My friend won Powerball...sort of - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

SaltPork · 08-26-2004, 08:48 PM

One of my friends, who is pretty much a confirmed atheist, prayed the other night that he would win the lottery for this past Saturday's drawing, Powerball to be more precise. He won three dollars. Now he's conflicted. He wasn't specific about how much he wanted to win, but he won nonetheless. So he took his "God" money, as he puts it, and bought three more tickets.

Today, he checked his numbers again and won again...three dollars. He's starting to think that there may be something going on that he doesn't understand and is taking his winnings as some sort of sign. Funny stuff, not sure what I think about it.

What do you think, random chance or divine intervention?

Trisk · 08-26-2004, 08:51 PM

If every person that asked God to help them win the lottery won, the world would be pretty crazy. Random chance.

I doubt God (if there is one) cares that much about each individual person's day-to-day doings and if he was going to reward someone, why a confirmed aethiest?

Church · 08-26-2004, 08:51 PM

Well as much as I think this thread is going to have a divine intervention and be moved to Tilted Philosophy, I find this interesting.

I think though, this may just be coincidence. I'm not saying he should renounce any new found... religion, (for lack of a better word), but see if it happens again.

moonstrucksoul · 08-27-2004, 08:16 AM

every time pray on a simple scratch ticket, I lose.

i lose when i don't pray too.

the_marq · 08-27-2004, 08:19 AM

I think god is probably too busy helping highschool football teams win games to worry about every powerball player.

ShaniFaye · 08-27-2004, 08:22 AM

I'm of the belief that god cares about atheists too.....If I were god I wouldnt pass up the chance to "rattle the cage" of a person that swore they didnt believe in me

World's King · 08-27-2004, 08:29 AM

I need three bucks for smokes.

Glava · 08-27-2004, 08:30 AM

I am of the firm belief that it was a random occurence. If your friend wins a few million within a short amount of time, maybe I'll believe in "divine interventon".

Stare At The Sun · 08-27-2004, 11:53 AM

Three dollars, and the Holy Trinity. I always thought that the number 3 had a lot of significance to religion.

Who knows..

Journeyman · 08-27-2004, 01:42 PM

Being omnipotent can have you getting a person's faith in you for a cool million. Being omniscient can set you up to get their faith for only three bucks. Pretty neat, huh?

basmoq · 08-27-2004, 05:37 PM

I don't believe in three, I believe in one, me!

smooth · 08-27-2004, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stare At The Sun

Three dollars, and the Holy Trinity. I always thought that the number 3 had a lot of significance to religion.

Who knows..

haha, I wanted to say that

MSD · 08-27-2004, 09:57 PM

I don't believe in divine intervention, I don't belive in most things attributed to "God," but if I were a supreme being, I would do something like that to get someone to think about it and reconsider what they thought was absolute truth. No self-interest, more to help someone become more open-minded. Would a coincidence like that get me to start believing in a God who intervenes in our lives? No, but it would make me think.

carrot glace · 08-27-2004, 10:17 PM

if he does it again and wins then, wow, 3's are lucky

guthmund · 08-27-2004, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_marq

I think god is probably too busy helping highschool football teams win games to worry about every powerball player.

That and taking all the pro-jock, actor/actress, politician "shout-outs" messages to Jesus.

I would imagine their are bigger fish to fry if indeed God does dabble in the universe. I would imagine that, in the grand scheme of things, if God wanted to grab your atheist friend's attention, it'd be something...I don't know....bigger than gifting him six bucks in the powerball.

Now if your buddy starts hearing voices from a burning bush....then...you know...probably we should all sit down and pow-wow.

Until then, however, I'm going to vote "random chance."

Stompy · 08-28-2004, 12:10 PM

Hahaha $3?! Do you realize the odds are 1/70? I wouldn't exactly call that divine intervention

Maybe if he won $10 million, then bought 3 more tickets and each of those tickets won $10 million... but yeah, even then it'd still be random chance so..

eyeronic · 08-28-2004, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Original King

I need three bucks for smokes.

You lucky bastard, I need $7.50 in NYC.

dnd · 08-30-2004, 11:25 AM

gotta love coincidence and statistics, can turn atheists into total believers!

SaltPork · 08-30-2004, 12:43 PM

well, his God money didn't play out. He lost on Saturday...not even a free ticket. He's off the God-wagon for now. It seems like all of you were right...it was merely coincidence, go figure

He just bought another ticket today, he's going to see how this one plays out.

mb99usa · 08-30-2004, 12:52 PM

Why do luck and God get intertwined? I've one the $3 prize a few times. God had nothing to do with it. The random number generator in the lottery machine did.

maleficent · 08-30-2004, 01:09 PM

Please let me win the lottery
A blond woman named Brandi finds herself in dire trouble. Her business has gone bust and she's in serious financial trouble. She's so desperate that she decides to ask God for help. She begins to pray...

"God, please help me. I've lost my business and if I don't get some money, I'm going to lose my house as well. Please let me win the lotto."

Lotto night comes and somebody else wins it. Brandi again prays ..."God, please let me win the lotto! I've lost my business, my house and I'm going to lose my car as well."

Lotto night comes and Brandi still has no luck.

Once again, she prays..."My God, why have you forsaken me?? I've lost my business, my house, and my car. My children are starving. I don't often ask you for help and I have always been a good servant to you. PLEASE just let me win the lotto this one time so I can get my life back in order."

Suddenly there is a blinding flash of light as the heavens open and Brandi is confronted by the voice of God Himself: "Brandi, meet Me halfway on this. Buy a ticket."
------------
Unless God has told him to buy a ticket -- I think it was just dumb luck

Cynthetiq · 08-30-2004, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maleficent

Please let me win the lottery
A blond woman named Brandi finds herself in dire trouble. Her business has gone bust and she's in serious financial trouble. She's so desperate that she decides to ask God for help. She begins to pray...

"God, please help me. I've lost my business and if I don't get some money, I'm going to lose my house as well. Please let me win the lotto."

Lotto night comes and somebody else wins it. Brandi again prays ..."God, please let me win the lotto! I've lost my business, my house and I'm going to lose my car as well."

Lotto night comes and Brandi still has no luck.

Once again, she prays..."My God, why have you forsaken me?? I've lost my business, my house, and my car. My children are starving. I don't often ask you for help and I have always been a good servant to you. PLEASE just let me win the lotto this one time so I can get my life back in order."

Suddenly there is a blinding flash of light as the heavens open and Brandi is confronted by the voice of God Himself: "Brandi, meet Me halfway on this. Buy a ticket."
------------
Unless God has told him to buy a ticket -- I think it was just dumb luck

ooh... that's why I've never won...

The Phenomenon · 08-31-2004, 02:52 AM

God is not a spare tire that fixes stuf for you.

animosity · 08-31-2004, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mb99usa

Why do luck and God get intertwined? I've one the $3 prize a few times. God had nothing to do with it. The random number generator in the lottery machine did.

Perhaps we should be praying to the lottery machine? Why use a third party when you can go right to the source.

Your friend should not put so much faith in random occurances. Sometimes when we pray we get what we want, sometimes we dont. It isnt because god chooses to help us sometimes and then other times he chooses not to. It is because things are random, no one is there to help you or hurt you. It is all up to you & the random number generator.

SaltPork · 08-31-2004, 11:15 AM

ALL HAIL THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR, FOR HE IS POWERFUL!!!!! For what it's worth, I'm going to try the prayer thing just as a scientific test. I bought two tickets for Wednesday's drawing. This week I will pray to God, next drawing I will pray to the Random Number Generator. I will post my results along with some graphs.

thespian86 · 09-01-2004, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trisk

If every person that asked God to help them win the lottery won, the world would be pretty crazy. Random chance.

I doubt God (if there is one) cares that much about each individual person's day-to-day doings and if he was going to reward someone, why a confirmed aethiest?

maybe an aethiest to change any idea he has about God. I honestly think this would be a stupid way to tell someone "I beleive in God because I won the lottery" but God works in mysterious ways.

amge · 09-03-2004, 11:16 PM

I read in a Vegas paper about one of the latest Progressive slot machine Jack pot winner.

The winner said that god told her to go to the casino and have fun at the Wheel of Fortune Slot machine. And after several minutes she won the the Jackpot.

So do you think she will give the church any of the winnings? Or "would god tell her to keep it?"

08-26-2004, 08:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
SaltPork Everything's better with bacon Location: In your local grocer's freezer.	My friend won Powerball...sort of One of my friends, who is pretty much a confirmed atheist, prayed the other night that he would win the lottery for this past Saturday's drawing, Powerball to be more precise. He won three dollars. Now he's conflicted. He wasn't specific about how much he wanted to win, but he won nonetheless. So he took his "God" money, as he puts it, and bought three more tickets. Today, he checked his numbers again and won again...three dollars. He's starting to think that there may be something going on that he doesn't understand and is taking his winnings as some sort of sign. Funny stuff, not sure what I think about it. What do you think, random chance or divine intervention? __________________ It was like that when I got here....I swear.

08-26-2004, 08:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
Church Tilted F*ckhead Location: New Jersey	Well as much as I think this thread is going to have a divine intervention and be moved to Tilted Philosophy, I find this interesting. I think though, this may just be coincidence. I'm not saying he should renounce any new found... religion, (for lack of a better word), but see if it happens again. __________________ Through counter-intelligence, it should be possible to pinpoint potential trouble makers, and neutralize them.

08-27-2004, 08:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
moonstrucksoul hovering in the distance Location: the land of milk and honey	every time pray on a simple scratch ticket, I lose. i lose when i don't pray too. __________________ no signature required

08-27-2004, 08:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
the_marq All hail the Mountain King Location: Black Mesa	I think god is probably too busy helping highschool football teams win games to worry about every powerball player. __________________ The Truth: Johnny Cash could have kicked Bruce Lee's ass if he wanted to. #3 in a series

08-27-2004, 08:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	I'm of the belief that god cares about atheists too.....If I were god I wouldnt pass up the chance to "rattle the cage" of a person that swore they didnt believe in me __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*

08-26-2004, 08:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Trisk Insane	If every person that asked God to help them win the lottery won, the world would be pretty crazy. Random chance. I doubt God (if there is one) cares that much about each individual person's day-to-day doings and if he was going to reward someone, why a confirmed aethiest?

08-27-2004, 08:29 AM	#7 (permalink)
World's King Here Location: Denver City Denver	I need three bucks for smokes. __________________ heavy is the head that wears the crown

08-27-2004, 08:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
Glava Betitled	I am of the firm belief that it was a random occurence. If your friend wins a few million within a short amount of time, maybe I'll believe in "divine interventon".

08-27-2004, 11:53 AM	#9 (permalink)
Stare At The Sun Eh? Location: Somewhere over the rainbow	Three dollars, and the Holy Trinity. I always thought that the number 3 had a lot of significance to religion. Who knows..

08-27-2004, 01:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
Journeyman Like John Goodman, but not. Location: SFBA, California	Being omnipotent can have you getting a person's faith in you for a cool million. Being omniscient can set you up to get their faith for only three bucks. Pretty neat, huh?

08-27-2004, 05:37 PM	#11 (permalink)
basmoq It's a girly girl! Location: OH, USA	I don't believe in three, I believe in one, me! __________________ "There's someone out there for everyone - even if you need a pickaxe, a compass, and night goggles to find them."

08-27-2004, 09:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	I don't believe in divine intervention, I don't belive in most things attributed to "God," but if I were a supreme being, I would do something like that to get someone to think about it and reconsider what they thought was absolute truth. No self-interest, more to help someone become more open-minded. Would a coincidence like that get me to start believing in a God who intervenes in our lives? No, but it would make me think.

08-27-2004, 10:17 PM	#14 (permalink)
carrot glace Crazy Location: orange county	if he does it again and wins then, wow, 3's are lucky __________________ "blaine is a pain and that is the truth"

08-28-2004, 12:10 PM	#16 (permalink)
Stompy Banned from being Banned Location: Donkey	Hahaha $3?! Do you realize the odds are 1/70? I wouldn't exactly call that divine intervention Maybe if he won $10 million, then bought 3 more tickets and each of those tickets won $10 million... but yeah, even then it'd still be random chance so.. __________________ I love lamp.

08-30-2004, 11:25 AM	#18 (permalink)
dnd Psycho Location: London...no longer a student	gotta love coincidence and statistics, can turn atheists into total believers! __________________ "Never underestimate a dumb question"-- Brandon Boyd

08-30-2004, 12:43 PM	#19 (permalink)
SaltPork Everything's better with bacon Location: In your local grocer's freezer.	well, his God money didn't play out. He lost on Saturday...not even a free ticket. He's off the God-wagon for now. It seems like all of you were right...it was merely coincidence, go figure He just bought another ticket today, he's going to see how this one plays out. __________________ It was like that when I got here....I swear.

08-30-2004, 12:52 PM	#20 (permalink)
mb99usa Keep on rolling. It only hurts for a little while. Location: wherever I am	Why do luck and God get intertwined? I've one the $3 prize a few times. God had nothing to do with it. The random number generator in the lottery machine did. __________________ So, what's your point? It's not an attitude, it's a way of life.

08-30-2004, 01:09 PM	#21 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	Please let me win the lottery A blond woman named Brandi finds herself in dire trouble. Her business has gone bust and she's in serious financial trouble. She's so desperate that she decides to ask God for help. She begins to pray... "God, please help me. I've lost my business and if I don't get some money, I'm going to lose my house as well. Please let me win the lotto." Lotto night comes and somebody else wins it. Brandi again prays ..."God, please let me win the lotto! I've lost my business, my house and I'm going to lose my car as well." Lotto night comes and Brandi still has no luck. Once again, she prays..."My God, why have you forsaken me?? I've lost my business, my house, and my car. My children are starving. I don't often ask you for help and I have always been a good servant to you. PLEASE just let me win the lotto this one time so I can get my life back in order." Suddenly there is a blinding flash of light as the heavens open and Brandi is confronted by the voice of God Himself: "Brandi, meet Me halfway on this. Buy a ticket." ------------ Unless God has told him to buy a ticket -- I think it was just dumb luck __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

08-31-2004, 02:52 AM	#23 (permalink)
The Phenomenon Psycho Location: I think my horns are coming out	God is not a spare tire that fixes stuf for you.

08-31-2004, 11:15 AM	#25 (permalink)
SaltPork Everything's better with bacon Location: In your local grocer's freezer.	ALL HAIL THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR, FOR HE IS POWERFUL!!!!! For what it's worth, I'm going to try the prayer thing just as a scientific test. I bought two tickets for Wednesday's drawing. This week I will pray to God, next drawing I will pray to the Random Number Generator. I will post my results along with some graphs. __________________ It was like that when I got here....I swear.

09-03-2004, 11:16 PM	#27 (permalink)
amge Crazy	I read in a Vegas paper about one of the latest Progressive slot machine Jack pot winner. The winner said that god told her to go to the casino and have fun at the Wheel of Fortune Slot machine. And after several minutes she won the the Jackpot. So do you think she will give the church any of the winnings? Or "would god tell her to keep it?"