tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8228534250232092345.post2116567077809502170..comments2014-04-07T11:19:48.660-07:00Comments on SD SHOUT (San Diego Secular Humanist Outreach): News and Discussions: Two competing storiessdshouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15990285549133850923noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8228534250232092345.post-35605518926223022222010-07-26T16:22:48.768-07:002010-07-26T16:22:48.768-07:00When my daughter, Ramona, was very sick recently, ...When my daughter, Ramona, was very sick recently, her father and step-mother stood over her several times and prayed aloud for her recovery. Ramona, being an atheist, didn't appreciate it, but couldn't do anything about it because of the breathing tube down her throat. I talked with her about it later, and we agreed that, since it made THEM feel better, it was all right. But had a modern emergency room and intensive care unit not been available, she might very well have died, prayer, or no prayer. I am grateful that we live when we do and where we do. But my gratitude is not a belief that 'god' spared her, but simply an overall feeling of humility and relief. There may not be an all powerful god, but that doesn't mean I control everying, either. Most of what happens in my life is entirely out of my control, and I must accept that. Some people need to lean on an idea that they are 'leaving it in god's hands' in order to let go of what they can't control anyway. I don't have a problem with that, as long as as they do everything that IS in their power to help, and that includes seeking proper medical care! Thankfully, my ex-husband and his wife, however religious, were happy to let the doctors assist 'god' in his work!grandma grunthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16005993798235303429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8228534250232092345.post-42271136078060565592010-07-25T02:17:10.173-07:002010-07-25T02:17:10.173-07:00Experiments have consistently demonstrated that pr...Experiments have consistently demonstrated that prayer doesn't work and that sick people who have many people praying for them often do worse than those who have no one praying for them.<br /><br />An aunt of mine got seriously ill in the Philippines recently. Because her daughter is a PhD with a good job, she could afford the best medical treatment for her mom. Fortunately, my aunt recovered due to the "miracle" of medical science. But of course, my relatives (all of whom are religious) started sending "Praise God" and "God is good!" emails, attributing my aunt's recovery to prayer. Of course, this was complete nonsense, as the proximate cause of her recovery was excellent medical care.<br /><br />I was so tempted to reply with an email stating, "Thank goodness for modern medicine and science" but refrained from doing so. I just let my relatives believe that the Sky Fairy heard all their mumblings and saved my aunt as a result. My relatives are like children who believe in Santa Claus. It is sad when adults believe in fairy tales.<br /><br />Ironically, most of my relatives do not believe in evolution by natural selection, yet they go to medical doctors when they get sick. Much of modern medicine is based on evolutionary biology. If my relatives were consistent with their beliefs, they would go to faith healers when they became ill.<br /><br />The problem with religious people is that they have no clue about the concept of causation. They attribute everything positive to God. And when their prayers aren't answered or when something tragic happens, they rationalize this by the statement, "God works in strange ways." What a cop-out!Wilfredo Perezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04546566058660476572noreply@blogger.com