Nope, I haven't.
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When you ask me to "open my heart and pray..."? [Question to believers]
- Thread starter vijeno
- Start date
Nope, I haven't.
DavidFirth
Well-Known Member
If you lack any faith that God might exist, how can you ask us how you are supposed to pray to Him?
Jumi
Well-Known Member
In your view is belief in God required, before you can try praying?
DavidFirth
Well-Known Member
Belief that God might exist is required. Else you're just whistling into the breeze.
Akivah
Well-Known Member
I imagine you get that response when you ask them a question or make a point, that they are unable to answer.
Kilgore Trout
Misanthropic Humanist
I tried it with every ounce of sincerity and openness I could muster.
Nothing happened.
DavidFirth
Well-Known Member
What were you expecting to happen? Do you think we believe that God is our servant who will just make things happen the way we want immediately? That's not how it works and I think you know that.
Kilgore Trout
Misanthropic Humanist
So, your instructions were worthless. Got it.
OK, so what *should* we expect? If someone opens up with all sincerity and an open heart and nothing happens, is that a refutation of your position? if not, what *would* be?
MJFlores
Well-Known Member
Romans 10:14-15
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
That's in the bible.
First, God should sent someone to preach. These preachers should have proof that they are sent. Hence "And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?"
Second, people should hear what these preachers are preaching.
Third, after the people heard comes believing.
Fourth, after believing comes calling or praying.
You just can't pray to Lord God and the Lord Jesus Christ without believing.
Milton Platt
Well-Known Member
The heart is just a muscle that pumps blood.
Jumi
Well-Known Member
Ah, this might be a large difference between faith and experience-based spiritual disciplines.
Electra
Active Member
Find space to yourself, breathe fully, sit in stillness for a while.
Begin to feel into your body, (if you wish to touch yourself in some way ;p, send the breath to that area)
Notice what you feel, notice what you have come to pray about, dig deeper, feel the emotion behind the words.
Why do I want this? How would I feel if this is completed? feel that, start talking to yourself like it is already done.
Remember how powerful you are, change starts with you and you can do anything you put your mind to.
Since you asked this you must have some curiosity. All benevolent beings need is permission to help you. They do no need you to 'believe in them' they know they exist... lol. You can say 'I give permission for benevolent beings to help me achieve my prayers and let themselves be known' If you want to be more specific to 'jesus' you can say 'Christ consciousness'
remember that sometimes it is just a thought you may think is your own, a bodily sensation/feeling or a synchronistic moment,
mmmmmhhmm
Begin to feel into your body, (if you wish to touch yourself in some way ;p, send the breath to that area)
Notice what you feel, notice what you have come to pray about, dig deeper, feel the emotion behind the words.
Why do I want this? How would I feel if this is completed? feel that, start talking to yourself like it is already done.
Remember how powerful you are, change starts with you and you can do anything you put your mind to.
Since you asked this you must have some curiosity. All benevolent beings need is permission to help you. They do no need you to 'believe in them' they know they exist... lol. You can say 'I give permission for benevolent beings to help me achieve my prayers and let themselves be known' If you want to be more specific to 'jesus' you can say 'Christ consciousness'
remember that sometimes it is just a thought you may think is your own, a bodily sensation/feeling or a synchronistic moment,
mmmmmhhmm
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A Vestigial Mote
Well-Known Member
It's quite obvious that he was asking anyone who might use the "open your heart" instruction as a prescription for advancement into... well, I don't even really know what to call it, actually. Since you have to be "sincere" in the plea to begin with, that implies that you already believe, or that you at least firmly grasp the idea that the deities you're reaching out to plausibly exist. Maybe it is the prescription for gaining God's acceptance? Is that what "opening your heart" and praying to receive God's guidance does?
Sorry, you probably can't understand me again.
Yes this is correct, you have to use your faculties to conclude there must be some invisible force behind all the wonders of the World and Universe.
We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. But is it not sufficient concerning your Lord that He is, over all things, a Witness? Qur'an 41:53
Then with sincerity seek guidance to find the right path.
YmirGF
Bodhisattva in Recovery
Hehehe. It might be simpler to just go with suspension of disbelief as we all do while reading a novel. If we don't pretend the storyline is somewhat real, the story cannot work properly.
Suspension of disbelief - Wikipedia
Likewise, if one does not employ suspension of disbelief one cannot enjoy a lot of Hollywood movies or television programs. In other words, pretend it's real and use your imagination.
Araceli Cianna
Active Member
The idea that some other being can enter our body is ridiculous to me. I mean a virus or bacteria? Sure. But a whole other person who is you sized? I don't see how it is possible.
Guy Threepwood
Mighty Pirate
It's a very personal thing but I can give you my take as a recovering atheist!
I used to wonder the same thing, how could I truly open my heart and pray sincerely to something I absolutely did not believe in?
For me it started with first acknowledging my own atheist beliefs as such, and turning a little bit of my critical eye on that for a change. Once open at least to the possibility of God, then I think the lines of communication are not shut off entirely. It can never work while actively cynical- how could it? You can't force a person into a meaningful relationship with you, they have to want it.
PureX
Veteran Member
They want you to set your mind to being open to the idea of their Jesus-god.
QuestioningMind
Well-Known Member
How exactly does one 'sincerely' ask a being that I have no reason to believe actually exits to open my heart? Could you 'sincerely' ask invisible unicorns to open your heart?