day for things then praising and thanking for every day things. From my background and observations, it appears that people pray and pray to Jesus for anything from common things that any human would want: healing a sick loved one, making a marriage work, getting a promotion, resolving family feuds, financial success, etc. to trivial common things that any human would want: a good parking spot, no line at the store, a good hair day, kids to behave, a check to clear, the baby not to wake up, those things.
I guess I see it like this...most people are good and want good for others and themselves, religious or not, if a loved one is sick, you want them to get better. If prayer worked, then there would no longer be people that did not pray. They would die off. People that prayed would certainly have an advantage in everything and be the healthiest, richest, happiest people on the planet. There would be peace, right? If prayer worked? But the fact is that there is no correlation or evidence to even suggest that prayer works. At all. In fact, it has been evident that prayer and religion can harm people. Often you learn of a poor helpless child who died because their ignorant, devout, super religious parents did not believe in modern medicine and let them die. All of the people unjustly persecuted and imprisoned over the centuries for having a different belief than the ruling power. I could even say that it seems prayer and faith has done more harm than good.
Why does such an almighty, all powerful and all knowing deity require constant worship and praise to him and only him, above all else, or you are damned to eternal hellfire? The Bible portrayed God as a blustery, pompous, insecure narcissist whose barking threats and demands, fits of rage, mass murders, irate jealousy and irrational contradictions made him out to be the biggest asshole the world has ever seen. A petulant child even. Yes, there seems to be a decent amount of love and knowledge and mercy I guess. Not enough for me. The God I know is first off, not a man, and is pure light. There is no near for instilling fear to get people to believe. There is no testing of your faith and sacrifice and suffering to prove you believe. It is all so sad and ridiculous that I am more amazed every day that people just don't see it, or want to. The fear of the wrath of God and hell and punishment isn't a way to motivate and enlighten people. They become stupid and stop thinking. Most don't know shit about the religion they claim to love.
I have used this analogy before and it seemed to "awaken" a few people. Let's say you are in a nation without a leader. There comes forward two people that want to be leaders. One appears to be powerful, strong, experienced yet ego driven, demanding absolute loyalty without question, without
I just believe that a true God would want us to be free thinking, curious, intelligent and individually unique. A true God would invite questions and challenge followers, a true God would not condone murder, slavery and rape, or would promote sexism, racism and organized religion. A true God would not allow children (or any human) to be starved, beaten, molested and neglected. Call me crazy, but that is the God I want to worship. I have had a great life so far, the common ups and downs, and I am grateful everyday for my life. I seem to be doing just fine not worshiping Jesus or God. I give thanks to something much bigger than a deity in the sky that people wrote a book about a scant 2000 years ago. I thank the universe, the higher power or energy, and whatever it is, I feel the love.