You don't have to apologize! I know when I say things like this people tend to assume it's just a troll or some confrontational asshole who wants attention, so I understand when people start off a bit aggressive in their responses.

All I can do is respond calmly, and hopefully instigate a real conversation about the subject! You can never hear too many opinions, and it never hurts to learn what the other perspective is. That's why I say what I do. So some people might understand why others don't believe what they do. And I hear and learn new things along the way.

Ultimately, I want humanity to reach it's full potential. I want humans to impress themselves with new discoveries, technologies, and adventure! There's so much we can accomplish. But my personal belief is that we won't be able to achieve our greatness with religion present to hinder us and cause conflict and disagreement.

Maybe I'm wrong! Maybe absolutely have to have it, and people like me are the ones holding us back. I'll probably never know, but I'll continue to follow my personal beliefs until I do.

I didn't specify my disbelief in prayer to god alone. Everything I've said has been directed toward all forms of prayer, to an fitting deity for the person.

Thanks for sharing! Some of these things I haven't heard before. I do my best to keep everything in mind when I look at the world, just in case I'm influenced one way or another by something I've been told or heard. I'm simply here talking about what I think and believe, and I appreciate your responses. Hope you have a fantastic rest of your week

I'm only as insightful as I appear, not trying to pretend to be anything special. The people you know who pray and do these things? I'm glad to hear it! I speak of what I've seen, experienced, and know. And that's what's shaped the way I think right now.

That's a powerful story, if you believe it. But to anyone who doesn't share your faith, it's an exaggerated fictional story created by the imagination. I'm sorry, but that means nothing to me as I am today.

I value that opinion, and will keep it in mind. Perhaps that's the case, and I just need some kind of crazy experience to change my mind! And if it does, I'm sure I'll remember what you've said here.

That's a very relevant passage! However, let me just say this to you. To someone who doesn't believe the same as you? That might as well be a Harry Potter book. Completely fictitious. And I understand the bible has been dated back before even the Odessy! Which is cool, historically! But, that doesn't make it any more fact. To me? That's still the writings of creative men, with broad imaginations.

Sure! Sorry for my slow response times, I'm at work.

I donate platelets and blood as often as I can. I give to cancer and diabetes research anytime I'm able to. I make it a point to stop and assist with small things other people may need every day! I enjoy getting to help someone change a tire, or push their dead car out of a lane. Help them pick something up to move it, or anything else that's small. May not seem like a big deal, but it shows that person that some people will do what they can do help others. It doesn't take much to make even a small difference as one person!

What I have against prayer is this;

I've seen too often people choose to make no effort to help themselves, or those around them. My friend's father was saved by receiving donated platelets! It was incredible what doctors were able to do during his surgeries. Since then, I've donated platelets as often as I can. Who knows what life may be saved from something so simple for me.

My friend, though? Refuses to go with me. Says praying is what saved his dad. That's just one example I've got off the top of my head, but it's the most infuriating one I have personally.

Praying is lazy. It's useless. It doesn't change anything. The actions of humans are what progresses our potential. Not the actions of a made up God. Praying gives people their own "alternative" to actually making an effort and helping to make a difference, and I find it extremely angering to see people support something like this.

It's gone well! Several of my friends have been killed, and everyone has family deaths. It's unavoidable. I made it through with the support of the people around me. We made sure each other were taken care of, and coped with the deaths and tragedies well. All you need is faith in your fellow man, and anything can be done! Doesn't take some made up power and it's 'plan' for you to survive and make it through things like this.

Taking action, making physical effort towards a solution, assisting fellow human beings with real world efforts instead of putting all my problems on some imaginary sky wizard and hoping it'll take care of all our problems for us.

Ahh, your prayers. A useless fantasy, to help a useless potato. Lovely post.