The Metaverse Is Coming

Last updated on: December 29, 2021 at 5:04 pm By Dorian Scott Cole

The sky is falling! Run, run, another technology change will be our doom! We were already virtual Much of our world has always been virtual. Stories around campfires, the Greek Classics, Shakespeare, the Bible, novels, movies – all transport us to the world of other people and often teach us something. It’s a way to experience life through other’s eyes or through an experience that represents a different reality. Technology simply makes these things more possible. Italian Metaverse by ZZ... Read more

Prayer works. Part 11 of Why Pray?

Last updated on: September 14, 2022 at 4:04 pm By Dorian Scott Cole

Evidence is strong that prayer works This series explored many topics regarding prayer. It explained that there are no restrictions on who can ask God for necessary things, and receive them, even if we feel undeserving, because we’re all deserving in God’s eyes. We do need to expect God will honor our request, but it may not be in the form we think we need or want, or may come later. God rarely intervenes in nature, but there is an... Read more

Science and philosophy have their own standard: 100% Part 10 of Why Pray?

Last updated on: September 14, 2022 at 4:04 pm By Dorian Scott Cole

Science, philosophy, and religion – different evaluations Science demands that studies be replicable 100% (able to be reproduced exactly). Philosophy can also be harsh, and this is closer to the way we think. The philosophers’ spoiler tool of Reductio ad absurdum (reduction to absurdity to find contradiction), is itself absurd when applied to life and prayer. Real life isn’t 100% on anything. Life is messy and holds too many variables besides spiritual variables. Yet how many of us practice this... Read more

Criticism of studies on prayer, and of science – Part 9 of Why Pray?

Last updated on: September 14, 2022 at 4:03 pm By Dorian Scott Cole

The ridiculous contention between science and religion. We believe from compelling evidence that prayer works. There are things we can’t explain by science. But does God exist only where science doesn’t have an answer? When science learns more, does God disappear? Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was martyred by the Nazis, said, “We are to find God in what we know, not in what we don’t know.” What we know is, while things we can’t explain happen, we actually find God... Read more

Is the action of God in the universe responsible for much? Part 8 of Why Pray?

Last updated on: September 14, 2022 at 4:02 pm By Dorian Scott Cole

Needs or wants? Can you pray for pockets full of money and get rich? Will God give you that? Be careful what you ask for. Money corrupts, and it requires a great deal of attention that could go to other things. Maybe that answer should be no for most of us. Jesus gave us this example: Consider the birds of the field. They don’t lack. And he gave us the example of the Lord’s Prayer, which simply says, “Give us... Read more

Is prayer a conveyor belt of miracles? Part 7 of Why Pray?

Last updated on: September 14, 2022 at 4:01 pm By Dorian Scott Cole

Was Jesus an example of the miracles we can expect? Jesus did miracles primarily to show his authority, certainly not to cause belief, or to attract attention as a magic sideshow. Each miracle pointed beyond himself to God. He healed lepers, the blind, raised the dead, and walked on water. Jesus was compassionate; he couldn’t avoid doing miracles when he saw need.1 But then he said that believers could move mountains.2 Hmm. That really would be a miracle. Has anyone... Read more

Does God intervene in nature? Part 6 of Why Pray?

Last updated on: September 14, 2022 at 4:00 pm By Dorian Scott Cole

Miracle or answered prayer? Many consider answered prayer to be a miracle, but many don’t go that far. A miracle can be defined as a surprising and welcome event that can’t be explained by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency. “Surprise” means an unexpected or astonishing event, fact, or thing. The majority of miracles of Jesus were healings through the individual’s faith, exorcisms, raising people from the dead, and control... Read more

Consider our own attitude – Part 5 of Why Pray?

Last updated on: September 14, 2022 at 3:59 pm By Dorian Scott Cole

Are we willing to accept “no?” When it comes to prayer, do we have an attitude problem? Are we willing to accept nothing less than the best?” Do we expect nothing at all? Can we accept a delay, or something different? Can we accept that silence is a maybe? Can we accept that God knows what is best for us – we can’t see the future, but maybe he knows how we will fare with different options? A popular song... Read more

Some think they deserve to suffer and die – Part 4 of Why Pray?

Last updated on: September 14, 2022 at 3:59 pm By Dorian Scott Cole

So what – nothing makes us undeserving of prayer I’ve heard too many people declare that they were born broken. So what? Chronic disease, substance abuse and self-harm, bad behavior, whether voluntary or not, destroys precious life, so they really need to be helped. There is help. Start with prayer. Surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don’t expect it and often feel they don’t deserve it. –... Read more

Expectations of prayer – Part 3 of Why Pray?

Last updated on: September 14, 2022 at 3:58 pm By Dorian Scott Cole

Can we believe that God loves us as an individual? Can we believe not just that God loves the entire world, even those who miss the mark, but that God really does love us as an individual enough to take care of us? Feeling “unworthy” limits our expectations. Entitlement is the opposite, but just as destructive. Feeling unworthy is something we have to overcome. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children... Read more

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