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At 19:30 EDT Phoenix due to land on Martian North Pole.
Please do your part and pray for Phoenix's safe landing.
Who knows; humanity's future may depend on it.
I for one will pray to Zoroaster & Ahura Mazda & Jeesus & Spagetti Monster for His healthy
touch-down (one of them gotta exist, for sure).
For a healthy touch-town of Phoenix I will offer The Gods Dallas Cowboys Superbowl loss
sacrifice.
Good thing I'm on the beach today, otherwise I'd bite my nails all day loong.

I recall biting my nails (metaphorically - I don't bite my nails) over a few events in my life and world events. Even though I knew my emotional reactions could not change the outcome. The towers were struck I bit my nails, someone is in the hospital I bite my nails, the invasion of Iraq and I bit my nails, my son hit the ball will he make it to first base I bite my nails...

I know there are those that pray for peace in War, pray for their team to win, pray for their loved one to not succumb to illness or death, etc...

I sort of do the same thing. I'm not praying to an entity, yet, I'm HOPING that things will go well. Lots of wishful thinking going on in my world! I find myself wishing for things even though I have no reason to believe that my thoughts can change the outcome. I do this all the time!

I think positive thoughts are helpful, in my life, even when I recognize I have no control over outcomes. When I think "Oh, I really, really wish this and that would occur" why do I do that? It makes no difference. Yet, I suppose when it doesn't come to pass, if it doesn't, I don't attribute the lack of results with a deity not coming through. If whatever I'm hopeful for does actually occur I just am thankful, yet, don't for a moment think my thoughts, or a deity, intervened.

Is there a significant difference, you think, between prayers and wishful thinking?

Moniker wrote:I recall biting my nails (metaphorically - I don't bite my nails) over a few events in my life and world events. Even though I knew my emotional reactions could not change the outcome. The towers were struck I bit my nails, someone is in the hospital I bite my nails, the invasion of Iraq and I bit my nails, my son hit the ball will he make it to first base I bite my nails...

I know there are those that pray for peace in War, pray for their team to win, pray for their loved one to not succumb to illness or death, etc...

I sort of do the same thing. I'm not praying to an entity, yet, I'm HOPING that things will go well. Lots of wishful thinking going on in my world! I find myself wishing for things even though I have no reason to believe that my thoughts can change the outcome. I do this all the time!

I think positive thoughts are helpful, in my life, even when I recognize I have no control over outcomes. When I think "Oh, I really, really wish this and that would occur" why do I do that? It makes no difference. Yet, I suppose when it doesn't come to pass, if it doesn't, I don't attribute the lack of results with a deity not coming through. If whatever I'm hopeful for does actually occur I just am thankful, yet, don't for a moment think my thoughts, or a deity, intervened.

Is there a significant difference, you think, between prayers and wishful thinking?

Sorry Moniker if I gave you the impression that I believe in prayers, I don't but your response was eloquent.
I didn't bite my nails when Twin Towers were hit, I was filled with much rage. Prayer is the most futile way of human expression.
If it was ever made a difference in any instance, my grandmother's family would have raised many grand children. (long story).

Mars Mission is very important, there is a good possibility that human survival may depend on it someday.

Why don't you just pray to Carl Sagan? He's probably out there waving a couple of sparklers going "Just a little to the left. That's it, just a little more...".

Mars Mission is very important, there is a good possibility that human survival may depend on it someday.

Even if true, there is no real purpose to human life anyway. So what's the point?

;)

Mars Mission is very important, there is a good possibility that human survival may depend on it someday.

Here again we see, above and beyond whatever else it may contain, the humor value of unreconstructed secular humanism. The problem with human pride is that once out of its cage, it tends to revel in its ability to run amok.

Even if true, there is no real purpose to human life anyway. So what's the point?

And this? Has KG actually now sunk to these levels of existentialist Dawkinism?

dartagnan wrote:

Mars Mission is very important, there is a good possibility that human survival may depend on it someday.

Even if true, there is no real purpose to human life anyway. So what's the point?
;)

It is the same point of winning THE SUPER BOWL, BEING A MILLIONAIRE, trying to leave better world for next generation.
Can you see the glory in these things?
I have a purpose as long as I live and I would like to create the same opportunity for my posterity.
That's all.

Droopy
Why don't you just pray to Carl Sagan? He's probably out there waving a couple of sparklers going "Just a little to the left. That's it, just a little more...".

I take it you can read but cannot grasp what is said, I said, "I don't believe in praying".
Besides, why waste your valuable time with Sagan? Go read your scriptures and be good boy.

Try to enjoy the daylight...

Droopy wrote:

Even if true, there is no real purpose to human life anyway. So what's the point?

And this? Has KG actually now sunk to these levels of existentialist Dawkinism?

False dichotomy.