Comments on: Scrutinizing the Value of Charlie Butts

By: Jeff Eyges

Jeff Eyges — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:25:08 +0000

Yeah, seriously. With friends like that…

By: Parrotlover77

Parrotlover77 — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:27:33 +0000

Yea… Southern Baptists. What can I say?

I’ve seen prayer circles/lists in even more liberal churches, but the “praises” part seems to be, so far, unique to Southern Baptists.

That should really come as no surprise.

As for the note taking… I’ve seen that too. I still clearly remember being told with authority by my fundie relatives that their pastor clearly told them that the scripture says only 5000 Jews will be allowed into heaven. And only that many because they are god’s chosen people. Well, shit. If that’s how he treats his friends…

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:22:01 +0000

These people must have extraordinarily low self-esteem issues if they’re so damned eager to bow subserviently in worship like this. I guess this is why they list pride as one of the deadly sins.

I find it hard to imagine another activity at which reason is so effectively ass-raped by the participants. I have a pretty good mental image in my head of what you describe. It does remind me of audience members who are listening to their scam arti….I mean, Pastor give the sermon complete with scriptural references, and they are taking notes, like its Anatomy 101 or something. What, is it going to be on the final?!

By: Parrotlover77

Parrotlover77 — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:19:21 +0000

It’s an interesting experience. In the Sunday School circle, they sit around and say “any updates?” and then people will say so-and-so is out of intensive care and you’ll hear somebody else then say “that’s a praise!” and the secretary of the meeting will scurry and write down the great miracle of god! Late on, of course, even if that person dies, the praise is not erased. Because, you know, it was god’s plan and all.

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 04 May 2009 02:29:01 +0000

I’ve never heard of tracking praises. I guess I’m not surprised that they engage in this type of delusional reinforcement. Leave it to Christians to take something stupid and make it even worse.

By: Parrotlover77

Parrotlover77 — Sun, 03 May 2009 15:28:23 +0000

I have relatives that not only activate the prayer circle (or prayer list, as they call it) as you just mentioned, but also track “praises” (basically, the person got better, so praise god). I would absolutely love to compare those two lists…

Also, these prayer lists have some sort of international network. In some special cases (not sure how the factor is determined), your name could end up being prayed for world-wide due to some sort of prayer list network. I have never inquired how that works — I honestly am afraid to ask about the details. lol.

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 02 May 2009 10:51:13 +0000

I know someone who, at the first sign of any misfortune, contacts her church’s “prayer circle” to activate it, kind of like a celestial SWAT team on high alert. It conjures up images of prudish church women sliding down fireman poles, alarms blaring, going “Hut! Hut! Hut! Hut!” Its both really sad and highly amusing at the same time.

What I find most fascinating about her, and her fellow believers, is that they invest so heavily, emotionally and psychologically, in the idea of prayer without having any idea how fundamentally flawed the entire concept is. Do they really think that the God they believe in is not only all-knowing (which obviates the need to pray, one would think) and furthermore has a plan for everyone and everything (again, what’s the point of praying?) but might be willing to bend his own rules just so some wanker in the Bible Belt can get rid of his headache?

They pray for healing, especially when someone is gravely ill, which I can fully understand as a human emotional response. That’s fine, but its completely at odds with Christian theology. Either the patient will recover or he won’t. If he doesn’t, the “its God’s plan” excuse is trotted out. If he does it ceases to be part of God’s plan, as if these clowns would have any idea what that is, and instead is hailed as a miracle only obtainable through praying hard enough. God can’t lose with these people.

Of course, they’re only one rational thought away from having it all crash down around them, which makes the whole silly notion of prayer even more ridiculous. I wonder if they realize that?

By: Parrotlover77

Parrotlover77 — Fri, 01 May 2009 22:30:33 +0000

Lindsay – that is exactly what it is. It’s a ritual used to find the like-minded individuals in the room and to assert that their god has a much, much bigger dick than everybody else’s god.

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:11:01 +0000

I’ve never understood the function of prayer before or after meetings. Is it a call for guidance? It just comes across as an empty action more for show than for anything else.

By: Michael Nietzsche

Michael Nietzsche — Fri, 01 May 2009 07:00:26 +0000

Geebus can kiss my big black ass!!!!! Let that be the very first thing he does when their IMAGINARY ‘ghourd’ NEVER comes back!

By: dvsrat

dvsrat — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:02:17 +0000

And where would we be without Liberty Counsel? The hinge-pin of our culture. The great pioneers who are dedicated to preserving the land of our forefathers.

The great Liberty Counsel!!

Hip, hip hooray!!!

By: FSM_Ed

FSM_Ed — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:35:14 +0000

Another good article, thanks BOF! I agree with Brian, I’m tired of having their idiotic unfounded beliefs shoved in my face all the time. Venting occasionally helps.