It has become a throw away line when someone or a community is struggling through immense trial. It is especially the case when our politicians and media people are attempting to appear sympathetic. They say, “Our thoughts and prayers are with you”, but are they actually praying?
I got me thinking, that one doesn’t have to be Christian to pray. All religions seem to pray to something. As Christians we pray to one God who created everything while others pray to another god, multiple gods, dead relatives or a figure in history.
An atheist, however, should stick to the thinking that there is nothing out there. No higher being of any sort or kind. This means nothing to pray to.
So it was an interesting pick up when Julia Gillard said, “Our thoughts and prayers” when talking to the people affected by natural disasters over Queensland.
It’s an innocent enough gaff, nothing worth making a really big deal over. It just gets you thinking sometimes about prayer and its power to comfort people. Because there is something greater out there, but not according to our PM.
I got me thinking, that one doesn’t have to be Christian to pray. All religions seem to pray to something. As Christians we pray to one God who created everything while others pray to another god, multiple gods, dead relatives or a figure in history.
An atheist, however, should stick to the thinking that there is nothing out there. No higher being of any sort or kind. This means nothing to pray to.
So it was an interesting pick up when Julia Gillard said, “Our thoughts and prayers” when talking to the people affected by natural disasters over Queensland.
It’s an innocent enough gaff, nothing worth making a really big deal over. It just gets you thinking sometimes about prayer and its power to comfort people. Because there is something greater out there, but not according to our PM.
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1 comment:
Phillip Jensen had something helpful to say on this recently:
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