tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077809256320470141.post1424132168489598209..comments2023-12-25T01:24:48.957-05:00Comments on Republic of Gilead: IHOP's Mike Bickle Endorses Ted CruzAhabhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14675629709031865432noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077809256320470141.post-30308469566057865492016-01-23T12:40:01.865-05:002016-01-23T12:40:01.865-05:00Agi Tater -- He's trying to win those Religiou...Agi Tater -- He's trying to win those Religious Right votes with all his might, but he'll need more than Religious Right support to win. By alienating saner voters, he's ensuring that he won't win.Ahabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14675629709031865432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077809256320470141.post-57781592739409406002016-01-23T00:38:47.644-05:002016-01-23T00:38:47.644-05:00I think Cruz has less faith in the intelligence of...I think Cruz has less faith in the intelligence of his target base than you do, Ahab. Here's hoping you're right.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05362339037879270082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077809256320470141.post-35733954339389035722016-01-22T21:46:24.495-05:002016-01-22T21:46:24.495-05:00Infidel -- "Do they think God will reward the...Infidel -- "Do they think God will reward them for engaging in continuous rituals?"<br /><br />Oddly enough, yes. New Apostolic Reformation followers believe that prayer has supernatural abilities, and that heartfelt prayer can do everything from warding off demons to ending abortion. <br /><br />I think of it as a 21st century American equivalent of all those Hindu stories where people performed austerities (tapasya) in order to receive a boon from the gods.<br /><br />The sad thing is, IHOP prayers may induce ecstatic experiences, but they cannot shape reality. IHOP followers can either persist in the delusion that prayers bring about action, or they can wake up.Ahabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14675629709031865432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077809256320470141.post-44867468692594986482016-01-22T21:34:48.419-05:002016-01-22T21:34:48.419-05:00For the last 16 years, their prayer room has conti...<i>For the last 16 years, their prayer room has continued nonstop in 24/7 prayer led by worship teams</i>.<br /><br />I'm always baffled by things like this. Prayer as a general concept seems pointless -- an omniscient God would already know what you want, and how much you want it, and whether you deserve it -- so what's the point of asking him for it?<br /><br />But this kind of OCD takes it to a new level. Do they think God will reward them for engaging in continuous rituals? What kind of God would regard such behavior as virtuous? Wouldn't a just and wise God prefer that those people's time and energy be used for some more practical purpose? It's very strange.Infidel753https://www.blogger.com/profile/10965786814334886696noreply@blogger.com