1. God is not active in the universe.
2. Every religion was created by man.

That's it.

"God is in the universe"

Praise be to gravity!!!

And here I was expecting some intelligent discussion to taking place.

Silly Obbe.

1. God is not active in the universe.

Depends on how you define God. How about the fact that there are laws the cosmos follow; there is infact order to the universe. But, you don't have to bow down and worship gravity like KikoSanchez. Besides, I see God's works on a daily basis, I'm sorry you can't appreciate them.

Good grief--could it be the original Haywood? Welcome back, dude. Ahem. Back to topic.

I assume by point one that you mean that God does not interfere in the workings of the universe, which I sort of agree with. We all create our own reality by our thoughts, words and deeds.

Wanna know God's will? Just pay attention and see what happens. THAT'S God's will.

Good grief--could it be the original Haywood? Welcome back, dude. Ahem. Back to topic.

I assume by point one that you mean that God does not interfere in the workings of the universe, which I sort of agree with. We all create our own reality by our thoughts, words and deeds.

Wanna know God's will? Just pay attention and see what happens. THAT'S God's will.

No, I'm not the original Haywod but the name was available, and it's a good name, so I took it.

Regarding point one--yes, that's what I mean. The exact opposite of "It was God's will" (e.g. what one might say regarding the death of a child, etc.).

God is not involved in any of Man's doings; God provided the framework -- the laws of the Universe -- and wants things to progress according to those laws. He does not alter any outcomes that proceed from them, including the development of the Universe and our galaxy; of our solar system and the Earth; and ultimately of human beings and our behavior.

To pay attention and see what happens seems to be equivalent to watching evolution unfold. But we are more than spectators.

so therefore praying means absolutely nothing??

if god has everything planned out why pray at all??

"God is in the universe"

Praise be to gravity!!!

OMG this brought massive lulz

I pray to satan. Atleast he's killed less than god has, if any.

so therefore praying means absolutely nothing??

if god has everything planned out why pray at all??

The Universe--God, if you will--is programmed to give us what we choose. Say "I want this or that", the Universe replies "Okay--go ahead and want it," and thus you manifest the experience of wanting. Say "I CHOOSE this or that" and the Universe replies "Okay, here you go."

At a slightly higher level--in the words of Deepak Chopra, "prayer is a journey in consciousness--it takes yopu to a place different from ordinary thought."

The Universe--God, if you will--is programmed to give us what we choose. Say "I want this or that", the Universe replies "Okay--go ahead and want it," and thus you manifest the experience of wanting. Say "I CHOOSE this or that" and the Universe replies "Okay, here you go."

And that's the problem with religious fundamentalism. I think there are a lot of folks foaming at the mouth over what is happening in the Middle East.

The Universe--God, if you will--is programmed to give us what we choose. Say "I want this or that", the Universe replies "Okay--go ahead and want it," and thus you manifest the experience of wanting. Say "I CHOOSE this or that" and the Universe replies "Okay, here you go."

ummm, im a little confused here. my religious teachings, limited i know, state that prayer is communication with god where 'he' rewards your faith by giving you what the hell you want.

ie, parting of the red sea, walls of jericho etc.

so these people said i 'choose' that the sea will part/ walls will fall down instead of i 'want?'

1. God is not active in the universe.
2. Every religion was created by man.

That's it.

Deism much?

Your first line was not necessary and is erroneous. The complete absence of evidence of something is not proof of its existence, nor is the chance of its existence, assuming no evidence either way, anything but absoluletly negligable.

You are describing deism, though.

ummm, im a little confused here. my religious teachings, limited i know, state that prayer is communication with god where 'he' rewards your faith by giving you what the hell you want.

ie, parting of the red sea, walls of jericho etc.

so these people said i 'choose' that the sea will part/ walls will fall down instead of i 'want?'

In my understanding it's the attitude present when 'praying'.

When saying 'I want', the implication is that you cannot get the thing that you want. You want it because if you could get it, you would; and so you need intervention. To me this shows helplessness on the part of the praying person.

When you 'choose' something, you are saying that something is within your grasp, and that you are going to attain it through your will and action.

Reminds me of Thus Spake Zarathurstra.

Then again I think that God (if there is one) has given us everything we need to attain everything we decide to aim at, making prayer something aimed at the self, rather than aimed outwardly. Mind you, I tend to take most of these things a bit too un-literally for some people.