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Not in a materialistic sense. But, I've often heard that people are going to pray for people like me who don't believe in God. So, my question is, why haven't those prayers been answered? I'm under the impression, although I don't know for sure, that a lot of people have prayed for me to somehow feel the presence of God or become enlightened in some sort of spiritual way.
Yet, this brings up an obvious conundrum, in my mind. While I understand that many believers feel I first have to be receptive to God supposedly working in my life, otherwise known as my 'free will' decision to make that choice, why pray to God for me? Because, if I have the 'free will' choice to believe or not believe, then by praying to God to somehow enlighten me or show me the way or to open up my receptiveness to it, that would thereby violate my free will. If God were to somehow enter my brain and change my mind due to these prayers, then that would violate my free will.
Therefore, it seems to me that by praying to God for me to somehow start believing, it would be impossible to do so without God violating my free will. But, if God does violate free will at the behest of prayers than I really don't have free will at all. It simply becomes a democratic process by which enough prayers equals prayer answering.
Thus, I stand firm that if I were to believe I would first have to do it on my own cognition in entirety but that would rule prayers ineffective in totality. Therefore, to me, it seems pointless to pray for people like me to believe in God.
I never pray for "people like you". You're a big boy ~ you could try doing it yourself.
One of my friends (another jack-Catholic) always wonders how I was ever a practicing one since 1) I seldom experience guilt, and 2) I don't wipe butts. But I am admittedly a bit of an enigma to a lot of people.
I never pray for "people like you". You're a big boy ~ you could try doing it yourself.
One of my friends (another jack-Catholic) always wonders how I was ever a practicing one since 1) I seldom experience guilt, and 2) I don't wipe butts. But I am admittedly a bit of an enigma to a lot of people.
Ummm... That wasn't my point. I don't care about praying. I have no interest in it whatsoever. My question was centered more towards those people who do pray for Atheists to become believers. Not really me per se. I just use the term "people like me" and those who have prayed for them whether they be members of a family, a friend, or whoever.
Ummm... That wasn't my point. I don't care about praying. I have no interest in it whatsoever. My question was centered more towards those people who do pray for Atheists to become believers. Not really me per se. I just use the term "people like me" and those who have prayed for them whether they be members of a family, a friend, or whoever.
I know. I had to throw in my 2 cents to say that not all of "us" prays for atheists. And, frankly, I never gave any real thought to whether He would respond to such prayers. I think He knows that if an atheist really wants to find God, he/she will find it on their own.
Not in a materialistic sense. But, I've often heard that people are going to pray for people like me who don't believe in God. So, my question is, why haven't those prayers been answered? I'm under the impression, although I don't know for sure, that a lot of people have prayed for me to somehow feel the presence of God or become enlightened in some sort of spiritual way.
Yet, this brings up an obvious conundrum, in my mind. While I understand that many believers feel I first have to be receptive to God supposedly working in my life, otherwise known as my 'free will' decision to make that choice, why pray to God for me? Because, if I have the 'free will' choice to believe or not believe, then by praying to God to somehow enlighten me or show me the way or to open up my receptiveness to it, that would thereby violate my free will. If God were to somehow enter my brain and change my mind due to these prayers, then that would violate my free will.
Therefore, it seems to me that by praying to God for me to somehow start believing, it would be impossible to do so without God violating my free will. But, if God does violate free will at the behest of prayers than I really don't have free will at all. It simply becomes a democratic process by which enough prayers equals prayer answering.
Thus, I stand firm that if I were to believe I would first have to do it on my own cognition in entirety but that would rule prayers ineffective in totality. Therefore, to me, it seems pointless to pray for people like me to believe in God.
Any prayer for you, cannot destroy your free will.
Free will presupposes a choice. And that choice would hopefully be made from your own enlightened self interest.
Ummm... That wasn't my point. I don't care about praying. I have no interest in it whatsoever. My question was centered more towards those people who do pray for Atheists to become believers. Not really me per se. I just use the term "people like me" and those who have prayed for them whether they be members of a family, a friend, or whoever.
The intercession of believers to non will have an effect in their eternal position and opportunities after the veil has been rent. You will see the love and outpouring of those that cared and prayed for your enlightenment, and the prayers will be answered when you can receive them.
godspeed,
freedom
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