Comments on: Folk Science http://www.michaelshermer.com/2006/08/folk-science/ books, essays, columns, reviews, and multimedia clips of famed skeptic Michael Shermer Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:57:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bo http://www.michaelshermer.com/2006/08/folk-science/comment-page-1/#comment-2232 Bo Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:47:04 +0000 http://michaelshermer.com/writing/2007/07/21/folk-science/#comment-2232 I wonder if anyone really, really, ponders over the percentage of their prayers which are answered and those which are not? How many times does one pray for anything for themselves or for others? How do leaders of the many forms of religion respond to the questions asked by those with prayers that go unanswered. I think I know what the common answers are, tho' I truly wonder how the pray-ers rationalize the seeming lack of consideration given to their pleas. How can someone accept, time after time, the reply that their prayers were not this or too that or maybe were said with the wrong whatever? I can't understand. And often it is the true and sincere need or hope that is being prayed for which goes nowhere. I wonder if anyone really, really, ponders over the percentage of their prayers which are answered and those which are not? How many times does one pray for anything for themselves or for others? How do leaders of the many forms of religion respond to the questions asked by those with prayers that go unanswered. I think I know what the common answers are, tho’ I truly wonder how the pray-ers rationalize the seeming lack of consideration given to their pleas. How can someone accept, time after time, the reply that their prayers were not this or too that or maybe were said with the wrong whatever?
I can’t understand.
And often it is the true and sincere need or hope that is being prayed for which goes nowhere.

]]> By: Reinier Battenberg http://www.michaelshermer.com/2006/08/folk-science/comment-page-1/#comment-2231 Reinier Battenberg Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:18:25 +0000 http://michaelshermer.com/writing/2007/07/21/folk-science/#comment-2231 During the war in Europe my father prayed fervently one weekend when there was no food in the house. In the afternoon a package with a loaf of rye bread arrived. After the war I heard my father emphatically tell a friend that he was "CONVINCED" that that time during the war god had heard (and rewarded?) his prayer. What about the fervent prayers of the other 11 million hungry Dutch people? During the war in Europe my father prayed fervently one weekend when there was no food in the house. In the afternoon a package with a loaf of rye bread arrived.
After the war I heard my father emphatically tell a friend that he was “CONVINCED” that that time during the war god had heard (and rewarded?) his prayer.
What about the fervent prayers of the other 11 million
hungry Dutch people?

]]> By: Peter Irvine http://www.michaelshermer.com/2006/08/folk-science/comment-page-1/#comment-2230 Peter Irvine Thu, 18 Sep 2008 04:07:55 +0000 http://michaelshermer.com/writing/2007/07/21/folk-science/#comment-2230 I think of prayer, not for empirical results, but for its simple act of thinking of (paying attention to) another. These thoughts can sometime lead to good for both the pray-er and the pray-ee in both small and large ways. I think of prayer, not for empirical results, but for its simple act of thinking of (paying attention to) another. These thoughts can sometime lead to good for both the pray-er and the pray-ee in both small and large ways.

]]> By: Richard Baldwin http://www.michaelshermer.com/2006/08/folk-science/comment-page-1/#comment-2227 Richard Baldwin Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:31:20 +0000 http://michaelshermer.com/writing/2007/07/21/folk-science/#comment-2227 Again, Michael Shermer clarion call for critical thinking and evidential reasoning clarifies a major problem for the scientific community is spreading its findings through the masses: the prevalence of "folk science" with little or no understanding of the scientific method. By the way, David S., just what are those theologically and more significant and important purposes of prayer that the "properly-representative" theologians (whose relevance has waned to insignificance since at least the last half century) have to offer? Again, Michael Shermer clarion call for critical thinking and evidential reasoning clarifies a major problem for the scientific community is spreading its findings through the masses: the prevalence of “folk science” with little or no understanding of the scientific method.

By the way, David S., just what are those theologically and more significant and important purposes of prayer that the “properly-representative” theologians (whose relevance has waned to insignificance since at least the last half century) have to offer?

]]> By: David S. http://www.michaelshermer.com/2006/08/folk-science/comment-page-1/#comment-2226 David S. Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:07:41 +0000 http://michaelshermer.com/writing/2007/07/21/folk-science/#comment-2226 Brilliant article -- well put, and hopefully well received. One criticism: your assumption is that the only effective result of prayer is healing. While the average congregant may have such a "magical thinking" approach to prayer, I suspect you'd be hard-pressed to find any properly-representative theologian who believes the entire reason for praying is for empirical, physical results. Common rationalizations aside ("it wasn't God's will" -- "he didn't have enough faith", etc.), prayer serves many more purposes than physical healing, many of which are theologically more significant and important. Brilliant article — well put, and hopefully well received. One criticism: your assumption is that the only effective result of prayer is healing. While the average congregant may have such a “magical thinking” approach to prayer, I suspect you’d be hard-pressed to find any properly-representative theologian who believes the entire reason for praying is for empirical, physical results. Common rationalizations aside (“it wasn’t God’s will” — “he didn’t have enough faith”, etc.), prayer serves many more purposes than physical healing, many of which are theologically more significant and important.

]]> By: Brian Champness http://www.michaelshermer.com/2006/08/folk-science/comment-page-1/#comment-2225 Brian Champness Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:14:23 +0000 http://michaelshermer.com/writing/2007/07/21/folk-science/#comment-2225 A model of succinctness and good sense. It should be on every young person's reading list. A model of succinctness and good sense. It should be on every young person’s reading list.

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