Don't know about anyone else, but I beleive that prayer and faith in Christ are absolutely essential to my success in life.

I'm not into Christianity (or any religion really), so I don't feel the need to pray. I have faith in myself and those close to me.

I think that faith is essential, whether it be in yourself or in God. And preferably both. I am not religious, but I am spiritual, and being exposed to a lot of different religions, I have come to the conclusion that there is something more than meets the eye about this world, something bigger than us all. Some people call that God.

To borrow a phrase from Christianity, I think that we are made in God's image, so therefore if we have faith in ourselves, we are indirectly having faith in Him, for we are like Him.

Spirituality is something that is important in my life, and there are many times where prayer and meditation have made a difference. There are many times that using my God given powers have made a difference too. And I too think that God and his agents have bailed me out of situations too.

As far as being essential to success, I don't think that subscribing to one particular religion guarantees success, but I do believe that the more we understand how God set this world up, and the more we follow those rules, the more successful we will be. And I am not talking about religious rules as much as cause and effect. For example, lying vs. not lying. Lying in the short run may seem to work, but in the long run, not lying and being honest and open works better. I think that God set it up that way. So, understanding how the rules of the universe are setup is essential to success. And I happen to think that God set it all up like that, but even if you don't believe that, it would be essential for you to see the universe works a certain way to have any success in dealing with it.

Goalguy,

Has prayer helped you somehow? Can you prove this? Would you not have seen the same succes if you had not prayed all the time? I don't believe in god myself at all.

I didn't mean to make it sound like it's the only way. I just know it works for me. Can I prove it? I guess not, but isn't that what faith is about, believing in what cannot be proved?

True. I think the biggest thing that prayer does for me is give me more confidence that I can actually do what I set out to do, that there is a power bigger than me that is actually on my side. Now, I don't know for sure that there is a God, but I prefer to believe that there is and have looked at enough things to suspect that there is. So, whether there is a God or not, an added benefit of having faith in God is added confidence, which sometimes is enough to get you past your problems.

Now, I personally do not subscribe to the "old man on the mountain" type of God that is often portrayed in Christianity and most western religions. To me, God is more of a power or force of pure goodness and love. Something that permeates everything; something that is within us; something that doesn't just love us, but actually IS love itself.

For the longest time I didn't think I believed in God. Then I realized that I had believed in God all along, I just didn't believe in the Christian description of what God is. We are still talking about the same God, just we view God differently.

So, believing in God, I don't think is necessary for success, but it does make me sleep better at night thinking that there is something bigger than me out there who'll pull some strings for me. :)

I know it sounds like a mental exercise, but after all, what isn't. It goes in the same category of believing in yourself, believing that there is good in people (even when it is not showing), and believing that you will be successful. Your mind and your word are powerful things, and if used properly, you will be able to do things you never thought were possible. Often just changing how you think about something, or changing your beliefs, is all that is needed to be successful.

Another question about "belief"

Have you ever been in love? Prove it to me materially like you are asking goalguy to prove his faith.

Have you ever died? So how do you know what lays beyond?

Cause and effect is a reality, kharma some may call it, reciprocity is the word I use.

In everything you do, there is a reciprocal action that occurs. You choose the outcome even before you take the action. You can't help yourself, and you are blind to it.

Don't know about anyone else, but I beleive that prayer and faith in Christ are absolutely essential to my success in life.

My take on a Christian perspective is that you relate with Christ, and he changes you as a person. You, as a changed person, are then able to produce good fruits and succeed. Of course, not all people need as much help. And Paul writes that Christ's strenght is made perfect in weakness.

Anyhow, in my reading about material on success, I find a lot of major notables in the field (Zig Zigler, Rohm, etc...) are either Christians, or have HIGH regards for what is written in the Bible as wise advice (Napoleon Hill). This was said by Napoleon in "Success through a Positive Mental Attitude" by Napoleon Hill (p.221):
"As proved to me by Raphael, inspirational books are tremendously instrumental in changing lifes. And there is no otherbook with more inspiration and motivation than the Bible. The Bible has changed the llives of more persons than any other book. It has helped countless thousands to develop physical, mental, and moral health. Reading the Bible has developed a greater understanding of Its truths in many persons and caused them to draw closer to their own church. This is because the Bible has motivated them to take positive action."

i've never read the bible, or the koran, i don't even own a copies, but strangely, i have a japanese book called 'the teachings of bhudda', which i've only ever glanced at.

perhaps i should pay some attention to religious texts before i pass any judgement on them through ignorance.

i respect your beliefs .

I think the Lord helps those who help themselves. I also think that the 10 commandments are like "rules of the road" when it comes to social function.
At least in western countries where the "majority" subsribes to it.
I for one just believe in karma as in "what goes around comes around" And I have been personally show this many, many times over my years of living. If I generate "bad" karma, then it comes back to me eventually.
I also believe in the concept of positive thinking, which is where I think prayer comes in.
You pray hard enough and believe that there is a "power" out there that will aid you in reaching your goal, then you got a better chance of positive production.
My problem with organized religion is the "suffering". The repression and the concept that someone can tell someone else how they should be living beyond basis social interaction. The "sin" and "repent" concept is kinda "big" and far too much for me. I don't like the ideal of personal absolution by a human in the name of God. I don't care if they think they are agents for the Lord cause I don't think that way.
I couldn't get past the first scene in "the passion of the Christ" without thinking all kinds of ways that "it didn't have to happen like that"

I also beleive that when we die, we go exactly where we think. If you lack the spriritual belief that you go to heaven or return to earth and you think your going to hell when you die, then guess you'll be there. I plan to return to finish my work on earth. Even if our body dies, our energy lives on thru our work, family, friends that we touched and loved/loved us.

Kerri

to be succinct, i have been clinically dead on 2 seperate occassions. at both times the same thing happened ie; watching my life pass me by in fast forward, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak. on the 1st occasion i was medically intervened, and on the 2nd, i reached out through the end of the tunnel into light.

i had 2 people in my immediate presence (but proriferally there were thousands around), there was no conversing from my end, but i was being told - "you are not yet ready, you must go back and complete your reason for being"

so i already know where i am "going", but need to crack the code for "being".

i actually don't think about it too much 'cause i'm relatively busy. and cracking the code isn't a priority, i guess one day, or all of my life, it will actually just happen.

Interesting. I also had a death experience. It was about 8 years ago. I didn't see the light as most people describe it. What I saw was swirling patterns of colored lights. That doesn't really describe it. The best I can say is that it looked like fractals all around me. And the colors seemed more intense than the colors I see on earth.

Anyway, I do think these experiences change you. But sort of like you, endeavor, I'm too busy living to worry much about cracking the code.