# Prayer **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 12, 2015, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer/734493 "2015-10-12T23:55:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Latro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@Latro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latro)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer/734493/21 "2015-10-13T03:35:01Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > I’m a magic user. A sword would be of relatively little use to me. I can do a lot more damage with a few well-placed gestures and selected syllables. Also turning the thaumic field widdershins and inverting the heptical pandulus. It’s tricky. Takes years to learn. > > The OP is clearly a Cleric, not all that different from you. > > Quick, hire a thief and let’s go exploring! Hmmm? What would be my cut? ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer/734493/22 "2015-10-13T03:38:02Z")
“Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but…will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.” ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer/734493/23 "2015-10-13T03:42:47Z")
Is your [neighbor](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=573426) still spying on you? Just curious. Cuz maybe you could go and offer to bring her to Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer/734493/24 "2015-10-13T03:55:01Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I sometimes get nostalgic for the days long ago when we simply killed them. But we didn’t kill them simply. Blasphemy and heresy deserve creativity. Quite right. I openly try to dissuade people from following God’s message. I encourage them to deny the holy spirit and enthusiastically spread the idea that Satan doesn’t exist. I am jeopardising people’s immortal souls for chrissakes! If you actually believe this arse-gravy, your number 1 priority should be to silence people like me. This should be done as violently and visibly as possible to discourage would-be followers. If you save one soul from an eternity of firery torment, it is easily worth the temporary, earthly agony of a million heretics. I completely accept that a belief in Hell for all atheists leads almost inevitably to these conclusions. This is why anyone who holds such a belief is my enemy. I’m not under any illusions that they would shy away from their religious duties if given the chance (again), and I would therefore like to see them and their odious cult swept from the face of the Earth. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer/734493/25 "2015-10-13T04:01:02Z")
> [@Mikeisskeptical](#): > > Quite right. I openly try to dissuade people from following God’s message. I encourage them to deny the holy spirit and enthusiastically spread the idea that Satan doesn’t exist. I am jeopardising people’s immortal souls for chrissakes! If you actually believe this arse-gravy, your number 1 priority should be to silence people like me. This should be done as violently and visibly as possible to discourage would-be followers. If you save one soul from an eternity of firery torment, it is easily worth the temporary, earthly agony of a million heretics. I completely accept that a belief in Hell for all atheists leads almost inevitably to these conclusions. > > This is why anyone who holds such a belief is my enemy. I’m not under any illusions that they would shy away from their religious duties if given the chance (again), and I would therefore like to see them and their odious cult swept from the face of the Earth. You seem to have some issues with religion. Were you by chance an alter boy when you were younger? ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer/734493/26 "2015-10-13T04:16:19Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > You seem to have some issues with religion. Were you by chance an alter boy when you were younger? Haha. No, I just get a bit carried away sometimes. What I meant to say was; ‘Please don’t tell me I’m going to Hell, it’s really rather impolite of you, there’s a good chap’. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer/734493/27 "2015-10-13T04:21:06Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Oh yeah? Ask Medusa and Arachne about how mellow She is. > I sometimes get nostalgic for the days long ago when we simply killed them. But we didn’t kill them simply. Blasphemy and heresy deserve creativity. In the first place, that bitch Arachne had it coming. In the second place, Pallas Athena does not claim to be perfect or unchanging or omniscient. She erred greatly in the Medusa affair and regrets Her actions there, but does not dwell on them because the past cannot be altered. Third: THAT BITCG ARACHNE HAD IT COMING. ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer/734493/28 "2015-10-13T04:38:40Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > In the second place, Pallas Athena does not claim to be perfect or unchanging or omniscient. She erred greatly in the Medusa affair and regrets Her actions there, but does not dwell on them because the past cannot be altered. How does she feel about starting the whole Trojan War thing over not getting an apple? That was a bit much I’d say. Still, I agree, Arachne totally had it coming. Not so clever when she’s stuck in the bath is she? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer/734493/29 "2015-10-13T05:15:51Z")
> [@Latro](#): > > Hmmm? > > What would be my cut? Yay! (I used to run a character named Furari Voleur de Ladro… He was a “Philosopher.” Uh huh…) Anyway, evenly divided shares plus whatever additional you can pilfer without the rest of us knowing. In other words, “The Usual.” ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer/734493/30 "2015-10-13T05:20:40Z")
> [@Mikeisskeptical](#): > > . . . If you actually believe this arse-gravy, your number 1 priority should be to silence people like me. This should be done as violently and visibly as possible to discourage would-be followers. . . . It’s more effective to convert you to their way of believing; it provides a lesson that no one is beyond salvation, and it’s good myth/fable/parable material. Having you right there beside Preacher Jack, shouting Hosannahs and declaring, “I was bline but now ah SEE!” is really good propaganda. The fact that Preacher Jack has a Luger stuck in your ribs is, of course, notwithstanding… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer/734493/31 "2015-10-13T05:57:06Z")
> [@Mikeisskeptical](#): > > How does she feel about starting the whole Trojan War thing over not getting an apple? That was a bit much I’d say. Way to blame the victim of entrapment ! ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer/734493/32 "2015-10-13T06:12:48Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > It’s more effective to convert you to their way of believing; it provides a lesson that no one is beyond salvation, and it’s good myth/fable/parable material. Having you right there beside Preacher Jack, shouting Hosannahs and declaring, “I was bline but now ah SEE!” is really good propaganda. > > The fact that Preacher Jack has a Luger stuck in your ribs is, of course, notwithstanding… 😃 I don’t see why it has to be an either/or situation. After a bit of time on the rack, you’ll publicly confess your sins and give the names of all the members of your satanic circle. You’ll renounce Satan and humble yourself before the all-merciful God. With your sins now forgiven, the church too will show it’s mercy and allow you to be strangled prior to burning. The spectators will cheer and thank the Lord that you were able to be saved in time and the next day, by God’s grace, those who you have named will also be given a chance to repent, for the Lord’s work is never done. Preacher Jack can leave his Luger at home. Amen. ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer/734493/33 "2015-10-13T06:16:31Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Way to blame the victim of entrapment ! Well if you’re the goddess of wisdom, I think impulsively and susceptibility to manipulation are legitimate criticisms. Please do NOT tell her I said that. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer/734493/34 "2015-10-13T06:27:18Z")
Playing the lottery is luckier, no prayer needed and you may actually get something useful in return. All you have to do is stopped getting robbed from that measly dollar you feel forced to put on a gold plate every sucker Sunday and pick some numbers. They’re available on every fortune cookie slip-- and they also come with MUCH MUCH better sayings than a plagiarized storybook. Mahalo. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer/734493/35 "2015-10-13T08:30:13Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Is your [neighbor](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=573426) still spying on you? Just curious. Cuz maybe you could go and offer to bring her to Jesus. I doubt they would have closed the thread if it were an ongoing issue. What? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer/734493/36 "2015-10-13T10:43:00Z")
I think we have had enough fun with this one. [/Moderating] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer/734493.md?page=1)