Volunteers Needed for Atheist 'Prayer' Experiment!!!!
Offline Hi All,
This conversation from another thread was the catalist for the idea:
Tgbaker wrote:Sandycane wrote:I love your virtual 'live' avatar.
How are you feeling today? I hope you get to go home soon.
HEY! One of the theists posted about an aunt or someone who was in the hospital with cancer and she prayed it away! This is the perfect opportunity for you to do an experiment and see if it actually works!
Seriously, I hope you have a speedy and full recovery.
Hi SandyCane. I feel great. I did well through the first chemo. They are growing all the white cells etc.; back in me that they killed with the chemo. Then I get another bone marrow biopsy. The only problem I have had was a reaction to an anti-biotic which has left me itching from head to toe. Thus a topical steroid. I am here at least another 4 to 6 weeks. I miss not being able to hold my 2 year old. I think we should create an objective experiment to determine whether atheistic prayers may have a "law of attraction effect" that surpasses those of the Christian, Jew and Muslim.
The reasoning is that the universe is pissed that people do not see it as supreme and give credit to a non-exstent force of deity. Mother nature is amazed that so many people worship the unnatural. We atheist do not pray on the other hand because of our response to theism. So I in the name of the natural petition all atheists to pray for me, my bank account and libido. We need a time frame whch will begin 12 noon tomorrow Eastern time. You game?
Thanks for the hope
ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY!
I'M GOING TO COPY THIS TO A NEW THREAD AND GET EVERYONE ON BOARD!!!
So, all volunteers 'sign up' here (so we know how many are participating) and lets do a scientific experiment to see if the good thoughts and love for fellow beings are just as noble as those of the theists - without the involvement of a delusional deity.
Everyone, at Noon Eastern time, for a minimum of one minute, longer if you have the time, simply stop what you are doing and think happy thoughts and a picture of health and full recovery for our dear member, TGBaker.
I don't think we should have a deadline but, since he will be in the hospital for another 4-6 weeks we should continue at least until May 15.
Who's with us? 
Mark your calendars and lets cure TGBaker... and kick some theist butt!!!
'Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.' A. Einstein
- Login to post comments
That would be 5 PM at the GMT+1 time zone, right?
We might want TGBaker to note how good he feels every hour, and see if he feels better when we pray (of course, if it doesn't we can always state that God (or whomever) might have helped him BEFORE we prayed, because he's outside of time).
But then he mustn't know of our plan to pray for him...
As to the time, I'm in middle TN so noon Eastern time would be 11am here... don't know where you are.
It would be great if people could post this link on their facebook and blog pages, too!
'Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.' A. Einstein
A couple of hours from now. I am on it.
=
If we send him some strippers in some naughty nurses outfits, I'm sure he'll report all sorts of sensations...
I keep asking myself " Are they just playin' stupid, or are they just plain stupid?..."
"To explain the unknown by the known is a logical procedure; to explain the known by the unknown is a form of theological lunacy" : David Brooks
" Only on the subject of God can smart people still imagine that they reap the fruits of human intelligence even as they plow them under." : Sam Harris
Yah, and we can also send him a couple of cases of beer as well.
The only thing being that FSM supposedly has a stripper factory and a beer volcano.
=
So, are you on board with us? If so, that makes 4 so far.
But, we can do better than just 4!
So, TG. Did you notice anything?
At exactly 11am, for 10 minutes, I employed some of my meditation techniques and visualized you, lying in your hospital bed, surrounded by a warm, golden light energy field that also permeated your body. You had a peaceful smile on your face.
At one point, the words 'than you' popped into my head. Was that you or just my imagination?
'Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.' A. Einstein
Guilty as charged, with a fistful of dollar bills...
Of course. TG is my brother from a different mother.
I keep asking myself " Are they just playin' stupid, or are they just plain stupid?..."
"To explain the unknown by the known is a logical procedure; to explain the known by the unknown is a form of theological lunacy" : David Brooks
" Only on the subject of God can smart people still imagine that they reap the fruits of human intelligence even as they plow them under." : Sam Harris
PS: here's a picture of TG for you to focus on durring your 'prayer'.
That shoud get you motivated!!!
'Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.' A. Einstein
Count me in!
mr. O
This is for you, TG:
'Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.' A. Einstein
I'll make a list and add to it as we go...
Sandycane
Thunderios
redneF
AIG
Mr.O
Woo-hoo!
'Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.' A. Einstein
Well, if we are going to experiment, then we should have a control sample. I submit the item that I am looking at on ebay right now.
Someone has a huge proxy bid in because I was instantly outbid twice. The only way that this is mine is if I do a last few seconds snipe. Even then, probably not. A couple of years ago, it used to take them like 15 seconds to process a bid but from what I have seen recently, they now have enough hardware to deal with snipers.
Still, everyone has a bit over seven hours to pray for me. Since this is somewhat less probable that TGB having a spontaneous remission, the exercise should have some value.
=
Of course I am a sceptic... But then I am a very happy one.What the hell do you think about that. I am not shitting you guys and am a bit freaked as well. The doctor did say the unusual growth of the white cells could be from a previously earlier chronic stage of the acute leukemia ( I have Philadelphia cells ) but are immediately helpful if not in the long run need to be killed. They will need to run another set of labs tonight. SO if the cells are still good and i HAVE NO FEVER AND MY ALLERGIC REACTION TO AN ANTIBIOTIC DOES NOT WORSEN THEN i WILL BE HOME TOMORROW NIGHT. PRAISE THE VOID OF PURE EXISTENCE......Atheistic prayers who woulda thought. Thank ya Sandycane
Time was around 11:30 -12
"You can't write a chord ugly enough to say what you want to say sometimes, so you have to rely on a giraffe filled with whip cream."--Frank Zappa
http://atheisticgod.blogspot.com/ Books on atheism
Hehe,... strippers.
That's what I was picturing.
Works every time.
Gotta luv 'em...
Stand at attention, Soldier!
I keep asking myself " Are they just playin' stupid, or are they just plain stupid?..."
"To explain the unknown by the known is a logical procedure; to explain the known by the unknown is a form of theological lunacy" : David Brooks
" Only on the subject of God can smart people still imagine that they reap the fruits of human intelligence even as they plow them under." : Sam Harris
"You can't write a chord ugly enough to say what you want to say sometimes, so you have to rely on a giraffe filled with whip cream."--Frank Zappa
http://atheisticgod.blogspot.com/ Books on atheism
It's Miller time!
"You can't write a chord ugly enough to say what you want to say sometimes, so you have to rely on a giraffe filled with whip cream."--Frank Zappa
http://atheisticgod.blogspot.com/ Books on atheism
Hey, if the christians can take credit for christ on toast, we can take credit for your good news!!
I'll keep up with the noon vigil until May 15, as planned.
I've got to go now, we are about to be slammed with severe thunder storms. Send some good thoughts my way, okay?
'Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.' A. Einstein
"You can't write a chord ugly enough to say what you want to say sometimes, so you have to rely on a giraffe filled with whip cream."--Frank Zappa
http://atheisticgod.blogspot.com/ Books on atheism
"You can't write a chord ugly enough to say what you want to say sometimes, so you have to rely on a giraffe filled with whip cream."--Frank Zappa
http://atheisticgod.blogspot.com/ Books on atheism
I'm pretty sure a christian would still take credit for this. they'd be like "I secretly prayed to jesus for his recovery and it worked, told ya!!"
It sure is storming today. I'm near antioch.
ciarin.com
bUT THEN WE HAVE SPECIFIC INTENT AND TIMES...OOPS SORRY CAPS LOCK...TOO LAZY TO CORRECT.
"You can't write a chord ugly enough to say what you want to say sometimes, so you have to rely on a giraffe filled with whip cream."--Frank Zappa
http://atheisticgod.blogspot.com/ Books on atheism
lol
Well, did you pray to Odin?
In any case, it seems to have worked. Now everyone get busy on winning me a synthesizer on ebay. The auction drops at about quarter to ten EDT.
=
quote fail
edit: aww you fixed it.
No i didn't pray to odin.
The worst of it has passed through - lot's of trees down in town 10 miles north of us but, nothing here. Phew! .... or, I should say, thanks to all the good thoughts directed from TG! Praise TG!
Unfortunately, all that mess is about to go through Atlanta... good thoughts back at 'cha, TG!
I hope the test results tonight are good!!
'Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.' A. Einstein
OK, less than an hour to go and I was outbid by the exact amount that I bid. That tells me that I hit the previous proxy bid. And the guy has no clue.
If the price does not change, then I can do a last second job ant it is mine. Keep praying and I will get it.
=
Exactly what time does the auction end, (central) Tennessee time?
Oh, and I think it might help if you posted a picture of what we're praying for.
Are you bidding on the one with 32 bidds??? Good luck.
'Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.' A. Einstein
Half an hour and no that is not it.
Here is a pic of the not guitar:
=
Sending atheistic prayers for your synth.....
Lost it. But the price was getting over the top anyway. Since prayer logic is flexible, none of you wanted me to spend that money anyway. Which frees up cash for telescope stuff.
=
So, you wanted it but, at some point in time you stopped wanting it? Well, that explains why you lost it.
And here I was, ready to blame myself if you didn't win because my heart just wasn't in it.... I mean, come on: Praying to cure cancer vs. praying to win the high bid on a gu...I mean synthesizer? It was very difficult to visualize a golden glow of energy around you and a synthesizer.
I don't even know what you look like - I had to visualize you as your avatar. 
Sorry you lost but, you didn't want it that bad, did you?
'Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.' A. Einstein
You weren't doing it right...
I keep asking myself " Are they just playin' stupid, or are they just plain stupid?..."
"To explain the unknown by the known is a logical procedure; to explain the known by the unknown is a form of theological lunacy" : David Brooks
" Only on the subject of God can smart people still imagine that they reap the fruits of human intelligence even as they plow them under." : Sam Harris
Where were you an hour ago??? I could have used that image!
Doesn't matter - he really wanted the telescope instead.
'Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.' A. Einstein
Bashing on some haters...
PS: That girl in the picture you posted looks like the offspring of the Predator and Dolly Parton.
'Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.' A. Einstein
'Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.' A. Einstein
"You can't write a chord ugly enough to say what you want to say sometimes, so you have to rely on a giraffe filled with whip cream."--Frank Zappa
http://atheisticgod.blogspot.com/ Books on atheism
'Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.' A. Einstein
"You can't write a chord ugly enough to say what you want to say sometimes, so you have to rely on a giraffe filled with whip cream."--Frank Zappa
http://atheisticgod.blogspot.com/ Books on atheism
I've been wondering what you guys think about non deistic supernatural? I mean is this thread a real go at that, or sarcasm?
I will tell you this, I am a lot more open to the idea of ESP and "positive energy" (whatever positive means relatively, and whatever energy means scientifically), than I am to the idea of a giant paternal genie on a cloud randomly granting wishes.
OK, I will let everyone speak for themselves as far as intent. However, I really don't see any point in coming up with an idea of the supernatural at all. If a thing is casually connected to reality, then it is part of nature. We may not know how everything works but there really isn't any room for something to be both outside of nature and connected to it.
A great example is right here. Sometimes leukemia goes away. The effect does not occur with any predictive power, so it is not well understood. However, it does seem to occur after a patient runs a fever, which TG has alluded to in his case. So I don't think that we have established anything not already known in this thread.
=
Good answer, thank you. Yes, the semantics of the Super natural. But beyond that, at the very least the psychological effects of positive energy on the general health of individuals, right? I'm not talking about the psychological concept of "magic thinking" wherein people only regard things that support their belief. I don't mean to go outside the bounds of scientific reality. But I wonder if some of the "super" natural things can be duplicated in clinical observation, and are explainable? Ghosts for example. The idea of ghosts is almost more common than the concept of God, and unless I miss my guess, probably based around the same reasons. In fact, I am much more likely to believe in ghosts than I am God.
Which is what I am asking. Any of you believe, or had experiences with ghosts? or ESP? and why are these notions so prevalent?
Take this thread, no it's not meant to be sarcastic. I honestly wanted to get everyone 'praying' for TG in the hope that the act would have a positive effect on his health - AND IT APPEARS TO HAVE DONE SO.
One day, the Dr. tells him he will have to stay in the hospital for another 4-6 weeks and the next day, after our group prayer, he is told he can go home today.
I don't call that a miracle and it may have been a coincidence or the result of some prior medical treatment but, the fact remains - he was much better after the prayer treatment.
The power of the mind has not been fully explored or, explained as yet and I believe that all of the positive credit given to an imaginary god is actually owed to a natural force.
'Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.' A. Einstein
"You can't write a chord ugly enough to say what you want to say sometimes, so you have to rely on a giraffe filled with whip cream."--Frank Zappa
http://atheisticgod.blogspot.com/ Books on atheism
I can be about as black and white on things as anyone I've ever met. However, I'm open minded enough to speculate on how a person can be affected by others, or how where their spiritual 'center' happens to be in instances like these. It's very possible that the combination of other people, and the person's own 'centering' can have some strong influence on their physiology.
It's been written about a number of times, that it appears that up to 85% of illnesses are thought to be strongly linked to stress being a major factor.
On the topic of positive thinking, however, I heard a long radio interview with author Barbara Ehrenreich, on her book called 'Bright Sided', where she tried to study whether or not the often recommended "Positive Thinking' advice might actually turn out to be for the worse.
http://thesituationist.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/barbara-ehrenreich-a-situationist/
She outlined some interesting studies. Not that I think it proves anything conclusively, but, I'm not one of those people who puts 'faith' into positive thinking, like the type who buy into the whole "The Secret' stuff.
I can't deal with those kinds of people.
I keep asking myself " Are they just playin' stupid, or are they just plain stupid?..."
"To explain the unknown by the known is a logical procedure; to explain the known by the unknown is a form of theological lunacy" : David Brooks
" Only on the subject of God can smart people still imagine that they reap the fruits of human intelligence even as they plow them under." : Sam Harris
Non-stripper nurses are such downers. I'll bet a stripper nurse would bring you a scotch (for the right price). Hope they will let you out tomorrow.
If, if a white man puts his arm around me voluntarily, that's brotherhood. But if you - if you hold a gun on him and make him embrace me and pretend to be friendly or brotherly toward me, then that's not brotherhood, that's hypocrisy.- Malcolm X
I'm sorry they wouldn't let you go today but, as Mom used to say, 'It's for your own good.'
Hoping for tomorrow and I'll be thinking of you at noon.
PS: Forget about the damn strippers! That's probably what brought on the fever!!!
'Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.' A. Einstein
I think it is true though that a positive attitude works wonders on physical health and being negative and depressed can make you physically ill... but, that has nothing to do with any supernatural power. It all has to do with your state of mind and that, too, can be affected by what others say to you and think of you... but, only if you let it.
Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative.
'Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.' A. Einstein