"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." ---Galileo Galilei, a deeply religious man.

Our father---

he made us the way we are. our job is to find out who and what we are and how we work---human nature---and how the world works.

Who art in heaven---

god isn't going to tell us the answers. he is there, in heaven. we are here. he already gave us what we need (our brain-critical thinking) to figure out what we need to figure out: the correct beliefs and how to use them.

Hallowed be thy name---

don't misunderstand his will (use your brain). it is correct.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven---

when we figure out who and what we are, have the correct beliefs and use them, his kingdom, perfect in heaven, will exist on earth, not before. this will always be the case.

Give us this day our daily bread----

bread? what we need to live-correct beliefs and their resultant behaviors that benefit our life and others' lives. who decides what the bread is? us? experts? newspapers? how to know which bread? how do we know when we have it? hard to do-that's why you're praying. but, you need to know for what you are praying. they're not things. They are correct beliefs. that's why an open and critical mind is necessary.

Forgive us our trespasses-as we forgive those who trespass against us----

what is our forgiveness? recognizing our mistakes, false beliefs and their resultant behaviors, and no longer making them. what are our trespasses? false beliefs and behaviors based on them, false gods, false prophets. Are they the beliefs we choose? no, because you don't know you're mistakenly choosing them. that's why you're praying - for that information. If you had the correct beliefs you wouldn't need to pray for forgiveness. Or, the ones we have no clue about? yes. How do we know them? by their fruits. look at your beliefs on any issue and judge whether their fruits are ripe, sweet, and life giving for everyone (not just yourself) or not. you will know this if you are honest and truly want forgiveness. Who are trespassing against us? the false beliefs, the ones who give us false beliefs, the false gods and prophets. how do we forgive them? by discovering our false beliefs and no longer believing them. We don't need to forgive people themselves because once we have the correct beliefs about them and ourselves, our forgiveness of them has already happened. why is our forgiveness dependent on our forgiving? because until you discover the false beliefs, gods, and prophets, and dump them, you're not forgiven-you keep making the same mistakes, over and over, believing your beliefs are correct.

And lead us not unto temptation---

lead? we have, he gave us, instincts that, when used inappropriately, drag us by the nose into incorrect beliefs and their resultant behaviors. Instincts used appropriately, with understanding of their uses and limitations, lead us. what is temptation? those beliefs that make us feel good instead of their doing good (making ripe fruit) for ourselves and others. believing instinctively instead of counterinstinctively. believing uncritically in false prophets and false gods, experts, without questioning and with a closed mind because you are afraid and these false beliefs feel good.

but deliver us from evil---

deliver? he gave you a brain and expects you to use it. your brain will deliver you the truth if you use it. evil? not using your brain to discover what is correct so that you can be forgiven. closed mindedness. uncritical thinking and emotional evaluation.

for thine is the kingdom, power, and glory, forever and ever---