Prayer, like the belief in a god or gods, is a cultural and mental phenomenon. Part of my self-deprogramming from my Christian upbringing was to see what would happen if I stopped praying. While it wasn’t scientific, because it was so subjective, it did show me that nothing changes significantly in your life when you do or don’t pray. In fact, the only thing I experienced was a feeling of peace and freedom from the tyranny of having to worship and talk to an imaginary friend.

There have been several studies about prayer, most of which have been all over the place. Unsurprisingly, most studies were flawed or unduly influenced in some way. Dr. Herbert Benson, a cardiologist and director of the Mind/Body Medical Institute conducted a meta study on prayer, which concluded that there was no statistical difference between people who prayed, and those that didn’t. In some cases, prayer seemed to cause more harm than good.

A 1997 study at the University of New Mexico, involving 40 alcoholics in rehabilitation, found that the men and women who knew they were being prayed for actually fared worse.

The other interesting thing about prayer is how it affects your decisions. I was reminded of the insidious nature of prayer by a recent post, The Deceit of Prayer. Not only does prayer deliver nothing, it also promotes inaction.

it traps a person into non action, into a pattern of passive waiting, of believing they are not able to control their lives, of waiting on someone/thing else to solve problems. To the extent that some people are unable to make any decisions without first waiting on god. How many people are trapped in destructive marriages waiting for god to heal their partners, to change their personalities, to make things better. How many wait for years, praying for god to get them the right job, and not taking control and going and doing whatever it takes? How many times have we read about children dying for lack of medical intervention – while parents pray and believe god instead?

While prayer may seem like the healthiest and best thing for a person to do, it may actually be a deterrent towards living a full life – similar to the mental and emotional shackles that religion imposes on its followers.

The Ineffectiveness of Prayer is a post from: Freethinker

This cartoon was created by Tracie Harris, a graphic designer in Austin, TX. Her long, slow recovery from a rabid fundamentalist upbringing led her to the creation of Atheist Eve.

Christian Hypocrisy is a post from: Freethinker

Theology presents an imaginative fabrication of our existence, quenching our mind’s desire to never die. Our inherent superstitious tendencies attempt to accept a metaphysical meaning that has no grounding in reality. Yet, for all human cultures, there is a clinging to folklore, and a suspension of rational and logical thought for explanations that serve three prevalent desires.

Three Prevalent Desires

1. We desire to know why we exist
2. We desire to know the purpose and meaning of events in our life
3. We desire the ability to live forever.

The latter is experienced by all living animals, in the form of conscious and unconscious survivalism. However, when higher reasoning is introduced – present in all fully-functioning human beings – all three desires become what a psychologist might call unresolved conflict.

Religions provide the most cohesive and tangible answer to these desires. For the religious superstitious, answers provided by religions are logical and reasonable. This is true, but only when considered in ignorance of facts and history, and void of true critical thought.

Science has shown us attributes of our observable universe, and has exposed religious explanations for what they are, complete bullshit. The interesting thing about science is that it doesn’t quench our desires, it only strives to answer them. Science says that we can physically observe a universe that appears to have evolved, and was most likely started by something called The Big Bang.

Science doesn’t explain or offer any factual explanations as to why we exist. It’s not that science doesn’t want to know these answers, because it most certainly does. The reason it takes this position, is because based on our current knowledge, to provide an answer would be greater than or equal to bullshit.

Explanation of Life ≥ Bullshit is a post from: Freethinker

What is God? Is it an idea you’ve derived from one of the many versions of the Christian bible? Since these bibles were written by men, how can you be so sure that the idea they describe is accurate? What leads you to think that their understanding of God was any better than yours would have been had you not read their words? You may have noticed that the God described in the Old Testament is fairly different from the one mentioned in the New Testament. Which is the correct God, and how do you know?

What is God? Is it an idea you have been taught by your family, friends, church, and culture? You may have noticed that there is great variability in what people around you believe about God. Who is right, and how do you know? What if you’ve been worshipping the wrong God all this time?

What is God? Perhaps what you are worshipping is your own unique understanding of God based on everything you’ve been taught, your personal experiences, and how you’ve interpreted them. This would certainly make sense and is probably how most religious people understand God. But how is this meaningfully different from worshipping yourself? Wouldn’t this mean that worship is really a form of self-love?

It’s a thought-provoking question. I have my answer, do you have yours?

What is God? is a post from: Freethinker

Christianity: The belief that some cosmic Jewish Zombie can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him that you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity, because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree.

Makes perfect sense.

Definition of Christianity is a post from: Freethinker

Freethinkers who have come from evangelical homes, like myself, know the intense social pressure that comes from their extended family. This is especially true when the grandparent believes you’re leading their grandchildren straight to hell!

There’s a song by David Bazan – someone who has also gone through a major faith transition – that fully understands the position that freethinking parents find themselves in. His song, Bearing Witness, captures exactly how I feel as a parent, but also repurposes religious vernacular to offer encouragement to those who have chosen a rational and logical belief system, and parenting style.

I clung to miracles I have not seen
From ancient autographs I cannot read
And though I’ve repented
I’m still tempted, I admit
But it’s not what bearing witness is

Too full of prophecy and fear to see
The revelation right in front of me
So sick and tired of trying to make the pieces fit
Because it’s not what bearing witness is

When the gap between
What I hoped would be
And what is makes me weep for my kids
I take a cleansing breath
And make a positive confession
But is that what bearing witness is

Though it may alienate your family
And blur the lines of your identity
Let go of what you know
And honor what exists
Son, that’s what bearing witness is
Daughter, that’s what bearing witness is

The last paragraph is the most powerful statement for me. Every parent that has experienced a transition from make believe to freethinking, has felt the alienation from their family, and initial blurring of their identity. For me, it includes a loss of intimacy. I no longer have the ability to talk deeply or philosophically with my parents, because the foundation of our belief system and world views are so deeply opposing.

I feel fortunate and hopeful though, because I’m in the unique position to help stop the superstitious beliefs that have accompanied my family lineage for as long as anyone can remember. Bazan put that reality into a more concise statement, by naming his album Curse Your Branches.

Let Go of What You Know and Honor What Exists is a post from: Freethinker

Are Your Cats Old Enough to Learn About Jesus? is a post from: Freethinker