Your life is in threat. Would you pray/appeal to a higher power?

Dostoevsky

George Hook, being the troll that he is, very rarely makes a valid point but today, while talking about the 83% of the population who said they were Catholic ("Afterhours is representative" people take note - big time!), said he wonders how many of the non-believers of any religion would not pray/appeal to a higher power if they were in an airplane that was about to crash.

I'm Catholic in the sense that I go to mass when weddings and funerals are on. I'm not cool/certain enough to be an atheist. So I have to settle with being one of those doubtful agnostic types. The denomination I'm most attracted to is the Church of Ireland, largely because they robbed all the are in possession of the most amazing and historic churches in Ireland and I'd like to be able to hear music in them for as long as I live. Music, particularly Gregorian Chant, is really what attracts me to any spiritual place. A religious service without such calming music is not for me. Spiritually, that's where I stand. If I, or people close to me, were to be involved in some life or death situation I am absolutely certain I would pray to some "higher power", that I would appeal for something/somebody to help.

Given the number of vociferous atheists here, how about you?

token101

If you're up there, save me Jebus!

IM0

Maybe (I'm an agnostic)

no, Id take my medicine

he doesn't "make a valid point", he is quoting the usual "no atheists in foxholes" nonsense

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v713/paranoid77/misc/atheistsinfoxholes.jpg

KeithAFC

Nope. I would just hope I would be buried on my native land.

El Guapo!

Of course I would.

If you're not in, you can't win.

IM0

Maybe (I'm an agnostic)

KeithAFC wrote: »

Nope. I would just hope I would be buried on my native land.

is that britian or ireland






:pac:

KeithAFC

IM0 wrote: »

is that britian or ireland






:pac:

Ivory Coast. :pac:

strobe

Maybe (I'm an agnostic)

This poll brought to you by the department of redundancy department?

philologos

Yes (I'm an atheist)

I pray even if my life isn't in threat.

bleg

Maybe (I'm an agnostic)

Have experienced this. I can safely say that the only thing that ran through my body was sheer terror and adrenaline.

strobe

Maybe (I'm an agnostic)

bluewolf wrote: »

he doesn't "make a valid point", he is quoting the usual "no atheists in foxholes" nonsense

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v713/paranoid77/misc/atheistsinfoxholes.jpg

I prefer this one. http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_legx4ivIWQ1qzx9tmo1_500.png

44leto

It similar to when you hit your thumb with a hammer, you always utter a sexual profanity followed by some religious deity no matter how atheistic you are.

My name is URL

I guess it depends on what you mean by 'pray'.. I probably would, and have in the past; said something like 'please God' when wanting something to go my way, even though I don't believe in any higher power whatsoever.

minidazzler

Maybe (I'm an agnostic)

I was at a removal recently for my mams Aunt, I didn't really want to go, but at my mothers insistence I did to take care of my sister at it.

I went right down the back for the prayers at the funeral home and didn't bless myself or pray, just stood quietly. When I was sitting in the pews in the church I could hear my own aunt saying to someone next to her that I didn't kneel when the prayers were said. Didn't bless myself even, how disrespectful...I didn't say a word to her.

The thing I was thinking though was, I have no respect for your faith, I don't care what you believe, I respect your right to believe it, but I'm not gonna have respect for someone being catholic just because they are catholic. They certainly don't have respect for my beliefs.

In short, no, I don't believe in the whole "no athiests in a foxhole" bull, I know nothing awaits me when I die and for that reason I live pretty well now.

later12

No (I'm an atheist)

Would I pray if i was facing a personal crisis. Of course I would. Anything at all that helps you during a trauma is worth considering, and if praying is a mere diversionary tactic or a psychological focus when something is out of your control, I think it could actually be an asset. You don't necessarily have to believe it.

I wish people wouldn't be so tedious about atheism, or so paranoid about not being seen to do something of a religious nature. Oh God these people who suggest we all use terms like "Thank Science" instead of "Thank God" literally bore me to tears.

For me, as a non believer, these little prayers as a psychological focus, nothing more nothing less. I would also quite happily walk into a church and have a think sometimes. Do I believe in God? No. But a church is a quiet, meditative space conducive to personal reflection. Just like prayer, it can have its uses, even if one doesn't believe in what it purports to do.

WolfgangWeisen

Maybe (I'm an agnostic)

Dostoevsky wrote: »

I'm Catholic in the sense that I go to mass when weddings and funerals are on.

So when a muslim, hindu, jew, etc. attend mass for the wedding or funeral of a catholic friend/colleague of theirs, they become catholic also?

I'm sorry but attending mass for weddings and funerals does not a catholic make. There is a lot more to it, I'm afraid to say. http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM is the criteria they demand in order to call yourself one.

With regards to your question, no, I absolutely would not pray. It would accomplish nothing. I've never genuinely prayed in my life, I'm not a member of any religion and frankly, if any God does exist, I can't see them being bought so fecking cheaply as a forced prayer when you think the gig is up. In fact, I'm pretty sure getting into the catholic heaven requires significantly more than a last minute prayer on your way to your death.

But hey, lets not let the supposed "facts" get in the way

George Hook has never made a point worth listening to, he's as quote worthy as Ray "I'll leave if Enda is Taoiseach" D'arcy.

Dostoevsky

Yes (I'm an atheist)

My name is URL wrote: »

I guess it depends on what you mean by 'pray'.. I probably would, and have in the past; said something like 'please God' when wanting something to go my way, even though I don't believe in any higher power whatsoever.

This would be me in a way. I'm not sure if something higher exists - rationally it probably doesn't - but I certainly feel better in saying the "please God" etc when something bad happens. My prayer, on the rare occasion it happens, often involves just a 'Howaya....' to some higher power that I'm not at all sure of. If I ask them to help my believing friend or relative who is having a tough time, that is worth more to them than any other gift. Conventional prayers, however, bore me ferociously.

Dostoevsky

Yes (I'm an atheist)

44leto wrote: »

It similar to when you hit your thumb with a hammer, you always utter a sexual profanity followed by some religious deity no matter how atheistic you are.

hehe. Now, that was remarkably accurate of you.

Evie90

Maybe (I'm an agnostic)

Having had a few near death experiences (a bad car crash and a few awful falls from horses) I can honestly say praying is the last thing I was doing, cursing seems like a more appropriate response...to me anyway.

pragmatic1

I was in a very bad way a few months ago and I didn't.

xflyer

Maybe (I'm an agnostic)

I was in trouble and I didn't.

Maybe (I'm an agnostic)

I would use the few remaining minutes to think the problem through and try to escape/ avoid whatever it is.

I was once in a building that I knew was structurally unsound (I had seen the engineers report!) and was at severe risk of collapse in an earthquake! A 5 on the richter scale earthquake happened, all I thought about was where was the strongest bit and running to it.

dlofnep

Maybe (I'm an agnostic)

Praying is a futile exercise. It is for the weak minded, who are incapable of thinking for themselves or being intellectually honest with themselves.

philologos

Yes (I'm an atheist)

dlofnep wrote: »

Praying is a futile exercise. It is for the weak minded, who are incapable of thinking for themselves or being intellectually honest with themselves.

How exactly?

KeithAFC

philologos wrote: »

How exactly?

It isn't weak minded. People just have different beliefs. You might agree or disagree with it. Duke of Wellington, Stonewall Jackson, George Washington weren't weak minded people.

Dudess

Possibly - but out of habit; having that tendency instilled in me as a child, and never fully losing it. And perhaps as a last resort. I don't believe, but I don't claim to know for certain either.

Seems like an attempt at "Haha, atheists are actually religious really - they just won't admit it!" It ain't always atheists that are smug.

bnt

Maybe (I'm an agnostic)

It has been. No, I didn't. Not unless you count copious swearing as a weird form of prayer.

44leto

bnt wrote: »

It has been. No, I didn't. Not unless you count copious swearing as a weird form of prayer.

It kind of is, hoping is also a kind of prayer, kind of asking the odds of chance to land in your favour and sometimes they do, so hope can be seen as something that works. Worrying also is another natural irrational reaction to stress, worrying wont help, but we do it anyway.

Humans are naturally religious, that does not make religion the truth, but it is part of our mental make up. As the saying goes "there are no atheists in a foxhole" But I do like to think I would be one of them.

bbam

Yes (I'm an atheist)

You'd be surprised when the pressure is on.
I had a friend diagnosed as terminal, just three months left. He got very religious very quick. Praying, mass the whole real deal.
He made it through for the moment but admitts that it's hard not to look for something when the end is nigh.

I'd say there aren't many who don't have a few words of some sort when they know for sure the lights are about go go out for the last time.

dark crystal

dlofnep wrote: »

Praying is a futile exercise. It is for the weak minded, who are incapable of thinking for themselves or being intellectually honest with themselves.

As a non-believer, I find that attitude a little self righteous.

I agree that praying is futile, but sometimes, in situations like the OP is describing, you find yourself doing things you wouldn't normally do. I could imagine myself saying something like "Please God, help me", even though I know it won't happen and whatever will be will be. 'God' has never intervened in saving anybody as far as I'm aware.

It's the same as someone saying 'Sweet Jesus!' or 'Oh My God' - they're just expressions ingrained into the psyche and said as a knee-jerk reaction. I wouldn't read any other deeper meaning into it.

noxqs

Maybe (I'm an agnostic)

Never - that would imply that there was a higher power. Something which just doesn't seem very likely.

After all - simple question. If god created everything, where exactly did god come from? It seems religion to me is based purely on humans inability to look at the world and not thing 'someone with hands like me must'a molded that'..

I don't enter churches for weddings, funerals or baptisms, but I'll attend the events outside of the church. I don't enter churches for the same reason I dont usually hang around in Synagogues or Mosques.

Dudess

noxqs wrote: »

I don't enter churches for weddings, funerals or baptisms

Are those whose event it is not a bit snubbed by that? I'm not religious but it's their day, not mine.

Freddie59

Yes (I'm an atheist)

KeithAFC wrote: »

Nope. I would just hope I would be buried on my native land.

Scotland?

Freddie59

Yes (I'm an atheist)

minidazzler wrote: »

I know nothing awaits me when I die and for that reason I live pretty well now.

You BELIEVE nothing awaits you.

44leto

Originally Posted by noxqs
I don't enter churches for weddings, funerals or baptisms

You should get out more, join some cluns and perhaps you might then get some invites. Sorry to hear you have no friends:(

flutered

Yes (I'm an atheist)

[QUOTE=minidazzler;77988636

In short, no, I don't believe in the whole "no athiests in a foxhole" bull, I know nothing awaits me when I die and for that reason I live pretty well now.[/QUOTE]
unless you have been in one please do not quote what you call bull.

Notorious97

Yes (I'm an atheist)

I believe in God, but in a situation i dont know if id pray as id be busy tryin to get out of it, in my mind id be asking for help however if that makes sense

Logical Fallacy

dlofnep wrote: »

Praying is a futile exercise. It is for the weak minded, who are incapable of thinking for themselves or being intellectually honest with themselves.

Science doesn't agree with you.

minidazzler

Maybe (I'm an agnostic)

Freddie59 wrote: »

You BELIEVE nothing awaits you.

No, because my lack of belief in any religion means I'm not going to their version of heaven either way. So at best I'll go to Purgatory, but I'm confident I'll go to nothing.

Logical Fallacy

I always considered a prayer to be a bit like sending a letter with no name and address on it, it just sits in an anthropomorphic post office with the mail sorters laughing at it.

Any time i have been deep in the **** my brain has either been thinking "oh fcuk, oh fcuk, oh fcuk" or, upon on the odd rare occasion...been ticking away sensibly trying to figure out how to extricate myself from said situation.

I think some people will pray, I think some people won't...I don't wish to assume there is any connection between your religious outlook and what you might do.

If anything, it's rather arrogant of people like Mr Hook, who I believe has never been on a plane that was about to crash, to assume they would instantly begin to pray.

smcgiff

Maybe (I'm an agnostic)

later12 wrote: »

Would I pray if i was facing a personal crisis. Of course I would. Anything at all that helps you during a trauma is worth considering, and if praying is a mere diversionary tactic or a psychological focus when something is out of your control, I think it could actually be an asset. You don't necessarily have to believe it.

I wish people wouldn't be so tedious about atheism, or so paranoid about not being seen to do something of a religious nature. Oh God these people who suggest we all use terms like "Thank Science" instead of "Thank God" literally bore me to tears.

For me, as a non believer, these little prayers as a psychological focus, nothing more nothing less. I would also quite happily walk into a church and have a think sometimes. Do I believe in God? No. But a church is a quiet, meditative space conducive to personal reflection. Just like prayer, it can have its uses, even if one doesn't believe in what it purports to do.

Jaysus, you don't half spout some amount of sense sometimes

later12

No (I'm an atheist)

I spout shite the rest of the time,to keep it balanced:pac:

saa

Maybe (I'm an agnostic)

I had a near death experience and I remember lying there and what was going through my head was not a prayer or asking for forgiveness but a drawn out "Ahhh fuuuuuuuuuuuck fúck fúck fúck fúck fúck fúck fúck fúck fúck fúck fúck fúck fúck fúck fúck"

But if someone wanted to pray that has nothing to do with religion necessarily, its okay to believe in a God and not need to do all these rituals and support an institution created and run by men because you believe in a higher power.

skylight1987

Yes (I'm an atheist)

no athiests in a fox hole? i am a little tired this morning (sorry this afternoon , didnt notice the time) could some one explain this phrase

ChunkyLover_53

skylight1987 wrote: »

no athiests in a fox hole? i am a little tired this morning (sorry this afternoon , didnt notice the time) could some one explain this phrase

It means if you're in a near-death situation you may find yourself praying to a higher power regardless of your current religious belief.

Basically if you find yourself in a foxhole with artillery shells landing all around you, you'll pray to the Devil himself to get you out of there.

Logical Fallacy

skylight1987 wrote: »

no athiests in a fox hole? i am a little tired this morning (sorry this afternoon , didnt notice the time) could some one explain this phrase

The basics of it is that when your life is in threat, all people will pray to a higher power for intervention.

It's something spouted by a certain type of religious person in an effort to imply that Atheism or a relaxed attitude towards religion is born from an easy life.

Coriolanus

http://militaryatheists.org/expaif.html

Atheists in foxholes, in cockpits, on ships.