Secular Nazis...

[tabibito]

Wot? Asking God for assistance in times of trouble is wrong?
It is basic - "give us this day our daily bread".

[firstfloor]

Wot? Asking God for assistance in times of trouble is wrong?
It is basic - "give us this day our daily bread".

Possibly – see Book of Job. Greed is sinful – the original ethics of love your neighbour required that you gave the excess of anything you possess to your neighbour. Righteousness was associated with poverty, chastity and vegetarianism.

[tabibito]

Obviously. The fact that Job was reasonably wealthy while he was doing all that, and that after his tempering, that he became rich only underscores how thoroughly unrighteous he was.
Tis love of money, not the possession thereof, that is the root of all evil.


(I like your tag line by the way)

[Tassman]

Wot? Asking God for assistance in times of trouble is wrong?
It is basic - "give us this day our daily bread".

Not wrong, just ineffectual – and not a little tacky in this instance.

Properly controlled studies have shown that prayer makes no difference. “The world's largest study into the effects of prayer on patients undergoing heart surgery has found it appears to make no difference”.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3193902.stm

And:

"...As delivered in this study, intercessory prayer had no significant effect on medical outcomes after hospitalization in a coronary care unit”.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...?dopt=Abstract

And:

The few studies with positive results, e.g. one conducted by Randolph C. Byrd, were shown to have flawed methodology.

http://infidels.org/library/modern/g...er/godccu.html

[seer]

Did I say banned? The woman concerned has admitted that the practice was illegal. She has decided of her own free will to stop breaking the law.
I don’t know enough about gays to have that chat – wrong forum I expect.

The point is why would it be illegal? Who made such fascist laws?

[Quantum Weirdness]

Not wrong, just ineffectual – and not a little tacky in this instance.

Properly controlled studies have shown that prayer makes no difference. “The world's largest study into the effects of prayer on patients undergoing heart surgery has found it appears to make no difference”.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3193902.stm

And:

"...As delivered in this study, intercessory prayer had no significant effect on medical outcomes after hospitalization in a coronary care unit”.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...?dopt=Abstract

And:

The few studies with positive results, e.g. one conducted by Randolph C. Byrd, were shown to have flawed methodology.

http://infidels.org/library/modern/g...er/godccu.html

How is this relevant to the situation? If they told you to dress up in a chicken suit for a discount, would you?

Btw, here's a nice video on prayer.

And another one (see below)

[firstfloor]

The point is why would it be illegal? Who made such fascist laws?

I would imagine the legal argument would be about discrimination on religious grounds. I don’t know which laws would apply.

[seer]

I would imagine the legal argument would be about discrimination on religious grounds. I don’t know which laws would apply.

But it is not. First, you did not have to pray. Second, no one was denied service. Third, if you don't like it go to a different restaurant! This is why discrimination laws are becoming fascist in nature.

[firstfloor]

But it is not. First, you did not have to pray. Second, no one was denied service. Third, if you don't like it go to a different restaurant! This is why discrimination laws are becoming fascist in nature.

No, it is about equality. Anyone should be able to go to any restaurant and be treated exactly the same way regardless of religious affiliation. In Nazi Germany the Jews had to wear a yellow badge (badge of shame) so that people knew to treat them differently. In this case, prayer is used to pick out the preferred group. Christianity is fascist in character – obedience to supreme power – punishment for traitors, dissenters, apostates (Hell).

[Cow Poke]

Mother insisted that I pass on this note.

Dear Mr. Poke,
Although it came as something of a shock at first, your extraordinary question brought back to me wonderful memories of firstfloor’s infancy. It would be impolite of me to answer more directly but I do not mind telling you that firstfloor was brought up a very healthy and contented child.
With kindest regards,
S (firstfloor’s mum)

Hmmmm... so we can't blame her, eh?

[seer]

No, it is about equality. Anyone should be able to go to any restaurant and be treated exactly the same way regardless of religious affiliation. In Nazi Germany the Jews had to wear a yellow badge (badge of shame) so that people knew to treat them differently. In this case, prayer is used to pick out the preferred group. Christianity is fascist in character – obedience to supreme power – punishment for traitors, dissenters, apostates (Hell).

Nonsense, most stores have specials if you meet certain conditions. A restaurant may have a kids night where the family gets a discount if they bring their children - should the people without kids threaten to sue? I shop at stores where if you spend over a certain amount you get a discount. This is nothing but anti-religious bias, growing fascism where everyone must act the same in the name of your fictional "equality."

[Sparko]

So if encouraging prayer by giving a discount is "illegal" because it somehow violates civil liberties (which actually protect freedom of religion) - then by that same token the mall that banned praying is illegal too. They are basically telling customers who pray that they are not welcome in their shops and that is discrimination.

[tabibito]

No, it is about equality. Anyone should be able to go to any restaurant and be treated exactly the same way regardless of religious affiliation.

The same argument could be extended to cover all scenarios. No free cup of coffee for regular customers. No discounts for - say - pensioners, or women's group Tuesdays etc.
Or is it only religious affiliation that should be excluded from the list of particular groups that from time to time might be given a special status?

[Cow Poke]

Nonsense, most stores have specials if you meet certain conditions. A restaurant may have a kids night where the family gets a discount if they bring their children - should the people without kids threaten to sue? I shop at stores where if you spend over a certain amount you get a discount. This is nothing but anti-religious bias, growing fascism where everyone must act the same in the name of your fictional "equality."

Stores often give discounts to people who apply for, or use, their store credit card. I have, on occasion, asked the store clerk, "Am I not as valuable a customer simply because I pay cash?", and frequently I will get the discount also. But I recognize the store has a right to make such offers, and a right NOT to extend those offers to me if they so choose.

[Sparko]

Hmmmm... so we can't blame her, eh?

Aww how cute. he got his mommy to write a note for him.