Now I'm hopeless?!
I am not an atheist. I find organized religion a tribal effort. I may be an agnostic but I'm not ever sure that's true. I do know that whateve I believe in I keep to myself.
You will tell me this is hostile, I'm sure, but these public prayers on FR annoy me. If these people are so keeping to the bible maybe they should read Matthew 6:6. They'll read it, but will still put their piousness online.
God is all you have. Believe me. I’ve been there.
No...i said “No one is ever hopeless” That includes you (btw you were the one that used the term hopeless first).
You comment about public prayers is not hostile. But it does show a misunderstanding. For me, and most of us, it is not “to be seen by men” (which is what Jesus is complaining about, the Pharisees who prayed and beat their breasts in public to show their piety in Matthew Chapter 6), rather it is a show of support and love.
I suppose you think that pastors should not pray aloud in Church with their congregations, since that too would be “showing piety”.
You may not claim to be an Atheist, but you sure show the outward markings, imo.
I don’t need a group effort to tell me what to believe. The heritage to which I was born, and what they, themselves, do not follow, teaches that knowledge, loyalty, and conscience is what G-d values above everything else. It is that knowledge which insures your independence from the leaders of men, and it is conscience that insures that with knowledge comes wisdom and the ability to reason. There is much to learn, and those who would control you prefer that you don’t learn too much.
Since you like puzzles, explain the discrepancy.
Cheers!