Atheists Upset

[Deutisa]

Apparently atheists are rather upset that Christians are offering up prayers for devout atheist Christopher Hitchens.

My question is, if they think Christianity is a farce and there is no God to pray to, why should they care?

Most likely they think that if Hitchens gets better, Christians will claim divine influence and will become even more intolerable.

We as Christians do need to pray for this man. He is no more evil than we were before we became Christians. He needs our prayer for either healing or an acceptance of Christ before his death.



Atheists reject prayers for Hitchens, believers doubt he's a child of God

Christopher Hitchens (right) with author Mark Danner in 2004.

Hordes of atheists are commenting on yesterday's post from a Catholic priest who says Christians should pray for the cancer-stricken Christopher Hitchens, even if he is an enemy of religion. Far from being touched by the priest's gesture, the atheists are mostly offended:

As an atheist, I find it objectionable that anyone should feel the right to pray for me because I don't believe as they do. That's as bad as that idiot church who thinks its a good idea to baptize dead Jews or protest at military funerals. It's the worst kind of pandering.

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Here's another:

There have been multiple scientific studies that show that prayer does not have any impact on whether someone is cured of a serious illness. It's time Christians just stopped worrying about people that don't believe in their sky god. Atheists don't care if you pray for them, your god does not exist.

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A fair number of believers, meanwhile, challenge the author - a priest and a seminary professor - on his description of Hitchens as a "child of God":

Rev. Barron's main point is right on target. As Christians, we should, indeed, pray for and love those who oppose, ridicule and even persecute us. However, Rev. Barron states and uses as his basis for praying for Mr. Hitchens that Hitchens is "a child of God." For a reverend, a ministry founder, a host of a religious program and a religion professor, I am astounded at Rev. Barron's ignorance of the Bible. According to the Bible, as an atheist, Mr. Hitchens is NOT a "child of God." That description is reserved for only those who receive and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord (John 1:12).

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Any atheists out there who appreciate prayers for Hitchens' health? Any believers who think he's a child of God?

He is God's "creature" formed in His mother's womb in the image of God. He was created a to be a triune being, body, soul and spirit. That is where free will comes into play, he has chosen to forego the third requirement .. spirit, as in "Holy Spirit" Whether he believes or not we are required by Jesus to pray for those who despitefully use us. Here in America we are so privileged to still have use of free speech and I am so thankful part of that free speech is to pray for anyone we choose.

 

[Selene]

He is God's "creature" formed in His mother's womb in the image of God. He was created a to be a triune being, body, soul and spirit. That is where free will comes into play, he has chosen to forego the third requirement .. spirit, as in "Holy Spirit" Whether he believes or not we are required by Jesus to pray for those who despitefully use us. Here in America we are so privileged to still have use of free speech and I am so thankful part of that free speech is to pray for anyone we choose.

I agree. Like all of mankind, he was formed in God's image. It is right to pray for those who persecuted us. A true Christian of Christ does not persecute back in retaliation. A true Christian of Christ forgives and prays for their persecutors. :)

Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you

 

[[email protected]]

He is God's "creature" formed in His mother's womb in the image of God. He was created a to be a triune being, body, soul and spirit. That is where free will comes into play, he has chosen to forego the third requirement .. spirit, as in "Holy Spirit" Whether he believes or not we are required by Jesus to pray for those who despitefully use us. Here in America we are so privileged to still have use of free speech and I am so thankful part of that free speech is to pray for anyone we choose.

Your defense of the man is admirable if not misplaced.

Bear in mind that this fellow, along with many of his atheist cadre, do not embrace the same mellow attitudes you pronounce.

He denies God as well as the divine image in himself or anyone else.
It is a major philosophical break with Christianity.
Historically it has led to intolerance, tyranny, injustice, atrocities and mass murder.

Remember that humanity suffered the greatest bloodshed in all of human history during the 20th Century.
These wars were prosecuted by godless men under the banner of the god they invented; the nation-state.

Beware of men who despise that which we are commanded to adore.
Beware of men who usurp the worship of the only true God with flag waving, unquestioning atheist patriotism.

(Their banners and billboards are already plastered across the nation. Seen one lately?
http://divine.blogs.starnewsonline.com/12227/drive-time-one-nation-indivisible-godless-billboard-is-up/

Above the flag of our common nation are the words "one nation indivisible".
The implication is obvious; patriotic Americans reject God.

Therein lies the path of destruction and the way to Hell itself.

I was born in this country. I served honorably in uniform for six years; two in the middle east.
But when this country attacks, denies and berates the holiness of our God...
...when sinful men and women parade their shame in the streets...
...when Christians are denied the same public rights...

Our countrymen and our government are playing us for fools and it is time to rise up and consider some actions other than prayer alone.

 

[Foreigner]

"Our countrymen and our government are playing us for fools and it is time to rise up and consider some actions other than prayer alone." - Yahoo


-- For example?

 

[[email protected]]

"Our countrymen and our government are playing us for fools and it is time to rise up and consider some actions other than prayer alone." - Yahoo


-- For example?

You want the short list?

The US government and its military arm;
The United States Military services (the US is more militaristic than 1930's Germany or Japan)
The United States Supreme Court (with respect to usurpation of the Constitution)
The United States Congress (with respect to usurpation of the Constitution)
The President of the United States (with respect to usurpation of the Constitution)

Media services in the United States specifically;
General Electric, The Walt Disney Corporation, News Corp, Time-Warner, Viacom & CBS
Note that ALL media services in the US are owned by only 6 large corporations. They determine what we see, hear and read.

"Most of what you read about is lies."
-Bobby Darin

"The American people have no idea what is happening to them."
-Pravda

"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and those are the ones we need to work on."
-George W. Bush

"We need less freedom in America."
-George W. Bush

 

[Paul]

... it is time to rise up and consider some actions other than prayer alone." - Yahoo


-- For example?

I think this is the part of the statement being asked about.

 

[JarBreaker]

I think this is the part of the statement being asked about.

Not by power, not by might but by My hand ...

 

[Foreigner]

"Our countrymen and our government are playing us for fools and it is time to rise up and consider some actions other than prayer alone." - Yahoo


-- So I'll ask again. What "actions other than prayer alone" should we "consider?"

 

[HammerStone]

You're going to find - to be brutally honest - that there will always be certain population segments that will be more easily "offended" than others. That's just the nature of the beast I'm not going to paint with a wide brush and label all atheists as this type, but it's one of those segments that does complain more than others in my observations. (Hence the litigation and issues we see on a weekly basis where one atheist/agnostic group or individual wants some religious statue or image removed.)

That said, I think praying for others who are not Christians is a good thing. To be honest, I don't care who prays for me in another religion, but I'm not going to offend them by telling them I don't want the prayers. The devil worship thing is a bit of a misnomer because these folks don't quite worship the devil in the sense that we worship and pray to God. (They worship the world of course, but that's another thought.) IE: They are satanists but it's done to mock or offend in many instances. I for one fear nothing from them, so I'm not going to worry about prayers or whatever.

 

[Grat]

Put yourself in their place or "try the shoe on the other foot" as it were. Those of you who consider yourselves to be Christians, how would you feel if some devil worshipper decided to tell you they were praying for you? Would that upset you ? Would you care about that? Would you be wondering who they were praying to and whether their prayers would be answered or not and if they were would you feel obligated to join their religion or follow their god ?

Jesus never healed anyone who had no faith in Him. He could have but He did not.. Why didn't He ?

Actually I wouldn't mind if a Satanist prayed against me. This is the case on many levels.
Firstly, all curses are made blessing in Christ. Curse me all you want and watch me prosper!
Secondly, I know my Dad & He's bigger than their dad. Anytime they want a spiritual punch-up, go for it, I know who will win. Like Elisha on Mount Carmel, I’ll sit back in my banana chair sipping a pine-colada, urging on the Prophets of Bal, confident in who my God is.

Lastly, your last sentence has a couple of problems. Not the least of which would be the two examples of raising from the dead and the two examples of healing by proxy. Lazarus, maybe, but how could the Widows son have faith in Jesus? Also the Centurion and the man who came to Jesus about his son both show third parties involved who may or may not have any faith in Jesus, but were healed.

I was a base sinner who cried out to God for salvation. I was not heard because I was righteous. I am righteous because I was heard. There are testimonies without end about the sinner crying out to God and being heard. Miracles brought people to belief.

The other major problem is that your statement implies that I have to make some grade to be heard. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way. This lie from hell has put more guilt and burden on Christians than any other doctrine I can think of. I stand acceptable because of the size of Christ’s sacrifice, not because of anything I can do.

 

[[email protected]]

"Our countrymen and our government are playing us for fools and it is time to rise up and consider some actions other than prayer alone." - Yahoo


-- So I'll ask again. What "actions other than prayer alone" should we "consider?"

Action. Any legal action. Involvement. Personal involvement.

If you can do nothing more than to write to your elected representatives, then do that.
Most people don't even know who they are and that's really sad.
These people are paid to listen to us. Be your own lobbyist.
Believe it or not, some politicans actually WANT to hear from us.

I've seen the regular session of my state legislature come to a complete halt for a few minutes when the members paused to recognize citizen visitors in the gallery.
When they don't hear from their constituents, the only voices they hear are the special interest groups.

Read. Educate yourself. I've found that the truth leaks out sometimes even in our controlled media.

A lot of Christians use the phrase "God is in control" to justify apathy.
God IS in control, but He has also given us the responsibility to conduct ourselves accordingly.

If we abdicate that responsibility, we are as bad as the wicked men who seek to rob us of our Liberty.

"Agitate. Agitate. Agitate."
-Frederick Douglas

 

[Radrook]

One of the missions such offended people feel that they have on this earth is to stamp out what they consider to be ignorance harmful to mankind. So they view such a prayer on their behalf as a kind of a taunt. A reminder that despite all their concerted efforts religion is still alive and healthy and that ironically one of theirs is being used in propagating the very thing they dedicated their lives to destroy