Atheists fall to their needs and beg God when confronted with a dying child or other major catastrophe. Those prayers do not necessarily reflect a newfound belief in God, but the level of desperation and desire that the person is experiencing. Therefore, prayer reflects more than a request; it also reflects the depth of a person's desire to attain a need. Because prayer serves multiple functions, it seems fair to suggest that people who do not get things that they want and need may need to consider prayer. Prayer, if nothing else, is a designated period of contemplative thought. Prayer can help reveal the steps that a person should take in order to attain certain goals. Prayer can be motivational, giving a person the energy to continue to work to attain goals, even in the face of tremendous adversity....
Even more important is the fact that prayer can have this power even if faith is misplaced and there is no God. Prayer can serve as a means of meditation and focus, making it more likely for someone to achieve their goals, even without any type of divine intervention. Furthermore, while it is difficult to imagine God as a punitive entity who would deny needs and wants for lack of a prayer, today's society is certainly so hectic that it can be hard for people to hear God, even when he is speaking to them. Designating time for prayer not only gives people an opportunity to talk to God, but also gives them the opportunity to listen. That such dedicated time for reflection might result in a greater percentage of wants and needs fulfilled should come as no surprise to anyone who understands human motivation.
Power of Myths Myths are probably one of the most misunderstood phenomena because of their slightly absurd and almost unreal elements. While ancient myths may have lost their glory to many, they are still considered important by people like Joseph Campbell who have tried to unearth the mystery surrounding them. Campbell in his book Power of Myth has tried to highlight just that- 'power of myths'. Why are myths important, what
God and Evil "If God Exists, then Why…":Understanding and Countering Certain "Proofs" of God's Non-Existence The question of whether or not God exists is central to many modes of understanding and systems of knowledge, both theological and philosophical, and the implications of the answer to this question -- and of the question itself -- are quite far reaching indeed. The very fabric of reality depends upon the knowledge that this question seeks
The fact that Lysistrata's "came to power" by virtue of her own leadership abilities which were recognized and celebrated by their peers rather than having them thrust upon her from above is pointed out by Ober (1989), who reports, "The Athenians' demonstrated concern with native intelligence, their distrust of elite education, and their respect for the authority of the elders are parodied by Aristophanes, who mimics rhetorical topoi in
Nearly all of the attempts of Catholic Church to unite Orthodox Christians failed and what they achieved are religious hatred and distrust to Catholic Church. Nowadays Catholicism has more than a billion followers all over the world. Their spiritual leader Pope John Paul II does a great work to make a dialogue between different confessions and does a lot to reconcile the representatives of different confessions. Bartholomew I, who is the
Power of the Medieval Church There is little doubt that the Church was one of the most powerful institutions in Medieval Europe. Many factors contributed to its remarkable success. Among these was the importance of religion in the everyday lives of people of all classes and backgrounds. It is not by accident that the Middle Ages is sometimes known as "The Age of Faith." In a world that had not
Since its original release in 1999, Power in the Pulpit has become a classic in its field and one of the only credible texts of its kind. In Power in the Pulpit, veteran preachers and theology scholars Jerry Vines and Jim Shaddax focus on helping readers understand how to develop and deliver effective expository sermons: sermons that remain true to the core wisdom of the Bible and which explain Biblical
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