Movie: father teaching son how

[Mr. Ed]

Father teaching son to pray...God make us grateful/thankful for what we have" I do not agree. Whether I am thankful or grateful for what I have is my decision, besides needing god to make me thankful is like asking to be reprimanded. It seems, many believers go out of their way to live under god's authority.

 

[Knight]

God is for the good stuff, the devil is for the misery. No one prays for misery do they?

 

[Ceege]

If one is truly a good person, they shouldn't need to feel that someone is watching their every move or hearing their every word or thought. This is where that old phrase, "Be good for goodness' sake" comes in. Be good for the sake of society and your family & friends.....and yourself.

 

[Mr. Ed]

I think people pray for misery because they are convinced they are nothing without god? In truth, people want god to control and direct because they assume this is what god wants. People learn about god by way of lecture, individual and group study. All of these methods teach followers to be subservient to god's word and teachings without question or doubt.
To lower myself beneath a god of my own designed to worship and follow because religion told me I am useless without god.

I got my mojo back by refuting Christianity as a way life, dismissing the bible as god's word and having no regard about Jesus. Faith based religion is only as real as one makes it. Faith is not proof, faith is an idea, feeling or concept outside of your mind faith does not exist.

 

[Knight]

I think people pray for misery because they are convinced they are nothing without god? In truth, people want god to control and direct because they assume this is what god wants.

I don't think people pray for misery. I think those that have faith that there is a sentient being billions of years old has a plan for them. That their lives are part of an individual plan for their life & accept it. I think between faith & hope. Since no one has ever been able to prove one way or the other I think the faith part is really hope based. The hope being that there is some form of sentient life after death.

 

[Ceege]

...I think the faith part is really hope based. The hope being that there is some form of sentient life after death.

I agree with this. Not everyone is the same or thinks the same. Many need the rules and guidance that religion gives them. If that belief comforts them and brings them peace, that's their business. I am a realist. I just can't put faith into something I don't agree with. I believe in compassion, ethics, and nature. Three things I can see the proof and benefit of.
One problem is that we see little proof, in 'some' of our religions, of compassion and ethics.

 

[Mr. Ed]

No matter how much I tried to be and act Christian I was disconnected and unhappy. The solution I was told read the Bible, pray and repent followed by assurances these three acts of obedience will take me where I want to go.
I wanted a spiritual connection with god, I had no interest in Jesus from the start, I knew god ran things, so Jesus and Christianity were ways I thought to communicate to god.

Church was a struggle, sitting through services glorying Jesus from what I recall Jesus savior from sins, god gave his only begotten son which I find totally annoying because god is not human but he is portrayed as having human grief and loss. Preacher’s emphasize human qualities and weaknesses in god to illustrate the bond between god and humanity.

To be Christian you must believe in faith that the Bible is true and by faith you must believe Jesus died so believers will have eternal life. Times have changed and the descriptions of heaven may be less appealing today than when prophesied, streets of gold and great mansions. Everlasting life might be appealing to some, for me just put me down and let me rest.

 

[Knight]

Quote
"No matter how much I tried to be and act Christian I was disconnected and unhappy. The solution I was told read the Bible, pray and repent followed by assurances these three acts of obedience will take me where I want to go."

Who told you that?

Reason for asking is you didn't say where you wanted to go.

I'm pretty sure this wouldn't make you happy or be the place you wanted to go.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/violence-in-the-bible-greatest-hits_b_5861bd66e4b068764965be0a