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Posted by Jeff Raven (Member # 20) on :
 
I hope this doesn't turn into cannon fodder for First of Two, but rather something to think about.

Prayer for the sick helps

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"I'm looking for someone to change my life.
I'm looking for a miracle in my life.
And if you could see, what its done to me...
To lose the love I knew, could safely lead me to
The land that I one knew...
To learn as we grow old, the secrets of our souls."
Question, The Moody Blues

[This message has been edited by Jeff Raven (edited October 28, 1999).]
 


Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
 
*Rolls in the cannon... squeak... squeak... squeak...*

I hate to disappoint the guys, but I wouldn't consider that a valid study, not yet. All possible causes must be examined.

I'd like to see if the results don't hold up when the prayers are being offered to Allah, Buddha, Bast, Ahura Mazda, or the Great Potato, rather than the conventional Christian God-Being.

THAT could be interesting.

But the implications, should the results stay the same, could be staggering. Hmm..

Of course, the problem here, I suppose, would be finding enough believers in other deities to conduct a balanced study.

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'In every country and in every age the priest has been hostile to Liberty; he is always in allegiance to the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection of his own." ---- Thomas Jefferson
 


Posted by Jeff Raven (Member # 20) on :
 
First, you make a good point... Is it the specific prayer to God, or is it the act of praying that's important?

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"Do you suffer from long-term memory loss? I don't remember..."
Chumbawumba, Amnesia

[This message has been edited by Jeff Raven (edited October 28, 1999).]
 


Posted by Montgomery (Member # 23) on :
 
No no no.
God has a strict policy of obeying the Prime Directive.
It works out to be less hassle all round in the long run. I'm with Gene Hackman in the "Poseidon Adventure" on this issue.

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"NO! NO! Kill you all!
Die! MAKE YOU SUFFER!!!"



 


Posted by Elim Garak (Member # 14) on :
 
I see. Monty is proposing deities take lessons from Lester B. Pearson.

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Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")
 


Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
 
Could'ja imagine the brouhaha if a scientific study actually showed that you get well faster if your friends pray to an image of the "Great Potato" (imaginary Deity from the TV show "Dinosaurs") than to God?

Incidentally, I'm told that, statistically, those who visit Lourdes and Medjugorge (sp) and some such places actually experience spontaneous healing LESS often than people who stay home, eat better, have a good attitude, etc? (I know I'll have to figure out where I heard this.)

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'In every country and in every age the priest has been hostile to Liberty; he is always in allegiance to the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection of his own." ---- Thomas Jefferson
 


Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
 
I think someone once figured out that rulers that are actively prayed for by the population tend to die sooner and more violently. : )

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Meddle not in the affairs of Dragons; for you are crunchy and good with ketchup.
 


Posted by Elim Garak (Member # 14) on :
 
*begins considering praying for Bill Clinton*

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Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")
 


Posted by Xentrick (Member # 64) on :
 
say "Amen," somebody
 
Posted by Baloo (Member # 5) on :
 
Amen.

Don't forget the Forum Bake sale! It'll be held on the fourteenth Friday in Octember.

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If you speak and no-one listens, it still counts as long as YOU have learned something.
www.geocities.com/Area51/Shire/8641/

 


Posted by Jeff Raven (Member # 20) on :
 
I thought it was on Febutober the Eleventeenth...

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"Do you suffer from long-term memory loss? I don't remember..."
Chumbawumba, Amnesia
 


Posted by Mikey T (Member # 144) on :
 
I prayed before and my prayers were answered. I prayed that I would meet a cute blond curly haired boy, and I did. But I'm not sure that all the credit should go there, after all, I'm really cute...

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"All you people, can't you see, can't you see
How your love's affecting our reality
Everytime we're down
You can make it right
And that makes you larger than life"

-Backstreet Boys



 


Posted by LOA (Member # 49) on :
 
I personally DO believe in the power of prayer and I know for a fact that, at least in my life, and in the lives of numerous others around me, it has helped. I'm not saying that every prayer I've ever said has been answered.... but I know that if they weren't answered, it was for a reason, whether I understand that reason or not. As Garth Brooks put it, "Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers." That's true, except for I don't think there is any such thing as an "unanswered prayer".... all prayers have been answered... we just sometimes miss the answer because we're so busy looking for something else.

But that's just my POV on things, and I'm done now.....

~LOA

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Can't we all just get along????
 


Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
 
Amen, LOA. Prayers are always answered, it's just that sometimes the answer isn't what we want it to be, so we don't see it. But if you simply pray that God will do whatever He wants through your life, and let Him do that, He always will, and chances are you'll end up happier than you would have otherwise.

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Meddle not in the affairs of Dragons; for you are crunchy and good with ketchup.
 


Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :
 
I heard recently that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, so I don't think you'll have trouble finding people for your study, 1stof2.

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Fool of a Took, throw yourself in next time!!
Gandalf



 


Posted by Elim Garak (Member # 14) on :
 
Kosh: It is.

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Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")
 


Posted by Diane (Member # 53) on :
 
Michael: Your case seems to further prove my friend's point that FAR TOO MANY gay guys are cute! Dang it.

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--Then, said Cranly, do you not intend to become a protestant?
--I said that I had lost the faith, Stephen answered, but not that I had lost self-respect. What kind of liberation would that be to forsake an absurdity which is logical and coherent and to embrace one which is illogical and incoherent?

James Joyce, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.


 


Posted by Mikey T (Member # 144) on :
 
Thanx Ziyal. Justin would agree.

------------------
"All you people, can't you see, can't you see
How your love's affecting our reality
Everytime we're down
You can make it right
And that makes you larger than life"

-Backstreet Boys



 


Posted by Baloo (Member # 5) on :
 
Tora Ziyal: "Your case seems to further prove my friend's point that FAR TOO MANY gay guys are cute!"

<Snit>Hmph! I suppose this means all us heterosexuals are ugly, hairy monstrosities? [Glances in a mirror.]

Oh.

Never mind.</Snit>

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If you speak and no-one listens, it still counts as long as YOU have learned something.
www.geocities.com/Area51/Shire/8641/

 


Posted by Orion Syndicate (Member # 25) on :
 
What should it matter which god you're praying to as long as it is god. There are several monotheistic religions who all have different names for their gods, but if they think about it, they all believe in one god, so isn't it logical to assume that it's the same one?

I can see these studies turning into a "my god is better than your god" debate, and I think that this would just be ultimately self defeating.

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Do business with us, or we'll ruin you.


 


Posted by Orion Syndicate (Member # 25) on :
 
What should it matter which god you're praying to as long as it is god. There are several monotheistic religions who all have different names for their gods, but if they think about it, they all believe in one god, so isn't it logical to assume that it's the same one?

I can see these studies turning into a "my god is better than your god" debate, and I think that this would just be ultimately self defeating.

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Do business with us, or we'll ruin you.


 


Posted by Orion Syndicate (Member # 25) on :
 
What should it matter which god you're praying to as long as it is god. There are several monotheistic religions who all have different names for their gods, but if they think about it, they all believe in one god, so isn't it logical to assume that it's the same one?

I can see these studies turning into a "my god is better than your god" debate, and I think that this would just be ultimately self defeating.

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Do business with us, or we'll ruin you.


 


Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
 
ORION!
CHECK YOUR "ENTER" BUTTON! that's your second triple post!

Heeheehee...
>"Amen, LOA. Prayers are always answered, it's just that sometimes the answer isn't what we want it to be, so we don't see it. But if you simply pray that God will do whatever He wants through your life, and let Him do that, He always will, and chances are you'll end up happier than you would have otherwise."

You do realize, though, that the results you get from this method will be INDISTINGUISHABLE from Random Chance, except that you'll feel a bit better about it.


C: "Sometimes, the answer is 'yes,' sometimes the answer is 'no.'"
Fo2: "And apparently, sometimes the answer is 'tough #@$%.'"

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'In every country and in every age the priest has been hostile to Liberty; he is always in allegiance to the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection of his own." ---- Thomas Jefferson
 


Posted by Baloo (Member # 5) on :
 
1st of 2: Random chance? Well, maybe, but sometimes I need to feel better.

--Baloo

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If this is the future, then where are all the flying cars?
www.geocities.com/Area51/Shire/8641/


 


Posted by Orion Syndicate (Member # 25) on :
 
Sorry about the triple posts, but I'm posting from the library, and the one thing I've learned about their network here is that it's very temperamental. I'm waiting for ages to get back to the thread list, so when I decide to browse back, it posts the message again.

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Do business with us, or we'll ruin you.


 




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