Has praying ever helped you ?

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[–]StillLessons 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (13 children)

Thinking that prayer for our individual problems is legitimate is a misunderstanding of God. I actually like and appreciate the Lord's prayer for this reason. "Thy Will Be Done." Let us in creation learn to appreciate the beauty of exactly how things do run rather than thinking we have the wisdom (which we very much do not) to know how they should run. The universe is running exactly how it must run. Our best bet is to learn to appreciate how beautiful it is, even as all the 'ugliness' forms its own part, a part with which we must learn to co-exist. It ain't going away. How do we learn to live well while in the presence of that which makes us insane?

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (12 children)

Sometimes I envy you for being able to draw all these borders inside your mind. I'm not even talking about enforcing them.

[–]StillLessons 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (11 children)

Actually in the past year or so I've begun to think it may be a form of sub-clinical autism in me. I see things in the world very differently from anyone I know. It leads me to be somewhat detached from everything and everyone around me. Ironically, given how I was raised, these would be perfect traits for me to have entered politics and been really and truly evil. Fortunately for me, I actually want people to be happy and I am humble enough to know I don't have any special ability to know what would bring that about in the world. My arrogance comes out in that I am equally sure that nobody else has these abilities either, most especially those who most claim them. If two things happened, the world would be much better.

1) The assholes stopped trying to take God's role of running the universe into their own hands, where they create only greater evil and confusion. 2) Everybody else stopped looking for someone to tell us what to do here on Earth to "make it better", and stopped listening to those who claim that knowledge.

But these tendencies themselves seem to be central to how this experience is designed. So they are among the "ugly" I myself still need to learn to appreciate. Day by day...

[–][deleted]  (8 children)

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    [–]StillLessons 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

    I think addicts do think differently than the general population. Their very sensitivity to the insanity around us makes them pretty desperate to mute it with their chemical of choice. And that same sensitivity is present because they are unable (some would say unwilling; that's a value judgment pair, take your choice) to "just fit in with their surroundings". They value their individuality too highly to compromise it when they would need to. Being a member of a highly social species is very challenging.

    [–][deleted]  (1 child)

    [removed]

      [–]DirewolfGhost 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

      Peterson likes to say that sanity is partly a collective measurement. Thinking differently than everyone else is precisely indi-vi-duality (independant visions of duality). When I say I see the world differently than everyone else, I mean the living.

      Each coping drug of choice has their own price. Each is their own demon/angel or spirit if you will. Different ones high high freewill costs to break their contract. I haven't heard much good about the costs of meth. I'm glad you seem to have found your way from that situation. Drugs are like addicts. It's their uniqueness that separates them.

      [–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

      I do, too. But I "got" schizophrenia. In my eyes, words like "illness", "addiction" and "dysfunction" just are diagnoses for patients out of a capitalists optimal-enslavable-scope.

      I only take "my" medication when I have to and decide so. No doctor on this planet is able to force anything any more on me.

      But see: This is behaviour out of a majorities scope. So it has to be an illness.

      How about, I call all those "normal" people "ill" instead ? What is your take on this one ?

      There are very old models of how body, spirit and soul interact. And I won't die from cancer, no matter how much weed I smoke. According to these models.

      [–]bucetao6969 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

      There are very old models of how body, spirit and soul interact. And I won't die from cancer, no matter how much weed I smoke. According to these models.

      You're already a schizo and also smoke weed sometimes.

      You have a problem and you want to make it worse? Seriously?

      [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

      Every point of view has to expressed. It isn't like I never heard yours before.

      [–]Node 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

      "We's the only ones that knows how it really be." - GTA crackhead.

      But seeing the world differently than normies is sometimes a sign of clear mental function. People who live in and tolerate a society where freaks are encouraged to put their genitals into children's faces are not people I'm willing to accept as mentally healthy. Sadly, many such cases.

      [–]WoodyWoodPecker 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

      Apple's slogan "Think Different" was first used by Hitler.

      [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

      For me, this is a question of focus. Sadly, I ain't able to shift my focus purely from my will. But i don't regard it as a disability or such-alike.

      [–]bucetao6969 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

      Actually in the past year or so I've begun to think it may be a form of sub-clinical autism in me. I see things in the world very differently from anyone I know. It leads me to be somewhat detached from everything and everyone around me. Ironically, given how I was raised, these would be perfect traits for me to have entered politics and been really and truly evil. Fortunately for me, I actually want people to be happy and I am humble enough to know I don't have any special ability to know what would bring that about in the world. My arrogance comes out in that I am equally sure that nobody else has these abilities either, most especially those who most claim them. If two things happened, the world would be much better.

      I feel exactly as you. I actually act pretty normal in real life and manage to have normal conversations but ONLY because I made an deliberate effort throughout all my life to try and act like a normal person. I started this since I was 15, I noticed it before but that's the moment I started and tried acting like a normal person. I get better at it everyday.

      Because of this, sometimes I feel like a sociopath. Hell my sibling once joked "sociopath!" when I made a certain joke when we where watching american phsychopath but I'm not sure she meant it (I don't think so). I do think she has her suspicions, though my entire family is on the aggrement that I'm a weirdo sometimes.

      But the truth is I'm really just an autist that hides his autism well. You could take me for someone that doesn't have autism at all unless I tell you. People just think I'm a little weird sometimes.

      Look, you don't need to do this unless you need to act like a social being. You already admitted you don't want to actually cause evil so I think we're fine. If you wanted to act like your true self you could make a guild inside a MMORPG (assuming you have free time for it) and pretend you're roleplaying or something.

      [–]monkeymagic 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

      no. in fact it has often times seemed like an exercise in not only futility but also self depreciation.

      just being honest.

      [–]bucetao6969 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

      You're not a believer :)

      [–]chottohen 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

      I do not pray but after some thought came up with one way prayer might benefit you. You can do the same without directing it to a God. Before praying or working toward a goal, you would want to fully understand your situation and frame your wish/request clearly and succincty. That alone might be beneficial as in: Lord, I really want a 289 Mk II Shelby Cobra. I've never bothered you with any requests before so could you help me out this once? Not the 427 because that's way too much engine—just a street legal, cherry red, 289. Thank you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2XFarhnSnU If you're impatient, start at 13:00.

      [–]jet199 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

      When my car got hit by a bus my mad Christian colleague said she and her whole family were praying for me and that worked out OK.

      I think there's actually some evidence having other people paying for you helps you feel better but I don't think praying for yourself does much good.

      [–]DirewolfGhost 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

      If it did one wouldn't ever be able to prove it. Such is the nature of god and luck. Unless you see prayer as a form of meditation and self-reflection, in which case knowing oneself is often helpful.

      [–]HiddenFox 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

      I was raised in a Christian family. Church every Sundays and I even attended church groups for kids. I was taught to always pray every night, and like a good child I did.

      Once I turned 13-14 I started to really think for myself and was able to distance myself from the church. However the 'praying every night' thing stuck but I morphed it from less about praying to god and more about self mediation and reflection.

      I took the best parts of praying and made it into my daily meditation. Things like reflecting on my action of that day, remembering my family, being thankful for what I have and remembering those who are far less fortunate.

      I find it really helps keep me centered and grounded and gives me a great perspective on the world around me.

      Nowadays I read so much about the benefits of meditation and I'm pretty proud of myself I was able to figure this all out on my own!

      So yes, in a way praying has helped me.

      [–]bucetao6969 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

      You shapeshifted your praying into meditation.

      Medidation, yoga etc these things are great. Your past in the church community definitely helped you in the long run and you're better off for it even if you distanced yourself from the church. Btw people distance themselves from churches all the time if it stops being what they where initially there for.

      Look up "cultural christian", you might be one.

      Even if you're not a christian, you respect christian values. Even if you don't enforce it on yourself or others to follow the christian religion.

      [–]JerkChicken 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

      I wouldn't know which of the 3000 or so god's to pray to even if I chose to believe in any of them.

      [–]VantaFount 3 insightful - 6 fun3 insightful - 5 fun4 insightful - 6 fun -  (1 child)

      My prayer helped JerkChicken to poop.

      [–]StillLessons 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

      lol

      [–]LadrenaLynx 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

      I don't know whether or not it's because of praying or because of my hard work or maybe luck that things went the way they did. The mind is a powerful thing.

      [–]bucetao6969 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

      This question is fundamentally flawed. It's a giveaway you're either an atheist or not much into religion (or if you're religious, much of a believer).

      You don't pray when problems comes to you. You pray everyday. You pray to thank the lord for what he has given you, to ask for forgiveness when you stray off the good path, to ask for guidance with your problems, but not outright just solve everything (do you think he will give you everything for free?).

      People like women that hit the wall believe when problems start hitting at your door you go to the church and pray all your problems to no end and it will go all away. That's not how it works the Lord will see that you're praying to him to only get what you need. It's like using a prayer as a phone call to the genie to "hey solve this problem for me ok?".

      So a better way to ask this question is: "has praying improved your life?". I know people who pray everyday and go through misfortune but also go through good times. In the end their mindset is that they're thankful they have health and a good life.

      So I'd say yes.

      As for me, I'm an agnostic.

      [–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

      You do as you do. As well as I do, as I prefer.