Also I still don't care what others say, including all of you, prayer helped me out of depression and I believes it has saved my life among others.
Yeah this could definitely be true. I bet prayer has saved a lot of people from depression, even suicide. It has real tangible benefits for mental health.
It doesn't deflect cars or lightning bolts, or help people who aren't aware of it, but it's still a useful practice. Unfortunately some people pursue it *instead* of rational problem solving, or become distrustful of scientific solutions... Which is a shame, particularly when they start trying to legislate, but I digress.
I actually pray, myself. A few times when I was young, circumstances arose that I was bicycling during thunderstorms. I've always loved thunderstorms, even more than I fear them. Once the rain was so thick that I didn't dare keep riding for fear of cars hitting me, and I also felt exposed on the road. Lightning was flashing every 10 seconds or so, and the thunder was only a handful of seconds away. I carried my bike down the embankment and into the trees. I was completely soaked, of course, but it was April so the rain was only cool. I sat down on a downed tree and just waited for the storm to pass. I sat there for almost an hour wondering how much danger I was actually in. I was actually pretty certain the danger was low, statistically. But it's hard to concentrate on that when lightning is striking less than a mile from you, with its random timing and location. I wondered if I'd the static charge right before, or if I was too wet. I tried calling my brother (in another city) just to chat, but he didn't pick up... then my phone stopped responding from all the water.
I was stuck in a breathtakingly beautiful forest, fully immersed in the sound of rain on the leaves, completely drenched. At any moment I could die instantly, or more likely witness a tree shatter in blinding light and deafening noise. So... I prayed. I noted that the storm was a very impressive and beautiful one. I acknowledged my vulnerability and mortality. I expressed heartfelt gratitude that I was in the situation, and resolved to spend more time appreciating nature from that point on.
I'm not taking a theological stance on the existence of any sort of nature spirit... Though if there was one, I was talking to it. I really hope there is, but it doesn't really matter... It doesn't have to be real. What matters is that since then, every time it rains, I take a little time (as much as I feel like) to think about how much I appreciate rain and trees. Also how much I appreciate my life, and the time I have because I didn't die in that thunderstorm. I always start out by saying (or subvocalizing) the same six words, a tiny litany which gets me started thinking about the event.
So I guess... There's nothing wrong with prayer, or believing in things. As long as you still get off the road when the thunderstorm hits
Though belief shouldn't obstruct the scientific process. My theoretical forest spirit did nothing but listen, so its existence is a non-issue. If I thought I could survive lightning storms by sacrificing phones and saying certain words, I would have a problem. If other people started believing the same thing, we'd have a problem. If we decided that anyone who doesn't believe gets struck by lightning forever when they die, well...
Oh Gaia,
1819 new replies. Heh, Jack Chick. So scary it's funny.
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