lets pray for our troops

Ticomaya wrote:

You must have a different concept of "public prayer" than I do.

Indeed, my understanding of my native language is such that i don't consider that more than one individual acting in concert is incompatible with the use of the adjective private.

Dasha, you are correct in asserting that all members of the religions of the Abrahamic tradition (i.e., Jews, Christians and Muslims) purport that they refer to the same unique deity.

Setanta wrote:

Dasha, you are correct in asserting that all members of the religions of the Abrahamic tradition (i.e., Jews, Christians and Muslims) purport that they refer to the same unique deity.

Isn't it strange then how we became deadly foes - we, the western, or christian civilizations that we heathens are also a part of with the muslim civilizations.... somehow it seems to me to be against all religions.

In any event, I've already pointed out that Jesus did not condemn public praying completely.

In any event, I've already pointed out that Jesus did not condemn public praying completely.

Do you actually believe, Tico, (whatever the theology of it), that there is no difference between christians praying together where they have come together for that purpose, and placing this type of thread on a public bulletin board...or, for that matter, their praying together in a church, or someone's home, and their getting together in a group to pray loudly in, say, the middle of a large shopping mall?

In any event, I've already pointed out that Jesus did not condemn public praying completely.

Ticomaya wrote:

In any event, I've already pointed out that Jesus did not condemn public praying completely.

Your bald assertion to that effect does not constitute evidence that it were so.

Ticomaya wrote:

In any event, I've already pointed out that Jesus did not condemn public praying completely.

Jesus himself engaged mostly (as I recall) in private prayer only. This, together with Matthew 6:5-6 miight well be interpreted as showing his disapproval of public prayer.

Ticomaya wrote:

In any event, I've already pointed out that Jesus did not condemn public praying completely.

Jesus also didn't condemn having an orgy at the pulpit during morning services.

At least he made mention of not praying in public. In addition, as Walter pointed out he really didn't pray in public. Now ask yourself, what would Jesus do?

Setanta wrote:

Ticomaya wrote:

In any event, I've already pointed out that Jesus did not condemn public praying completely.

Your bald assertion to that effect does not constitute evidence that it were so.

But I believe it to be so. Since it appears you aren't a Christian, you will understand if I don't place all that much weight in your interpretations of Jesus' teachings.

Jesus prayed in public with his followers. What makes it right or wrong is the motive of the prayer. If Jesus prayed in the spirit of showing himself to be holier than those around him watching him pray, he would have been doing it in the wrong spirit. But neither Jesus nor Paul were ashamed to pray in public.

Jesus prayed in public with his followers. What makes it right or wrong is the motive of the prayer. If Jesus prayed in the spirit of showing himself to be holier than those around him watching him pray, he would have been doing it in the wrong spirit. But neither Jesus nor Paul were ashamed to pray in public.

What did Jesus pray for? Demise of the Roman Empire? Big lottery win? Surely as Gods Son he didnt need to pray, a quick chat after dinner could have settled everything?

dlowan wrote:

Do you actually believe, Tico, (whatever the theology of it), that there is no difference between christians praying together where they have come together for that purpose, and placing this type of thread on a public bulletin board...or, for that matter, their praying together in a church, or someone's home, and their getting together in a group to pray loudly in, say, the middle of a large shopping mall?

I actually believe that when the title of the thread is "let's pray for our troops," assuming the purpose of the thread was was just that, that it is a call to come together and pray. I see it as an invitation to pray ... and invitation that one has no compulsion to accept. I find that decidedly different than a group of folks gathering together in the middle of a large shopping mall to pray loudly.

Ticomaya wrote:

Setanta wrote:

Ticomaya wrote:

In any event, I've already pointed out that Jesus did not condemn public praying completely.

Your bald assertion to that effect does not constitute evidence that it were so.

But I believe it to be so. Since it appears you aren't a Christian, you will understand if I don't place all that much weight in your interpretations of Jesus' teachings.

And . . .

Ticomaya wrote:

Jesus prayed in public with his followers. What makes it right or wrong is the motive of the prayer. If Jesus prayed in the spirit of showing himself to be holier than those around him watching him pray, he would have been doing it in the wrong spirit. But neither Jesus nor Paul were ashamed to pray in public.

You continue to attemt to assert that a group of believers praying together constitutes a public act. Unless this occurs in the known presence of non-believers, it is still a private act.

Additionally, you continue to make assertions about scripture which strongly suggest to me that you are unfamiliar with Pauline scripture, and the work of early church scholars such as Origen, Pamphilus, Arius and Eusebius. You don't need to place any weight on my contentions, and my experience of your past arrogance is that you don't hear anyone else, because you only listen to yourself. However, i educated myself very thoroughly both in scripture and in the early exegetical history of christianity beginnning almost forty years ago. I am no longer able to play the quoting chapter and verse game very well, because i freed myself of all that nonsense more than thirty years ago. None of which changes the fact that i'm very well informed on the exegetical history of christianity, and can find what i need on that topic very damned quickly online. I have no reason to assume--and from what you have written here every reason not to assume--that you know squat about the Pauline aspects of christianity and the exegetical history of the early church.

Ticomaya wrote:

Jesus prayed in public with his followers. What makes it right or wrong is the motive of the prayer. If Jesus prayed in the spirit of showing himself to be holier than those around him watching him pray, he would have been doing it in the wrong spirit. But neither Jesus nor Paul were ashamed to pray in public.

Mark 1:35
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Matthew 26:44
And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Matthew 26:39
And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Luke 5:16
And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Luke 22:41
And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

I wasn't able to find any passages substantiating that claim.

And are we now comparing Paul with Jesus?