Sending Positive Thoughts

[1holycatholic]

On many forums when someone is in some form of distress a self-proclaimed atheist will often say something like:
“I can’t pray for you, but I will send positive thoughts your way.”
How exactly does this work? What is the nature and efficacy of positive thoughts?

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Somebody’s got some 'splainin to do.

 

[reggieM]

:yup:

 

[Sideline]

On many forums when someone is in some form of distress a self-proclaimed atheist will often say something like:
“I can’t pray for you, but I will send positive thoughts your way.”
How exactly does this work? What is the nature and efficacy of positive thoughts?

Somebody’s got some 'splainin to do.

What an odd thing for an atheist to say. It seems like this person is quibbling over semantics.

Personally, I don’t tell people I will pray for them, but then I don’t tell people I’m going to send them positive thoughts either. I can’t see how thinking about something, positively or negatively, could make any difference to anything at all. I also don’t offer to cast spells, do rain dances, build totems, fast, sacrifice goats, or cast salt over my shoulder for people either.

On the other hand, I don’t go out of my way to tell people I’m ***not ***going to pray for them. As a matter of fact, if asked, I will pray for people. I don’t think anyone is listening, but it seems much easier and kinder to tell people that I’ll make the effort rather than tell them they were wrong for asking.

I don’t sacrifice goats though, no matter how much I love the person.

 

[1holycatholic]

What an odd thing for an atheist to say.

Not as odd as the atheists who profess a belief in the efficacy of dowsing. :doh2:

 

[Sideline]

Not as odd as the atheists who profess a belief in the efficacy of dowsing. :doh2:

Definitely!! :clapping:

Oooh, or atheists who believe in therapeutic touch. I like to call it non-therapeutic hand waving, or as Michael Shermer put it, “touchy-feely without the touchy.”

 

[Socrates4Jesus]

On many forums when someone is in some form of distress a self-proclaimed atheist will often say something like:
“I can’t pray for you, but I will send positive thoughts your way.”
How exactly does this work? What is the nature and efficacy of positive thoughts?

http://www.bellenterprises.com/images/LightningFingers.png

Somebody’s got some 'splainin to do.

Isn’t saying such is actually akin to St. Paul’s words?

For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit …
(Colossians 2:5)



My thought is that neither statement should be taken literally.

Essentially both might be saying something like, “I’ll be thinking about you.”

 

[puzzleannie]

On many forums when someone is in some form of distress a self-proclaimed atheist will often say something like:"I can’t pray for you, but I will send positive thoughts your way."How exactly does this work? What is the nature and efficacy of positive thoughts?

Somebody’s got some 'splainin to do.

it works like this, there is no god who can help you, you are on your own, but hey look on the bright side, I’m rooting for you, and anyhoo, wouldn’t you rather have me for a friend, than God and all his saints and angels?

in charity we take it in the spirit intended, about on par with, and as useful as “have a nice day”. On the other hand I know a lot of atheists who will go out of their way to give practical help as well as good wishes.

however it would tempt me to reply, I hope you never send negative thoughts my way.

 

[AndyF]

1holycatholic:

What kind of answer are you looking for?. If they were bound to an agreed dogma of their own, then you may get at least a collective agreement. But as it is you will get as many opinions has you have atheists.

It doesn’t make sense logically(they love that) either. Aside from catering to the self, what good does it do them to assist others. There is nothing that is rewarding beyond their own lives. Life becomes a fleeting moment of awareness. In fact, the time it takes to pass on these thoughts is wasted time better spent on self. Don’t believe me, ask an atheist.

Andy

 

[Pug]

Wouldn’t your average atheist [edited] agree that many social conventions serve a purpose. Whether or not the atheist agrees with the following, it is still true that it is natural and just to care about the welfare of our neighbor, which makes the sentiment quite understandable.

Of course, that statement could be a method of proselytizing for the cause. It depends on the person.

 

[AndyF]

Pug:

To what permanent advantage? What’s wrong with chaos? Being an atheist my precepts state that chaos is a valid way to live. In fact my precepts state that I should destroy human life as long as it pleasures me. Outside of the human measures to keep me in check, even that serves no lasting purpose. Chaos lovers like me continue to come into existance and the prisons become full. If someone kills me so what I no longer exist.

If life(which includes extinction) is a preset time period, anything that deviates from one’s own pleasure isn’t logical.

The irony is it never occurs to the atheist that the level of peace and well being he enjoys in this world is due to the majority of believers who shun chaos and choose to live by the Law. He lives in an existence specially made for his well being, and he owes it all to the Servants of God, and the precepts of the Law.

You figure.

Andy

 

[Sideline]

[edited] an atheist (me)… would pray for people if asked. Not because praying does any good, but because it is worthwhile to be kind to others.

 

[Sideline]

The irony is it never occurs to the atheist that the level of peace and well being he enjoys in this world is due to the majority of believers who shun chaos and choose to live by the Law. He lives in an existence specially made for his well being, and he owes it all to the Servants of God, and the precepts of the Law.

You figure.

Andy

You know, everyone else was being kind and charitable until you started posting. So much for your theory that people like you are spreading the well-being and contentment.

 

[AndyF]

Sideline:

They also bring children to penitentiaries and show them the “Chair” and the nasty thinks that can happen.

If I can bring an athiest to the “chair” of his belief and save him this way, then the Church is pleased and he will come to appreciate it eventually. Besides, nothing I said is outside the permissible range of the atheist,.the point being they are comfortable with no laws and no God, therefore anyone can live by their own standards and now they will need to honor that view.

I didn’t even touch on the impact this will have on their children.

The truth hurts sometime.

Andy

 

[Sideline]

Sideline:

They also bring children to penitentiaries and show them the “Chair” and the nasty thinks that can happen.

If I can bring an athiest to the “chair” of his belief and save him this way, then the Church is pleased and he will come to appreciate it eventually.

Oh, so the ends justify the means. Got it. The credo of tyrants and psychopaths everywhere.

Interesting debate tactic.

Besides, nothing I said is outside the permissible range of the atheist,.the point being they are comfortable with no laws and no God, therefore anyone can live by their own standards and now they will need to honor that view.

Catholics believe in torture, murder, and slavery. Well, most don’t, but nothing I said is outside the permissible range of the Catholic. After all, they are fine with dogmatic and unenlightened rulers forcing their every move.

Are you seeing how ridiculous this tactic is yet?

I didn’t even touch on the impact this will have on their children.

I too hate how Catholics brainwash their children and fill their heads with imaginary patriarchs that are constantly judging them.

Yes, the truth does hurt. But hey, I’m only doing it for your own good.

Perhaps we should take this to another thread and let the people who found the OP interesting have this one back.

 

[Leela]

On many forums when someone is in some form of distress a self-proclaimed atheist will often say something like:
“I can’t pray for you, but I will send positive thoughts your way.”
How exactly does this work? What is the nature and efficacy of positive thoughts?

Somebody’s got some 'splainin to do.

Hi all,

Reggie, why are you rolling around on the floor laughing? Are your prayers more powerful than an atheists positive thoughts?

What is the efficacy of prayer? That could use some ‘splainin’, too, don’t you think.

Best,
Leela

 

[davidv]

Hi all,

Reggie, why are you rolling around on the floor laughing? Are your prayers more powerful than an atheists positive thoughts?

What is the efficacy of prayer? That could use some ‘splainin’, too, don’t you think.

Best,
Leela

If he is "righteous’ he can lay claim to this:

The prayer of arighteous man has great power in its effects.

James 5:16 RSV​

 

[reggieM]

Hi all,

Reggie, why are you rolling around on the floor laughing?

It was just an icon directed at the photo of the guy with electricity in his fingers. Not meant against any person.

Are your prayers more powerful than an atheists positive thoughts?

I don’t see the “sending of positive thoughts” as being consistent with atheistic materialism. But atheists must think that sending positive thoughts is more powerful than prayer because they believe that prayer is useless. How is the sending of positive thoughts measured and evaluated by the atheistic-materialist (to determine that it is more powerful than prayer)?

What is the efficacy of prayer?

That is a good question to pursue. I can help you look into it if you want, but it will require some research and reading.

That could use some ‘splainin’, too, don’t you think.

I fully agree.

 

[reggieM]

As a matter of fact, if asked, I will pray for people. I don’t think anyone is listening, but it seems much easier and kinder to tell people that I’ll make the effort rather than tell them they were wrong for asking.

That strikes me as a charitable and considerate response. The fact that you would offer prayer for someone can have a very good effect for the person who asked - even if you don’t believe in it. The person can be encouraged to know that you made that offering of prayer.

Now as for whether prayer “works” or not, I hope you would pursue that idea. Even in atheistic terms, prayer can increase an inner spirit – an awareness.

Part of recognizing how prayer “works” is to become more sensitive and aware of how your prayer is being answered and the result it is actually having.

In any case, it’s very good to hear that you do that for others when asked. Thanks.

 

[Nepenthe]

Well, I do not know how to pray to a deity, nor wish to - in fact, since I did not pray along with my (mostly rabidly, reactionary Lutherans, especially the teachers) in a public grade school - and no, I didn’t make a big deal of it, I just sat quietly - but I was noticed, and I was forever disallowed form eating lunch for the three and a half years I was there. I was not a rebellious, but precocious, and strong in my will and mind even at that age.

But I have, many many times on this forum, and to complete strangers in the real world, and to family members (for whom that is entirely acceptable and appreciated), shown my deepest hopes and wishes and sometimes very emotional condolences for them, wished them every good thing, and assured them that they would remain in my thoughts, often forever.

If that isn’t good enough for you, that’s okay by me, but I will still take the effort, emotion, and commitment to continue to do so. May I suggest you do not turn away anyone who wishes you well, and has no thought of harm? I do! And when people pray for me, unless it’s that sourpuss “I’ll pray for your soul, since you just aren’t enough like me to have any particular hope of anything but the very worst i can conceive of you suffering, nyah” was some people seem to enjoy so very much. That is a little annoying, but slides off my back as the silly, rather malicious but fangless insubstantiality that it is.

 

[Sideline]

But I have, many many times on this forum, and to complete strangers in the real world, and to family members (for whom that is entirely acceptable and appreciated), shown my deepest hopes and wishes and sometimes very emotional condolences for them, wished them every good thing, and assured them that they would remain in my thoughts, often forever.

That doesn’t sound to me like what was suggested in the first post. I wish people well. I have fond thoughts of people I know. I have told people of my hopes and wishes for them. And I, too, keep people in my thoughts. However, I’m sure that keeping people in my thoughts benefits me more than it does them… unless I actually do something to show them that they were in my thoughts.

I still think it is really odd to say to someone, “I’ll send you positive thoughts.” What that suggests to me is that they think that their thoughts can miraculously jump the divide between their heads and the other person’s.

Like prayer, if someone wants me to send my thoughts, I’ll certainly attempt it. I’ll focus on the person and think good things, but I figure that this is a pretty useless activity unless I really do send them my thoughts through mail, email, the telephone, or showing up in person.