Atheism

@edgarblythe,

Damn I admire your turn of phrase EB.

@eurocelticyankee,

Quote:

The ramblings of a zealot.

WOW ! I am impressed with that post. Look at the detailed argument, the faultless sequenced logic, the sheer wit, the constructive nature of the criticism, THE SHEER GENIUS.....now just watch how all the pathetic rats come scurrying out to agree. But still no argument. They are here to hear their own opnions, to see their sacred cows worshipped, not to tolerate a difference of opinion.....too scary.

1 Reply

@edgarblythe,

Quote:

I have this troll on ignore.

You dont have a choice. Even if you read a different opinion to your own, you still wouldnt understand. And yet again we have the A2K definition of troll (n) - someone who disagrees.

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@hingehead,

Quote:

Ignored him after about five posts - a new record.

You are so stupid you brag about your bigotry....how are those sphincter tightening exercises going ? I hope you wont need a tampon.

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@hingehead,

Quote:

Damn I admire your turn of phrase EB.

Sorry but he is booked out.

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@Ionus,

ZEALOT, says it all.

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@eurocelticyankee,

Quote:

The term Zealot, in Hebrew kanai (קנאי, frequently used in plural form, קנאים (kana'im)), means one who is zealous on behalf of God.

Quote:

ZEALOT, says it all.

I dont believe in God. I am Agnostic as anyone who has intelligently studied the situation but has not found God would admit. I just dont like pathetic little clowns attacking religious people.

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@Ionus,

Zealot. Oxford Dictionary,

A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.

Says it all.

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@eurocelticyankee,

Quote:

Says it all.

At best that is an extreme exageration.
Exactly what ability to compromise have you demonstrated, Zealot ?

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@cicerone imposter,

Cicerone Imposter wrote:

From the NYT:

Quote:

Long-Awaited Medical Study Questions the Power of Prayer

By BENEDICT CAREY
Published: March 31, 2006

Prayers offered by strangers had no effect on the recovery of people who were undergoing heart surgery, a large and long-awaited study has found.

Two counter-arguments:
(I may not be a Christian, but I am being sincere and regard these arguments as quite valid.)

1. In a study like yours, researchers would only be able to see the effects of prayer if prayer routinely had noticeable effects on patient health. What if prayer only worked once in while? Should we then stop trying?

2. God does not like it when we test Him:

Quote:

Matthew 4:5-7:

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.

6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

You cannot, as Ionus pointed out, prove your negative.
The article does not show prayer to be fruitless. Laughing

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So called scientific studies are a dime a dozen and not worth the paper they are printed on.

One study tried to determine the ability of vitamin C to relieve colds. The test subjects were chosen for their good health and then given a cold. One group was given a placebo, one group given nothing and one group given vitamin C. It was done correctly and concluded vitamin C was of no benefit. How little intelligence does it take to get simple things wrong.

Assumptions :
1) vitamin C is THE ingredient that relieves head colds.
2)vitamin C has the same effect on unhealthy or people pre-disposed to get head colds
3) being given a head cold is the same as having it occur when your immune system is low, or you are exposed to it naturally.

I could go on but you get the idea. Studies are to impress the ignorant.

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@cicerone imposter,

Quote:

Prayer doesn't work.

What is hypnosis ? It has been shown to cure warts. What is a placebo ? Nearly all studies involving placebos have produced a positive effect equivalent in some people to the actual drug.

One instance of prayer involved an anaesthetist helping a patient with a deforming and progressive skin disorder. The skin disorder had been misdiagnosed by the anaesthetist (surprise!) and it was a well know type that had been well tested for hypnosis which was found not to work. He was convinced he could help the patient and the patient recovered fully and is now living in London. He didnt know it was impossible but it raises the possibility of helping someone from a distance. It is the only known instance and has no known explanation apart from remote healing.

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@Ionus,

Quote:

Studies are to impress the ignorant.

There should be a study of studies. Are they alternatives to twiddling thumbs on big money?

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@Ionus,

There have been hundreds of studies on Vitamin C and the results (based on more valid "double blind " testing) have shown that vitamin C claims are generally unsupported.
Now, shall we conduct double blind studies re the power of prayer? or are results from prayer merely demonstrations of a "placebo" effect? Seems that you guys have it all worked out so that one cant really analyze anything.

If prayer has a positive outcome, prayer was obviously effective

If prayer had a negative or no effect, God was actually listening but his answer was NO.So once again prayer was effective.

Yep, no scientific research is needed. Lest just shut up and pray our asses off. Prayer and homeopathic medicine are two areas that are unable to be tested objectively so why even get shorts in a twist?

1 Reply

I suggest that all the god-botherers pray in one hand and **** in the other, and see which one fills up first.

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@Setanta,

Well thats a first for that phrase. How does one "Squeeze a loaf of prayer"?

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I like it.

To once again state the obvious, so long as anyone here responds to those two clowns, they have succeeded in diverting this thread from the intended subject of discussion.

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@farmerman,

Quote:

There have been hundreds of studies on Vitamin C

Hundreds ? Did you know that any drug administered to someone who doesnt need it produces no result ? My argument was to study people who claimed it worked for them. Every study I have seen is based on the average population. Would we test drugs the same way ?

Quote:

based on more valid "double blind " testing

Just exactly what do you think double blind will do with testing vitamin C ?
Your dismissal of placebo, prayer and hypnotism are not endearing to believe you have an open mind. These things work and I am surprised you think they dont.

What exactly do you think prayer is ? A placebo effect or self hypnosis because those have been proven to work, but not all the time. Like some drugs.

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Since the Bible and the church are obviously mistaken in telling us where we came from, how can we trust them to tell us where we are going? - Anonymous

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@Setanta,

You know **** for brains, it really worries me that you think you are an Atheist. It makes me feel uncomfortable being Agnostic. Thats too close to someone who is a poor excuse for an historian. Thank God we have Google or it would take you weeks to find a reply and go into your Tipsy Dickhead (ipse dixit) Mode.

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