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do you pray? if so , how often? and for what?

Yes I pray. Not as often as I should, but yeah I pray. I pray for many things, peace in the world, help in this crazy world we live in, good health, happiness, I pray for family and friends, and everyone I know and don't know.

Mike

I pray when I've got nothing in my hands and the board has got a straight draw. I pray for a 3rd 2.

Other than that....no.

Your question inspires another one.

Is it better to pray or simply assume the position?

Have prayed in my life. I have also had things come to pass, that I asked for. This troubles me sometimes, as I now don't believe in the bible because of Adam and eve, and to accept the bible, you have too also accept that the earth is only about 5 thousand years old. Yet the proof is outstanding this is not true. But then the bible is not about religion. But I have a faith.

Yes I have prayed. But if you only ever say one prayer, and that is thank you, it will surface.

I could go on. But.....this is not about religion, but prayer.

I try to pray everyday. Most of the time before i go to bed. I grew up in the church. I dont agree with everything that is in the Bible or things that are preached but I still pray. It gets me through the day

Add a question mark next time. PRAY? = do you pray. PRAY! = I'm pointing a gun to your forehead!

But yes, I pray twice a day. I admit, I don't feel faith, but most if not all religions maintain that prayer is a way to connect with God, and I'd certainly like to do that if it's possible. The world is really kinda sucky, and people in general seem hell-bent on f*cking it up even worse, so I'd love to believe there's an overarching power and purpose.

I don't really pray. Sometimes I ponder, though.

Pray? I talk to a higher power. Does that count?

Luckydog76 saidPray? I talk to a higher power. Does that count?

You talk to Oprah?

I do, usually everyday in the morning and at night. I usually pray for strength and whatever else I am feeling or desire at the time.

I don't pray.

Read the journals of Mother Teresa -- of all people -- to see how empty and useless the exercise is.

For decades, she had an almost unrelenting doubt that degenerated to despair regarding her "personal relationship" with god and the "power" of prayer.

I do, however, try to think every day about all that I have to be grateful for. Start listing things in your head; you'll find it's quite a list.

I just don't thank god for any of it.

everyday, sometimes multiple times a day.

i pray for guidance, health and prosperity in life for myself, friends and family.

i also give thanks for another day i have lived to see.

Not one to pray, at all.

I pray to Ceiling Cat every day to smite my enemies and then I pray to Basement Cat too, just to make sure all my bases are covered.

Luckydog76 saidPray? I talk to a higher power. Does that count?

Indeed you can, whatever that higher power is?

I used to go: Dear Father in heaven. I thank you for...........

Then I would ask, too bless those less fortunate than I. and so on.

I humbly say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

But Now I don't have all that much to ask for, as I need very little.

But now it may be. To the power whom has blessed me: Thanks Mate.

So it's become more of a talk and less of a prayer.

yes religion may teach you to pray. But they also teach intolerance. You don't have to have a religious affiliation to pray; just a faith in something. whatever that may be.

But so many people only pray when they are in trouble, or in need, and not when things are going well.

I have been so blessed over the past 20 years. My life struggle has turned around. I now live a blessed life. For this I say thanks.

what for?

Yes I pray. When I get up in the morning, in the afternoon and at night when I am ready to go to bed. Can you imagine I still kneel at the edge of my bed and put my hands together like a kid? However I am slacking at bit.

I pray for my family, friends, all the heathens and all those that don't pray (Just kidding, I don't pray for you ppl. You're all going to burn)**, a better world, health and then i give thanks for all the blessings I have received etc.











** This for all the ppl who don't know a jk.

I don't pray for the world to be a better place. As One is out there doing the walk, and not the talk, to help it be a better place.

Yes most days for the life I have been given and I never forget the ones who are worse off than me!

Not anymore, I'm thankful for my blessings though.

I was raised partially by my aunt(in the convent), and did plenty of it as a little boy.

Those prayers are still stuck in my head, like a bad song, decades later

there has got to be a lolcat on this one.

not so much- i practice magick; prayer is asking deity for things nicely- magick is knowing how to demand them :p but yes, i pray. mostly to worship and be thankful.

Nope. It's cluttered enough here in my head, without the pony express galloping about.

Does moaning "Oh God" during sex count? If so then I pray all the time.

I look at it like this...its all about asking for what you want. And when you have that in mind more often than not its like the same thing so yes I pray. There are many different names to call it. One might say meditation, observing your bliss, a language you can understand for yourself is essential, I could take the time to explain it to people and then possibly get something worked out for me through a network, that would require a little bit of literacy on their half though.

I pray regularly. I pray for guidance, forgiveness, healing and strength for those who are ill, patience and so much more. Yep, I pray to God and I'm not ashamed of it one bit!

GuyInNY saidDoes moaning "Oh God" during sex count? If so then I pray all the time.

lol, I can only imagine what your partner is praying!

Maybe his partner's parents named him "Jesus."

mickeytopogigio saidMaybe his partner's parents named him "Jesus."

Perfect opening for a joke:

A burglar broke into a home and was looking around. He heard a soft voice say, "Jesus is watching you".

Thinking it was just his imagination, he continued his search. Again the voice said "Jesus is watching you".

He turned his flashlight around and saw a parrot in a cage. He asked the parrot if he was the one talking and the parrot said, "yes." He asked the parrot what his name was and the parrot said, "Moses." The burglar asked, "what kind of people would name a parrot Moses?"

The parrot said, "the same kind of people who would name their pit bull Jesus".

LittleDudeWithMuscles saidI don't pray.

...

I do, however, try to think every day about all that I have to be grateful for. Start listing things in your head; you'll find it's quite a list.

I just don't thank god for any of it.

Amen.

I visited Chicago's "Best* Church of God" recently: http://www.bestchurchofgod.org/.god/

Check it out, if you find religion entertaining, as I do. George Carlin had some interesting observations, too.

"Sacred is the prayer that asks for nothing, sept only to give thanks for the air we breathe."

-Prince "The Love We Make"

LORD knows I ain't religious or nothing like that, however occasionally my inner Mexican Catholic will trickle right out my ass and I'll do a sign of the cross here and there and/or say a quick little prayer for random stuff.

ah yes... the LOLcat exorcism.

I do pray just because it brings me peace of mind on a lot of matters that are really beyond human power.

Hi all, I do pray. To me, praying is like talking with God. More than thanking, I ask him questions, get mad at him, cry out of frustration for the life that is mine. I may or may not hear a reply. But if you believe God created the universe, then anything you wish to Him is possible. I'm still mad at Him today because I am still lonely, not having met the "one." But I live day by day, believing that anything is possible.

The older I get the more I'm convinced there is no personal god that listens to prayers, makes any attempt to influence people, or assimilates our souls when we pass on. Belief in god is wishful thinking.

But prayer is also wishful thinking. Desires are what propel us forward to acheive what we want. Any prayer that asks for a gift will either be denied or granted by mere luck. But a prayer that sets you on a path to make things happen for yourself is a good thing.

So with that definition, I can say I pray (hope) for things every day...but with my eyes open.

You can't depend on prayer any more than you can depend on a wish. By saying this I do not mean to insult anyone's faith, this is the non-belief I have evolved into.

I'll give a little shout to the Lord when someone loses a loved one, comes down with an illness or just to send out good energy into the universe.

I find it weird that I think of praying when doing donkey calf raises. LOL! But I think more so because I'm thinking..."God, I wish my calves were larger" and "Please don't let me calves blow out lifting 400lbs!"

no...but I have noticed that other people do while riding with me while I am driving...hmmmmm? hahahaha.


I do pray sometimes...not as much as I should but growing up in the bible belt, going to a christian school and being told your whole life your going to burn in hell because you suck dick kinda puts a bad taste of religion in your mouth.

Dear Jesus, Save me from your followers!

redbull saidno...but I have noticed that other people do while riding with me while I am driving...hmmmmm? hahahaha.


I do pray sometimes...not as much as I should but growing up in the bible belt, going to a christian school and being told your whole life your going to burn in hell because you suck dick kinda puts a bad taste of religion in your mouth.

=========================================================== i agree with you. but it is not necessary to believe in a religion to pray. believing in god is enough. DEİSM havent you ever heard of it? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/deism

I pray to see you face picture Turk?

I find praying to be ineffective. Better to cast bones and squeeze the goat's testicles for true results.

No, I don't pray. I reject any supposition of the supernatural. It is really just wishing the world were a certain way which I think is silly.

Although my favorite pun is, "Let us prey."

My prayer is more like a conversation with God. It most often begins with a big round of thanks for blessing me in so many ways. The physical is part of it, but it also extends to my career, the love I share with my partner, and all the great friends I have.

After offering my thanks, I share my problems and worries. I ask for what I want and need. The answer doesn't always come on my timetable and in the form I want, but God really does listen, and he answers the prayers that part of his plan for my life.

Love Joel Osteen... especially his newest book.

I'm not religious, so I don't think of it as praying, but I am spiritual and perform 4 daily devotions each day and try to meditate each night.

No not really -- was raised to, but have been disabused of it really meaning much, well other than a projection of our own beliefs.

Pray all you want, but I think those prayers and the answers speak more to one's own belief and self projection. You can't, nor necessarily should you prove prayer in the scientific sense. You believe or you don't, and if you aren't happy with belief than question it, but don't try to presume where and what form it will take or whether it satisfies anyone but yourself.

I don't usually pray, but I do thank God in heaven for my loved ones, my health, and the people in my life who love me. Every night.

The word prayer means to petition. As in a request to correct some wrong or injustice. So it's not really a good thing to NEED to pray every day...

ShawnTX saidI'm not religious, so I don't think of it as praying, but I am spiritual and perform 4 daily devotions each day and try to meditate each night.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ''4 daily devotion'' what is it?

RyanReBoRn saidI don't usually pray, but I do thank God in heaven for my loved ones, my health, and the people in my life who love me. Every night.

The word prayer means to petition. As in a request to correct some wrong or injustice. So it's not really a good thing to NEED to pray every day...

That's true...to a point. You can petition the gods/god/whatever each morning for a good day, personal protection/protection of your loved ones, etc.

To answer turks question, I really don't know how I would explain them, to be perfectly honest. They mark certain points of the day, acknowledging the natural world and my place in it, I suppose you can say.

I pray every day. I'm a proud and happy Catholic. My faith is organic and intimate to me. Prayer is talking to God, not just asking for things. It is also, most importantly, listening to him-- best done in silence, when he can influence your thoughts, in a sense, when he can talk back to you. I practice Christian Hatha Yoga to help my meditation.

It is interesting that none of the posters here who say they pray have insulted or demeaned those who do not pray.

I do pray; usually once a day, sometimes more. My prayers usually aren't very formal though, more like a talk with a friend.

I pray for peace, good health for loved ones and friends, people who have run into trouble, and occasionally just for guidance or patience. I also frequently pray for the strength to do what I have to do, and not to let others down.

gettoknowit saidI look at it like this...its all about asking for what you want. And when you have that in mind more often than not its like the same thing so yes I pray. There are many different names to call it. One might say meditation, observing your bliss, a language you can understand for yourself is essential, I could take the time to explain it to people and then possibly get something worked out for me through a network, that would require a little bit of literacy on their half though.

gettoknowit makes an important point. Prayer in and of itself is a vehicle for establishing a spiritual connection. That connection stems from one's self* to someone or something else. There is nothing intrinsically religious or uniform** about it and prayer can take many forms and be called many names. If you and your partner are having great sex and feeling every moment of that connection (physically, emotionally, spiritually), then even that can be considered prayer of some form (note that yoga, an outwardly physical activity, has a strong spiritual emphasis when done correctly).

At the end of the day, whatever you do to learn more about yourself and/or the rest of the world in order to find spiritual fulfillment can be counted as prayer. So yes, I pray.

*Shouldn't go into too much detail here, but this connection generally implies some sort of understanding or the development of understanding of one's self.
**Because many of us learn prayer in one form through our first experiences with religion, it's often hard to separate the two.

The power of prayer. Need I say more?

ShawnTX said

RyanReBoRn saidI don't usually pray, but I do thank God in heaven for my loved ones, my health, and the people in my life who love me. Every night.

The word prayer means to petition. As in a request to correct some wrong or injustice. So it's not really a good thing to NEED to pray every day...

That's true...to a point. You can petition the gods/god/whatever each morning for a good day, personal protection/protection of your loved ones, etc.

To answer turks question, I really don't know how I would explain them, to be perfectly honest. They mark certain points of the day, acknowledging the natural world and my place in it, I suppose you can say.

You're right. I also find myself talking to God throughout my day aside from prayer. I don't do this topic justice with my inadequete explaination.

I probably couldn't go a day without thanking God for something or asking for soemthing. He usually delivers but you have to be receptive because the answer isn't always in the form you want.

Yes, I pray. I pray every night before I go to bed, and every morning when I wake up. What I pray for? For God to look after all my loved ones, and may today be a peaceful day. And I give thanks for everything he has done for me.

I used to see prayer as loaded after growing up in a very strict religious family...I was very jaded with the church and God and very agnostic.

I now see that spirituality and religion are very different things. I take all the church doctrine and dogma and I put it in the garbage where it belongs. I pray to God, the one of nature that I can see and feel everyday. I just give all of my worries to my higher power and dont stress so much about all the stuff I cannot control.

If you look back in mankind's history, before Jesus, before the Catholic church, there has always been a need to believe in a higher power, from the ancient greeks, romans, etc. Are they all lost because they were not around for Jesus? Today's church should be abolished as it has become the complete opposite of what it was created for: there is more spirituality in the church parking lot than once you step inside the church doors.

God loves me and all gay people, and I pray for all the hateful ministers and counselors who inflict so much pain on gay youth, my God of nature will ironically judge these men for causing so many unnecessary suicides and pain. So I dont worry about it, cuz it used to make me very angry.

Chuy2010 saidI used to see prayer as loaded after growing up in a very strict religious family...I was very jaded with the church and God and very agnostic.

I now see that spirituality and religion are very different things. I take all the church doctrine and dogma and I put it in the garbage where it belongs. I pray to God, the one of nature that I can see and feel everyday. I just give all of my worries to my higher power and dont stress so much about all the stuff I cannot control.

If you look back in mankind's history, before Jesus, before the Catholic church, there has always been a need to believe in a higher power, from the ancient greeks, romans, etc. Are they all lost because they were not around for Jesus? Today's church should be abolished as it has become the complete opposite of what it was created for: there is more spirituality in the church parking lot than once you step inside the church doors.

God loves me and all gay people, and I pray for all the hateful ministers and counselors who inflict so much pain on gay youth, my God of nature will ironically judge these men for causing so many unnecessary suicides and pain. So I dont worry about it, cuz it used to make me very angry.

I'm glad you've reconciled and made your peace with God. I used to feel the same way too....

I pray daily, sometimes at work ,sometimes at the gym. Without prayer and my relationship with my God life would have no meaning for Me. Thats just the way I am and I am happy with it.

I try to pray my Rosary daily and on top of that I say a million small prayers throughout the day, but I have to admit sometimes my prayers lack substance which is something I am working on improving.

I do pray. Not consistently but I do several times a week.

Ghen said

This LOL cat made have a good hearty laugh.

I do not pray as I can not believe that I am "speaking to" a higher power. However, I do think that some type of meditation, prayer being a form of meditation, is healthy for a person's peace of mind. The power that grows from that peace of mind is healthy because it reduces stress and therefore, it can be used to solve problems, accomplish goals, bring serenity to a relationship, etc. Whether these things are the result of there being a supreme being is not important. What is important is the end result.

Personally I do the rosary twice I week. It becomes a monta and a form f mediation when you know the words by rote. It really helps center my and clam me down. It's my best destress time.

Pray is total waste of time. We are animals pure and simple, there is no GOD

Do not buy Osteen's books Published by Schulster and Simon. A Division of CBS and the Publisher of Rush L. They are not Freinds of the Community

All we really have is prayer. To me, the definition of faith is simply trusting that the Highest Power protects you -- and it's OK stop worrying. I usually see the "answers" to my prayers retrospectively -- many times. Sometimes they're immediate, particularly when I need my faith to be, as the Baptists say, "revived."

I pray to ease the suffering of the world

yes, I pray...its my time with god and all the time.
by no means am I a saint but I am constantly talking to god ( her ) all the time!

I pray every time before i go to sleep.
i pray for my family, my nephews especially, that God, or some deity of goodness, justice and light, will take care and protect them.....
i pray for everyone who i love and matter much to me....
and i pray to thank him, her, or it for all the blessings we've been given, that we all be given the strength to survive in this lifetime, and the love we all deserve....
amen.

I don't pray in the religious sense. I feel a sense of prayer when I contemplate philosophical thoughts or use my mind to sharpen my intellect. I believe God exists and I actually attribute my instinct and mental sharpness to his grace.

I pray the god Lugh for strenghth of mind and character.

I pray to my ancestors for guidence.

I pray to Macha for agression and drive.

I pray casually nearly every day, but I have an alter in the guest bedroom for the important times.

I found the lyrics of one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs I've heard in a while reflects my entire opinion on this matter.

From The Postulate by Emptyself

If i wrote a book...
started a group,
and every time you heard my name
someone tried to control you,
and all the wealthy praised me as
they drew more blood for affluence,
and every time a bomb went off,
my name was used in its defense...

would i be despised?
would i be ignored?
or would i be the most accepted thing in the world?

and i pray every day,
for the praying to end,
and i'm sorry to say that
we've been deceived, my friends,
again and again.

if both sides of every war
used me to rally support,
and every name brand racism
believed my words were at its core,
and every cruelty in the world
was made possible by the view
that put its victims outside my grace
and held its sources as my truth...

would i be despised?
would i be ignored?
or would i be the most accepted thing in the world?

and i pray every day,
for the praying to end,
and i'm sorry to say that
we've been deceived, my friends...

You can listen to it from his MySpace page: Emptyself

I pray, but not nearly as much as I should. I faith in God and sprituality are very important to me (I grew up in a Southern Pentacostal church).

I don't "pray" because I don't believe in the "father figure in the sky" myth but because I am spiritual and have an understanding of how our minds work, I sometimes do what many would call meditating which is a way to focus your thoughts on one subject to help understand and often come up with ways to deal with problems. Science has shown this kind of concentrating does help.

Sedative saidI found the lyrics of one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs I've heard in a while reflects my entire opinion on this matter.

From The Postulate by Emptyself

If i wrote a book...
started a group,
and every time you heard my name
someone tried to control you,
and all the wealthy praised me as
they drew more blood for affluence,
and every time a bomb went off,
my name was used in its defense...

would i be despised?
would i be ignored?
or would i be the most accepted thing in the world?

and i pray every day,
for the praying to end,
and i'm sorry to say that
we've been deceived, my friends,
again and again.

if both sides of every war
used me to rally support,
and every name brand racism
believed my words were at its core,
and every cruelty in the world
was made possible by the view
that put its victims outside my grace
and held its sources as my truth...

would i be despised?
would i be ignored?
or would i be the most accepted thing in the world?

and i pray every day,
for the praying to end,
and i'm sorry to say that
we've been deceived, my friends...

You can listen to it from his MySpace page: Emptyself

Eric, good point.
You are VERY rare!!! -- a Filipino that is NOT obsessed with and brainwashed by the catholic church which has held that country by the balls for way too long!.

Luckydog76 saidPray? I talk to a higher power. Does that count?

It does in my book.

My father said it best - "God doesn't need our prayers"
Prayer is an essential way to answer questions within yourself and find guidance. You can call it mediation, contemplation or prayer - it all revolves around the basic premise to help yourself deal with life issues.

I try to pray every morning before I go to work and when possible at Friday prayer services in the Downtown Islamic Center. But since I work in an area of town so far away from any mosque or gathering place I am considering doing my prayer by myself on Friday's at least in an empty conference room.

I often pray multiple times when painting an important/spiritual piece because those pieces take a consider amount of creative energy...

Usually my daily prayers involve guidance, strength, patience and I ask that my loved ones - family and friends - stay safe and healthy.

Ideally I hope to evolve to 5 times a day like most Muslims....

Prayer being a construct of man and religion - no.

Faith is of the heart, not the mind.

Very quick answer here. NO. Not even when I was in an airplane that was having mechanical trouble and was in danger of crashing.

Religion has never resonated with me. The only time I woke up in Church was when the organist made an error (I loved music even at 4).

Yes everyday!!! my way but I do it :d.

I think the quote goes something like "Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer."

God is so horribly misunderstood...

blinktwice4y said

amen to that

Nope.

RbyHussein71 saidI pray to Ceiling Cat every day to smite my enemies and then I pray to Basement Cat too, just to make sure all my bases are covered.

Ya know, I was going to post something very similar this only to discover I already had under my old account. It's nice to know that I'm at least consistent in some things.

Yes.
Often.

Morgan Freeman as God said in a movie, "If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other? "

Thats how I tend to look at prayer.

never, i do useful things instead.

No, but sometimes I send happy thought to others... just thinking about them and quietly wishing them well.

OMG! That's 2 Hammer post references in one day!

No. Spending 30 minutes on a treadmill with my iPod is as close as I get. I have no belief in gods, just a realisation that gods were devised as a way to explain anything for which we didn't have enough knowledge to understand it. Ignorance is countered by curiosity.

yea, habit from when i used to be total good christian boy.
I find it helps me realize what i want...
As for the religious stuff, i don't really understand it.. doesnt make sense

Used to pray, now I meditate.

i pray i guess...and i also ask for what i want from the Universe.....I was raised a baptist and was hauled to 3 hour services every sunday untill the age of 16. I hated it. I felt that their must be an alternate way to ask for forgiveness or ask for what you want.... Turns out there is. All i can say is read the book "The Secret" funny enough, both the book and the bible preach the same thing. Both has stories. I dont pray--i only ask the universe for what i want and believe that i will get it and i do. It works and i feel better about myself every time....AND NO IM NOT crazy nor A HIPPY.