First Star

I do not often delve into the subjects of politics or religion, because too many people are too easily offended. I tend not to get too caught up in the rights or wrongs of either (or rights and lefts), I kinda form my own viewpoints based upon what I observe.

As for religion, I have, over time, read a lot of the bible... although I have not yet finished it. There are parts of the old testament that seem to present a God that is much different from the loving God that Christians are taught about in today's church. But, that's a conversation for someone else.

Someone asked me this:

"Pastor said that in order for a prayer to come true, you must first pray to Jesus, then Jesus "talks" to God. If you don't believe in Jesus or God or the Holy Ghost, then your prayer will not be answered. What do you think of this?"

Not to create a fuss, or "stir the pot" for anyone, but here was my answer. This is my viewpoints only, and anyone can feel free to blast me if they want to (comments are always welcome, even if you disagree with my philosophy).

I think that this is more or less the traditional "Christian" viewpoint.

On the one hand, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are the "Trinity" or "one god". In the New Testament (and there's debate here), basically, the three parts make one God.

Our pathway, as Christians, to heaven, is through belief that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and according to most "religious" Christian folks, that's the ONLY way to get into heaven.

And if you continue that logic, then the only way to get your prayers answered is to go the same route, through Jesus to God and so forth.

But then, my problem with it - all of it - is that I think of a 10 year old in Africa or India who never ever did a bad thing in his or her life, who died of starvation or illness - and they are going to tell me that he/she is a lost soul and cannot enter the gates of heaven because he/she never knew Jesus.

The next step in the progression of thought applies to prayer. If that child, who does not know of Jesus, prays in his innocent manner to whatever God may be there to listen, for forgiveness for some wrong that he has done or imagined, is "our" God not going to listen, because the child did not follow the right path?

So to answer your question - his thoughts are a traditional Christian viewpoint, but my thoughts are....

If you believe in Good, and you pray to the "Good One" - call him God, or Jesus, or whatever, if you truly believe, then maybe your prayers will come true, and maybe not....

There are some things that no prayers will ever change....

There are no guarantees....

But no, I do not personally agree completely with Pastor's viewpoints, even when I do believe that he means the best by teaching it.

-- I've wished many times upon the first star. Now, that is totally superstition... But suppose, just suppose, that I truly believed in it. Would my "wish" then be a "prayer," and might it not come true?

Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish, I wish tonight.