Your thoughts on prayer

Wow, Sue, that's wonderful to hear.  Thanks for sharig that.  You hear so many stories like that, of people beating the odds.  And yes, I don't believe there's any right or wrong answer here.  It depends on the individuals and the circumstances.

There's the key, Paul.  And that's why it was the right decision.

Wow, this was quite a discussion. Personally I believe in an afterlife and that there is a just and merciful God.  I don't want to die either, and sometimes I really feel like I'm running out of time, like you mentioned, John.  I remember when I turned 50 thinking that unless I live to be 100, my life was now more than half over and odds are that, at best, I might only have half as many years left as I'd already lived, and that didn't seem very long.  But I take Jesus at his word, when He talked about God being the God of the living - and he was referring to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, long since dead.  And I also hold on to St. Paul's message to the Corinthians:  What no eye has seen and no ear has heard, what the mind of man cannot visualize; all that God has prepared for those who love him.  Being a believer, I take great comfort in that.  And that's what allows me to go thru life not obsessing about or fearing death, as you mentioned Andy.  If I didn't believe this, I'd be petrified.

I don't want to die either, and I guess I'm the opposite of you, Chris.  I'm not afraid of what's on the other side of the door, it's the door I fear.   And I guess that's the biological side, the instinct of self-preservation that John talks about.  And if we simply slip into oblivion and become worm food, I guess it won't trouble me anyway.  But that possibility doesn't even enter my head.

Pinned to the dartboard next to the pearly gate, eh John? 

I guess since you don't believe in God, you have nothing to fear.  But I'll tell you something, John.  There isn't anything that a person can do or say or think or believe that would make God stop loving him or her.  Another of the fallacies propagated by misguided religion.

OK, I think it's time to lighten this up a little.  So I'll tell you why people stay Catholic.

Because one day, Jesus was walking thru heaven and he noticed a lot of riff-raff who probably shouldn't be there.  So he goes to the pearly gate and asks Peter how they got in.  "I didn't let them in, Lord," was his reply.  The Lord said, "Well you're the gate keeper.  What, were you off fishing again?:

Peter said, "No, Lord.  They come up to the gate and I turn them away, then they go round to the back door and your mother lets them in." 

Ha!

Nice one, Ruth. At the risk of turning this into a religious jokes thread, here's one I quite like:

The Lord called to Adam and said, "It is time for you and Eve to begin the process of populating the earth so I want you to kiss her." 

Adam answered, "Yes Lord, but what is a kiss?" So the Lord gave a brief description to Adam who took Eve by the hand and took her to a nearby bush. 

A few minutes later, Adam emerged and said, "Thank you Lord, that was enjoyable." 

And the Lord replied, "Yes Adam, I thought you might enjoy that - and now I'd like you to caress Eve."

And Adam said, " 'What is a 'caress'? So the Lord again gave Adam a brief description and Adam went behind the bush with Eve.

Quite a few minutes later, Adam returned, smiling, and said, "'Lord, that was even better than the kiss."

And the Lord said, "'You've done well Adam. And now I want you to make love to Eve."

And Adam asked, "What is 'make love' Lord?"' So the Lord again gave Adam directions and Adam went again to Eve behind the bush, but this time he reappeared in two seconds. 

And Adam said, "Lord, what is a 'headache'?"