'The God Experiment' by Russell Stannard

john kavanagh · 17th August 2005, 06:22 AM

anybody read this book?

also has the results come back from the 'prayer experiment'? i'd bet my last m&m it didn't make any difference but just wondering?

also it's pretty obvious the author is a believer

"like many others, i reckon the central core of intercessory prayer has more to do with blah blah blah"

never ceases to amaze me that someone like this guy who's a name in the field of science and obviously understands the scientific process/critical thinking and yet does not have the emotional maturity/strength to apply this to everything

john kavanagh · 17th August 2005, 04:24 PM

more about it here

click

RichardR · 19th August 2005, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by john kavanagh
more about it here

click

Well, numerous studies have shown that prayer doesn't work.

billydkid · 19th August 2005, 03:53 PM

The whole prayer thing never made any sense to me even as a kid. If the notion that one is petitioning God to do something for you a number of questions arise. First and most obvious is wouldn't an all knowing God already know what it is we want and why should we have to mouth the words for him to "hear". Second, it seems incredibly egocentric to suppose that God would change his plan for the grand scheme of things (and any shift God were to make in a given life would have all sorts of other implications - in a butterfly effect sort of way) to suit your desires. If you accept the premise that the purpose of prayer is to "praise the lord" one would have to ask what the hell does this God need praising for from us piddling little creatures? And, again, doesn't an almighty God already know what is in our hearts without our having to spell it out for him. Prayer is for retards, in the genuine sense of the word.

john kavanagh · 20th August 2005, 04:52 AM

great link, thanks

good points billy - i too always found it hard to believe the Almighty one could be so powerful....but also so insecure

i remember a great Simpsons' episode where Homer becomes a missionary spreading the word of God and he says something to the effect of "God is Almighty...but in constant need of our reassurance" can't remember the exact quote but v.funny

lenina4sammy · 20th August 2005, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RichardR
Well, numerous studies have shown that prayer doesn't work.

No, prayer doesn't work. However, believers are stricken with statistical anomoly-itis. And, if ONE person survives through a life-threatening ordeal and they and/or the people around them prayed profusely they attribute it to god. Not to the scores of medical and emergency professionals who actually did the work, but to a mythical figure who didn't do a damn thing.

Libertarian · 20th August 2005, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by john kavanagh
great link, thanks
i remember a great Simpsons' episode where Homer becomes a missionary spreading the word of God and he says something to the effect of "God is Almighty...but in constant need of our reassurance" can't remember the exact quote but v.funny

That's probably the same episode where Homer speaks one of my favorite lines. He's on the plane, yet to take off, that is taking him to the island where he's going to be a missionary. He's begging the pilot not to take him there and says, "I don't even BELIEVE in Jeebus!"

The pilot ignores him and the plane lifts off. Homer runs to the door and looks out and screams, "Help me Jeebus!"

17th August 2005, 06:22 AM	#1
john kavanagh New Blood Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4	'The God Experiment' by Russell Stannard anybody read this book? also has the results come back from the 'prayer experiment'? i'd bet my last m&m it didn't make any difference but just wondering? also it's pretty obvious the author is a believer "like many others, i reckon the central core of intercessory prayer has more to do with blah blah blah" never ceases to amaze me that someone like this guy who's a name in the field of science and obviously understands the scientific process/critical thinking and yet does not have the emotional maturity/strength to apply this to everything
john kavanagh New Blood Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4	__________________ Every sect as far as reason will help them, gladly use it; when it fails them, they cry out it is a matter of faith, and beyond reason. John Locke (1632-1704)

17th August 2005, 04:24 PM	#2
john kavanagh New Blood Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4	more about it here click
john kavanagh New Blood Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4	__________________ Every sect as far as reason will help them, gladly use it; when it fails them, they cry out it is a matter of faith, and beyond reason. John Locke (1632-1704)

19th August 2005, 03:22 PM	#3
RichardR Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 2,281	Quote: Originally posted by john kavanagh more about it here click Well, numerous studies have shown that prayer doesn't work.
RichardR Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 2,281	__________________ Read: Skeptico - Critical thinking for an irrational world

19th August 2005, 03:53 PM	#4
billydkid Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Blanchester, OH Posts: 4,930	The prayer thing The whole prayer thing never made any sense to me even as a kid. If the notion that one is petitioning God to do something for you a number of questions arise. First and most obvious is wouldn't an all knowing God already know what it is we want and why should we have to mouth the words for him to "hear". Second, it seems incredibly egocentric to suppose that God would change his plan for the grand scheme of things (and any shift God were to make in a given life would have all sorts of other implications - in a butterfly effect sort of way) to suit your desires. If you accept the premise that the purpose of prayer is to "praise the lord" one would have to ask what the hell does this God need praising for from us piddling little creatures? And, again, doesn't an almighty God already know what is in our hearts without our having to spell it out for him. Prayer is for retards, in the genuine sense of the word.

20th August 2005, 04:52 AM	#5
john kavanagh New Blood Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4	great link, thanks good points billy - i too always found it hard to believe the Almighty one could be so powerful....but also so insecure i remember a great Simpsons' episode where Homer becomes a missionary spreading the word of God and he says something to the effect of "God is Almighty...but in constant need of our reassurance" can't remember the exact quote but v.funny
john kavanagh New Blood Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4	__________________ Every sect as far as reason will help them, gladly use it; when it fails them, they cry out it is a matter of faith, and beyond reason. John Locke (1632-1704)

20th August 2005, 05:18 AM	#6
lenina4sammy New Blood Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 11	Quote: Originally posted by RichardR Well, numerous studies have shown that prayer doesn't work. No, prayer doesn't work. However, believers are stricken with statistical anomoly-itis. And, if ONE person survives through a life-threatening ordeal and they and/or the people around them prayed profusely they attribute it to god. Not to the scores of medical and emergency professionals who actually did the work, but to a mythical figure who didn't do a damn thing.
lenina4sammy New Blood Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 11	__________________ ...and the meek shall inherit the earth... if the bold don't blow it up first.

20th August 2005, 05:24 PM	#7
Libertarian Thinker Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 248	Quote: Originally posted by john kavanagh great link, thanks i remember a great Simpsons' episode where Homer becomes a missionary spreading the word of God and he says something to the effect of "God is Almighty...but in constant need of our reassurance" can't remember the exact quote but v.funny That's probably the same episode where Homer speaks one of my favorite lines. He's on the plane, yet to take off, that is taking him to the island where he's going to be a missionary. He's begging the pilot not to take him there and says, "I don't even BELIEVE in Jeebus!" The pilot ignores him and the plane lifts off. Homer runs to the door and looks out and screams, "Help me Jeebus!"
Libertarian Thinker Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 248	__________________ "Making fun of born-again christians is like hunting dairy cows with a high powered rifle and scope." -- P. J. O'Rourke "I don't want to abolish government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub." -- G. Norquist