Is prayer non-religious?

[dlminehart]

I'm curious as to whether forum members are soliciting or engaging in some form of non-religious prayer, given Sam's request that we steer away from topics on religion or politics. While I feel intensely sympathetic and concerned about the predicaments (medical, social, personal, economic, etc.) in which my fellow members report finding themselves, I feel that political and religious responses to these predicaments are best handled outside this forum.

Just as I'd prefer folks here not ask me to help with their employment or healthcare situation by voting for some candidate, demonstrating against some bill, or lobbying for some spending priorities, I'd prefer forum members not ask others to engage in religious activities like intercessory prayer (or, for that matter, animal sacrifices, scriptural chanting, wearing special headgear, or whatever).

Sympathy, understanding, concern, experiences, comments, suggestions, encouragement . . . there are lots of non-political and non-religious responses that we can freely solicit and contribute, maintaining the unique friendliness and generosity characteristic of this forum. And those that want to propose political or religious responses obviously remain free to do so on their own.

[Jim Boyd]

I do not feel your request has a place on this forum. While religion and politics do not have a place here what you are asking to stop does.

[gmack5]

I do not feel your request has a place on this forum. While religion and politics do not have a place here what you are asking to stop does.

Thank you, Jim.
I wasn't sure how to reply to dlminehart, in view of my recent "challenges".

I for one do NOT feel that that kind of "liberal" utterance has any place on this forum! If you choose not to participate, that's your privilage, but don't "force" your silence on the rest of us, please.

[Doug Jones]

Asking for prayers in the off topic forum is no harm done. Then when mentioned in the subject line, you have the option to read or not to read the text.
I'm Ok with it.

[gary]

dlminehart - welcome to my ignore list *click*

[Jon The Buddha]

[dbarnett]

I think that this post is pretty cold hearted.

This is a community of people in which some have become good friends. It is one of the reasons that I paid a small subscription fee. I appreciate the fact that some trust others enough to share their problems in a safe and friendly environment. If you want to give your "sympathies" that is your right. If someone has asked for prayers, they have mine......and that is their right.

Better to ignore the post than to cause problems.

Just my two cents...

Dan

[Mrs. Wallnut]

Here is what I think about this. And please if I make someone mad I am sorry up front.

If a person posts something that they need the support of others on, then by all rights ask for prayers and the support of your fellow forum members.

If you see by the title on the thread that it has "prayers" in it DON'T READ IT, if this doesn't sit well with you or you are offended by it.

But that is my opinion. We are a family here and at times the only family some people know they can rely on. Lets help them when they need it. Don't make them feel "worse" by making a post like that one.

[TB Roye]

The BT3 Central is a place for support of our beloved saw. It is also a safe place to ask for support in a time great emotional need. Unlike my fellow Californian I do not feel asking for prayers is in any way wrong or should not be allowed. We have been asked to not discuss releigon or politics. Asking for a prayer is neither of those. If you do not care to participate then don't but do not expect us to give up our rights to participate if we so choose.

Tom

[JR]

Not taking sides

It's clear by the responses so far that Dave's post is going to raise the hackles of some. I'd just like to point out that his post was done without rancor in a cool and calm way.

I'd just hope that everyone who responds will do so in a civil way. It's one thing I like most about BT3Central.

JR

[parnelli]

It's clear by the responses so far that Dave's post is going to raise the hackles of some. I'd just like to point out that his post was done without rancor in a cool and calm way.

In the interest of full disclosure: 1) I have posted to a few(?) of the prayer request posts and 2) NEVER noticed until I started to reply that there even was a request from Sam on religion. Politics I had always known, but had apparently overlooked the other.

I hesitated for more than a bit before posting a reply for fear of the response, but I've interpreted Dave's post differently than everyone who's replied so far apparently.

Everyone else seemingly interprets it as dlminehart doesn't like prayer and would therefore like others to stop.

As I read it, dlminehart wants people to abide by Sam's rules on religion and politics. "This forum is for any topic that you would normally talk about at the office...I only ask that you steer away from topics on religion or politics."

Would everyone be upset if dlminehart were posting to request people stop posting politics? I think not as I've seen numerous posts reminding people that politics were against the rules and no complaints were raised.

It's Sam's board and if he had a rule that we couldn't use the letter 'w' at any time, well then- so be it.

An argument can be raised that prayer requests were not what Sam had wanted us to 'steer away from', but I think the decision isn't ours to make - it's Sam's.

I figure if Sam had said that religion is ok, then Dave wouldn't have said anything.

[rickd]

crossing the line in my opinion!

I'm curious as to whether forum members are soliciting or engaging in some form of non-religious prayer, given Sam's request that we steer away from topics on religion or politics.

the support, compassion and, yes the prayers, offered by members of this forum to our friends within this community are not 'religious' at all - by any standard of measurement. it is not a religion to say a prayer for a sick child, a family member, the loss of a beloved spouse or for members who have recently endured severe personal hardships- it is simply showing the very best traits of being a living, caring human being.

i do not recall any discussion of religon at all - none, period. look up the definition of religion in the dictionary and you will see - it has not been discussed - no, nada, nyet!! for my part, i'm not against religion any more than i am against politics but i agree with sam that it is best left to other places than bt3central to discuss them - and i think that this forum adheres to that splendidly. again, an offer of prayer and support is not a religious act - it is an act of kindness. i, or others, could consider it to be religious i suppose - nothing wrong with that at all - as long as it is kept private - which members of this forum do.

unfortunately, 'dlmineharts' post, more than anything else, advances the topics of religion and politics here. i know he didn't mean that to be the consequence. but, already, in a previous post a member refers to dlmineharts words as 'that kind of "liberal" utterance'. liberal utterance? i guess i'm a liberal, and probably like most 'conservatives' i disagree totally with dlimenhart's posting. my point is - this example is precisely why sam is right - religiion and politics don't belong here. it's too easy to get into unintended confrontations. but, compassion and caring, i believe, do belong here.

i kind of wish that this post, along with this entire thread, might somehow just disappear and be blamed on the 'conversion'. sam?

[lcm1947]

My momma taught me that " if you can't say nothing nice then don't say nothing at all" so I won't comment on this topic except to say that if we are not allowed to say a prayer for a fellow member when he/she needs it most, well actually anytime for that matter then as much as I love this forum and have learned so so much from it that I for one will find another forum. Ok, I've got to say it. I'm so sick of this PC crap that it makes me sick. Sorry but that just boils my butt!!

[LinuxRandal]

the support, compassion and, yes the prayers, offered by members of this forum to our friends within this community are not 'religious' at all - by any standard of measurement. it is not a religion to say a prayer for a sick child, a family member, the loss of a beloved spouse or for members who have recently endured severe personal hardships- it is simply showing the very best traits of being a living, caring human being.

sam?

Well said. The final word goes to Sam, but remember this, how far do you wish to push this? Let's see, the Freya post could be eliminated, because Freya was a deity in the Norse religon, do we stop anyone with a name based in religon from posting, or using their parent given name?
All I ask is, please use some common sense.
Thank you

[just4funsies]

Just one guy's opinion: Every religion has prayers. The requests are non-sectarian. They are asked by those who have made friends here. They are given by those out of friendship and sympathy. No offense was intended. None should be taken. Those who do not believe should should simply be considerate and offer their sympathies, or else say nothing at all.