CNN: "Those who prayed for Pope John Paul II's recovery...

[immoderate]

...got their prayers rewarded."

That was the lead on CNN news. I wonder how they source that. Could it be that a stay in the hospital under the care of qualified physicians, and relief from a torturous schedule helped his recovery. Not according to CNN.

--IMM

[DFLforever]

1. The Lord works in mysterious ways

and one of them is through qualified physicians.;-)

Getting away from the jackals in the Vatican was undoubtedly salubrious in itself.

[Toucano]

2. And in related news...

those who prayed for world peace were told to shut the hell up!

[blm]

3. RevMoon and Bob Jones were praying for his death, so what does THAT mean?

.

[Jokinomx]

4. I have always wondered how....

everything good in the world, religious people give credit to a "God". But when things aren't going well they blame something or someone that is evil. I think it is ludicrous to think that if there is a supreme being that "KNOWS" everything, that prayers to that Being would somehow make a difference. If the Pope really is THE spokesman to God, then don't you think that God would take care of him without prayers.... the man has Parkinson's disease... was that God given also?

[Toucano]

5. That's where the "mysterious ways"

shit comes in.

All injustice can be explained away by "he works in mysterious ways".

You may still have to throw in a witch hunt now and again, though. Just to keep 'em on their toes.

[KittyWampus]

6. I Am Religious & Give Credit To God For Everything. Whether It's Seen

as good OR bad. Those value judgements are based on limited human awareness. Nothing is ultimately good or bad... Everything just IS.

The question then arises, how are we to react to trials and tribulations.

If you remove the value judgement, remain unemotional and approach Life from a more accepting place you will find that problems are always blessings in disguise.

[Jokinomx]

7. I give zero credit to God for anything....

We come to this planet to learn lessons. To grow and mature as spiritual beings. Then we die and go home. Many of us come back again to learn and experience more that the physical world can teach us. We all are creating and transforming this world as we continue to expand our awareness of all things, physical and non-physical. I consider the Earth as a very intense training arena. We learn more here in a short period than we could had we not experienced this place. If I ever "pray" it is to those Beings that I am evolving with. Some have been here and "Graduated" and have chosen to help those that are continuing to experience the challenges of this planet.

I have "Faith" that if I am doing my best and continue everyday to try to make this planet a better place.... those that are involved with my spiritual growth will assist me however they can, to ensure my success. It is when I make poor choices that things become more difficult.

Many of the "Trials" that we are to experience in ones life are known to us before we are born. We agree to take on the challenge and learn from it...or to teach others from it.

It doesn't mean I don't try to help someone that needs help.... because they "deserve it". We all are here to do the best we can with what we understand and then our bodies die. Our Spirit continues and always will.

That is my humble opinion.

[immoderate]

8. This thread was meant to be about media, not religion.

I don't know what cured the pope, but I'll assert that CNN does not know that any prayers were answered. They could have said that the hospital stay saved his life with some reasonable authority. But look where they went. Would the NY Times have a headline like that?

--IMM

[K-W]

9. And he swung by and cured Terrell Owens too.

God's got ants in his pants this month.