roll with it):

God is omnipotent. He could have prevented it. But didn't. So either he choose this to happen specifically for a reason or he choose not to intervene for a reason. Thoughts and Prayers do... Nothing.
God is not omnipotent or he's faced with a form adversary or adversity that he can not overrule or overcome at this given happening for whatever reason. Thoughts and Prayers will do... Nothing.
God isn't all-good, but actually malevolent or ignorant to some degree. Well, he either wanted this to happen or just doesn't care. Thoughts and Prayers do... Nothing.
God does not exist. Thoughts and Prayers are gonna do... Nothing.

So if all you are gonna do is acknowledge the fact, that you can't change what happened, even if you potentially might want to change what happened, then just fucking say so. "I wish I could help you or change what happened. I'm sorry." Acknowledge the fact that bad shit sometimes happens and that there's nothing one can do about it in the end, other than stand up and go on with your life. This is infinitely more helpful to a person in a bad situation, because it demonstrates sympathy, honesty and shows a path ahead. You know what does nothing of that? Thoughts and Prayers. Thoughts and Prayers, even under the best circumstances (there is a benevolent, all-powerful God) is standing there, pretending you are gonna do something, despite knowing that nothing is going to happen. At worst, it's giving people false hopes and trapping them in a bad state. Fuck off with this shit. Nothing's going to fix what happened. Loved ones will stay dead. Your house will remain collapsed. Your bank account stays empty. What a person in that situation that can't be resolved needs is, sympathy and someone to talk to. Thoughts and Prayers delivers neither and worse yet, the person who just said that, is going to turn around and walk away.

Look I agree. The simple argument about God is the whole thing can he create and move an immovable object. Or variations of that. Or you go the moral route like you have.

I have stated this before I am as athiest as you can go. I truly do think that once the brain shuts down we are done. End of existence. I try to respect people's religions and beliefs so I don't attack people who really does think thoughts and prayers actually does something. Nor do I go out of my way to attack people who thinks evolution is a lie or all of creation is a mere thousands of years old. They're idiots and I don't have time for them.

[phantom000]

I have stated this before I am as athiest as you can go. I truly do think that once the brain shuts down we are done. End of existence. I try to respect people's religions and beliefs so I don't attack people who really does think thoughts and prayers actually does something. Nor do I go out of my way to attack people who thinks evolution is a lie or all of creation is a mere thousands of years old. They're idiots and I don't have time for them.

I not an atheist but I am willing to accept that Genesis as more allegory than history; ancient peoples trying to wrap their heads around something we can barely understand today. And to be fair, even in the 21st century most people have trouble comprehending the age of the earth beyond an abstraction in numbers.

The Earth is about 4,500,000,000 billion years old which translates to about 60,000,000 human life times. If you were to live an average life span (about 75 years) backwards, being reborn after each death, you would have to be reborn and die roughly 866,666 times just to see any dinosaurs.

[McAvoy]

I have stated this before I am as athiest as you can go. I truly do think that once the brain shuts down we are done. End of existence. I try to respect people's religions and beliefs so I don't attack people who really does think thoughts and prayers actually does something. Nor do I go out of my way to attack people who thinks evolution is a lie or all of creation is a mere thousands of years old. They're idiots and I don't have time for them.

I not an atheist but I am willing to accept that Genesis as more allegory than history; ancient peoples trying to wrap their heads around something we can barely understand today. And to be fair, even in the 21st century most people have trouble comprehending the age of the earth beyond an abstraction in numbers.

The Earth is about 4,500,000,000 billion years old which translates to about 60,000,000 human life times. If you were to live an average life span (about 75 years) backwards, being reborn after each death, you would have to be reborn and die roughly 866,666 times just to see any dinosaurs.

I think there are three reasons behind Creationism and Flat Earth. One is the dogmatic concept that humans are special and created by God to be special. The whole universe as they see it (as in its small) was created directly for humans. The other though connected with the first part is the idea of Earth being so old and universe being so vast, they cannot grasp that scale.

Lastly, it is the superiority complex of having this knowledge that is being beaten down by science and the rest of the world. They have that special knowledge that creates a me versus them mindset. Even if they struggle to defend their alternative ideas.

[Madner Kami]

I have stated this before I am as athiest as you can go. I truly do think that once the brain shuts down we are done. End of existence. I try to respect people's religions and beliefs so I don't attack people who really does think thoughts and prayers actually does something. Nor do I go out of my way to attack people who thinks evolution is a lie or all of creation is a mere thousands of years old. They're idiots and I don't have time for them.

I not an atheist but I am willing to accept that Genesis as more allegory than history; ancient peoples trying to wrap their heads around something we can barely understand today. And to be fair, even in the 21st century most people have trouble comprehending the age of the earth beyond an abstraction in numbers.

The Earth is about 4,500,000,000 billion years old which translates to about 60,000,000 human life times. If you were to live an average life span (about 75 years) backwards, being reborn after each death, you would have to be reborn and die roughly 866,666 times just to see any dinosaurs.

I think there are three reasons behind Creationism and Flat Earth. One is the dogmatic concept that humans are special and created by God to be special. The whole universe as they see it (as in its small) was created directly for humans. The other though connected with the first part is the idea of Earth being so old and universe being so vast, they cannot grasp that scale.

Lastly, it is the superiority complex of having this knowledge that is being beaten down by science and the rest of the world. They have that special knowledge that creates a me versus them mindset. Even if they struggle to defend their alternative ideas.

The funny thing is, you can have Earth being the center of the Universe and the Universe having been made for humanity without contradicting science as well. In an infinite universe, any point you choose is the center of it all and even beyond that, it's still the philosophical center of the Universe, because it's where we are. Not Earth is the center, humanity is. And this still works even if we ever manage to spread over multiple planets or solar systems or even galaxies. Humanity would still be the center of Universe. Even if we ever manage to find sentient and sapient non-human life, so what? It's still our story, the story about how we prevail to reach greatness. What does it matter if the cast of this show is expanded?

And even dropping that: How does it matter? Being cast down from a high place kinda is a recurring theme in religions, is it not? Jewish Diaspora. Burning of their Temple. Jesus dying and not (yet) having returned. So what? It's just an obstacle God put there for us to overcome, to ultimately reach even greater heights.

I mean, it's all hogwash to me, but even I can easily see how Science and Religion can coexist, even without contradiction. Why can't Religiots?

[McAvoy]

I have stated this before I am as athiest as you can go. I truly do think that once the brain shuts down we are done. End of existence. I try to respect people's religions and beliefs so I don't attack people who really does think thoughts and prayers actually does something. Nor do I go out of my way to attack people who thinks evolution is a lie or all of creation is a mere thousands of years old. They're idiots and I don't have time for them.

I not an atheist but I am willing to accept that Genesis as more allegory than history; ancient peoples trying to wrap their heads around something we can barely understand today. And to be fair, even in the 21st century most people have trouble comprehending the age of the earth beyond an abstraction in numbers.

The Earth is about 4,500,000,000 billion years old which translates to about 60,000,000 human life times. If you were to live an average life span (about 75 years) backwards, being reborn after each death, you would have to be reborn and die roughly 866,666 times just to see any dinosaurs.

I think there are three reasons behind Creationism and Flat Earth. One is the dogmatic concept that humans are special and created by God to be special. The whole universe as they see it (as in its small) was created directly for humans. The other though connected with the first part is the idea of Earth being so old and universe being so vast, they cannot grasp that scale.

Lastly, it is the superiority complex of having this knowledge that is being beaten down by science and the rest of the world. They have that special knowledge that creates a me versus them mindset. Even if they struggle to defend their alternative ideas.

The funny thing is, you can have Earth being the center of the Universe and the Universe having been made for humanity without contradicting science as well. In an infinite universe, any point you choose is the center of it all and even beyond that, it's still the philosophical center of the Universe, because it's where we are. Not Earth is the center, humanity is. And this still works even if we ever manage to spread over multiple planets or solar systems or even galaxies. Humanity would still be the center of Universe. Even if we ever manage to find sentient and sapient non-human life, so what? It's still our story, the story about how we prevail to reach greatness. What does it matter if the cast of this show is expanded?

And even dropping that: How does it matter? Being cast down from a high place kinda is a recurring theme in religions, is it not? Jewish Diaspora. Burning of their Temple. Jesus dying and not (yet) having returned. So what? It's just an obstacle God put there for us to overcome, to ultimately reach even greater heights.

I mean, it's all hogwash to me, but even I can easily see how Science and Religion can coexist, even without contradiction. Why can't Religiots?

Its the idea I guess that the Bible is the literal word of God. Of course it's cherry picking the parts that they want to be literal and not all of the book. There is this troubling trend of ridiculing science in general, going as far as calling it a religion and/or a cult. Science is always wrong so why trust it. Or truly misunderstanding science such the constant use of 'it's only a theory'.

Like argue with one of these about entire plausibility of Noah's Flood. Every single part of that story is implausible. Chances are they will add to the story to make sense. Like God did something to help. So it's no longer literal truth, in that you have create something to explain why something makes no sense. 'God did it'.

That is the mentality.

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

For me, prayer is something you can do when there's nothing you can do. That's why "thoughts and prayers" coming from politicians in power is so insulting, because they *could* do something to stop the mass shootings, but they choose not to.