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Thread: Atheists in foxholes

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    Default Atheists in foxholes

    Wife and I were debating "separation of church and state" and the like (no this isn't a POO thread) and we went through "in God we trust" on our money in our courts...and came to the phrase "no atheists in the defense chair"

    Question, mainly aimed at the TRUE atheists/agnostics:

    When the S^&t really hits the fan, do you start praying to anyone/thing? If so, what to?

  2. #2
    aussiepunkshocker
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    Default Re: Atheists in foxholes

    Hmm, that's a good one, lol.
    No I don't pray, but I do wish for luck or better times etc for who evers concerned. I do this to no-one in particular except maybe the universe. I guess it's really just a form of positive thinking (-:

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    Default Re: Atheists in foxholes

    ^^^Ditto: positive thinking. Just because one starts thinking, "Gee, I really wish this would get better" that's not evidence of the existence of god. Geez, just beause someone "prays", "Oh God, do not let this lion eat me alive" is still not evidence of anything except that we've got the god thing hammered into us from birth and when shit goes down you'll try anything! What could it hurt?

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    God/dess dlabtot's Avatar
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    Default Re: Atheists in foxholes

    Quote Originally Posted by proMarket
    When the S^&t really hits the fan, do you start praying to anyone/thing?
    No. However I do sometimes use the expression "I will say a prayer for you" but all I mean is that I will think of them and "send good vibes" their way.

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    Featured Member tampadancer's Avatar
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    Default Re: Atheists in foxholes

    Absolutely. God and prayer have gotten me through a LOT.

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    Senior Member put a stop to collar pop!'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Atheists in foxholes

    I beleive in God, but I don't subscribe to the idea that man was created in his image or that he is necessarilly a he and sitting in a throne up above our heads.

    I guess I find the Jungian idea of the Universal Consciousness more palletable and less like superhero mythology or something.

    But, yeah, I pray. I don't know if that would make me an agnostic, though.

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    Featured Member lunchbox's Avatar
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    Default Re: Atheists in foxholes


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    Default Re: Atheists in foxholes

    They say there are no atheists in foxholes, and if someone's scared to death, they're going to be looking for some kind of help from something--human nature.

    But again, I am reminded of the story I read where the guy fresh out of combat pulled out his bible and told all his buddies it had saved his life--and promptly got shot in the head by a sniper.

    But if it helps some people get through nasty times, more power to them.
    You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.
    Friedrich Nietzsche

    Free your mind, and your ass will follow.
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    God/dess MrChristopher's Avatar
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    Default Re: Atheists in foxholes

    Nope, I wouldn't. I've feared for my life on a few occasions, and once for the life of my son who got a strain of bacterial menengitis. For me, praying at that point would make me an even bigger hypocrite. I do agree with the "sending good vibes" aspect of it, but certainly not hoping some white-haired vengeful guy in the sky is gonna do what I ask because I am scared.

    Not exactly related, but this makes me laugh. http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=2040248
    waffles are just pancakes with little squares on them.

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    Default Re: Atheists in foxholes

    Interesting thread! People like to say that there are no aethiests in foxholes, but I doubt it. Imminent death can be a strong persueder, but the individual would have to have time to actually think about it, and then reflect on the possibility that there may be a god, and then change his/her mind about his/her previous beliefs.

    Appearently god does not reward stupid behavior. read here


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    Default Re: Atheists in foxholes

    I've always believed religion is hope. And if you find hope in religion great. I mean praying in dispair, praying in fear, praying recreationally, it's all expression of hope in the form of a belief. I value everyones beliefs but we can all say, there is no one in a foxhole, that doesn't hope to get out.
    People are not ruled by their memories.

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    Default Re: Atheists in foxholes

    I pray almost everyday, at the very least for thanks for all the gifts I've been given. I've felt God's presense twice in my life. The first time was after I left my abusive first husband and moved back home, gosh 14 years ago, and started going back to church. I was terrified to go back. What would people say/think? Would he forgive me for being away so long? As I walked into my church it was as if all my troubles, worries, crosses, anxities (sp) were taken from me, God took them. And then God took my hand and lead me to the seat he had been saving for me. The second time I felt his presense was in the delivery room the moment my son was born. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a born again or a holy roller type. I'm Catholic, and my faith and belief are strong. I don't always agree with the teachings of my church and my God, but I respecet them.

  13. #13
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Atheists in foxholes

    I talk to G-d all the time, but He's only spoken to me once. Understandable; I'm sure He's very busy, LOL! I was hiking at dawn on a crisp autumn day in Tasmania, way up in the mountains. I happened upon a perfectly still glacial lake that looked like a mirror. All around it were pink, misty mountains and trees in every shade of red and gold. Nothing moved, not at all; it was perfectly still and perfectly quiet. It was the most profound religious experience I've ever had. The Lord spoke to me in that silence, and I knew that no matter what happened, I was going to be all right and He was looking out for me.

    I undressed completely and did a ritual immersion in that cold, clear lake. I was freezing and sopping wet afterward but I'm so glad I did it. I finished my hike about an hour later and had a nice breakfast by the fire in a little mountain cafe... man, I love Tasmania.

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    Default Re: Atheists in foxholes

    Quote Originally Posted by Yekhefah
    I'm sure He's very busy...

    I happened upon a perfectly still glacial lake that looked like a mirror. All around it were pink, misty mountains and trees in every shade of red and gold. Nothing moved, not at all; it was perfectly still and perfectly quiet. It was the most profound religious experience I've ever had. The Lord spoke to me in that silence...
    I always figured that if a 'God' had the time to guide the course of every bullet in a battle, he/she/it'd take the time to manifest him/her/itself to his/her/it's believers in a more tangible way.

    The closest thing I've had to a religious experience was in the deep woods of Maine. Life itself will speak to you, on such occasions, but the only thing I heard is that I'm a part of it--which is quite enough for me...

    In religon, as in all things, to each their own.
    You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.
    Friedrich Nietzsche

    Free your mind, and your ass will follow.
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    Default Re: Atheists in foxholes

    Quote Originally Posted by proMarket
    When the S^&t really hits the fan, do you start praying to anyone/thing? If so, what to?
    Myself, and you should too. My throng of followers grows exponentially.


    "Life is not about the number of breaths you take.
    It's about those moments which leave you breathless."

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    Default Re: Atheists in foxholes

    I think prayer is a form of self-hypnosis--both have a very similar 'trance state' involved, and the 'visualization' process is also similar.

    In this sense, you could pray to Zeus and get what you wanted out of it, entirely without the need for His existence.

    Obviously it wouldn't work very well under a heavy barrage in a foxhole--but most people who pray to whatever gods or goddesses they might believe in aren't in the middle of a battle at the time.

    And the more you do it, the better it works.
    You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.
    Friedrich Nietzsche

    Free your mind, and your ass will follow.
    George Clinton

    ______________________________________

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