Do you have to be religious to pray?

I pray for others on GN when they ask for help. I also pray for others who don't ask (no I don't tell them I'm praying for them but some people on GN touch my heart with their problems and sorrows). I can understand why people don't belive in God as it can be really difficult at times to do so. As far as I am concerned it is something inside me that has been there since I was a child. On a couple of occasions (well one anyway) I have felt complete peace and it was the most wonderful feeling I have ever had (it didn't last long but I remember it still)

Interesting thread. I don't think I have ever prayed. I did try to when I was a child. I have reflected and still do reflect on questions of morality, ethics and Life. I have felt awed by nature and science. I don't feel the need for anything more.

I think I feel the same as POGS.

For me having been brought up with Sunday school and church it is instinctive to pray but when I think logically and rationally I wonder 'how can this be?'

If however God does exist is he going to turn his back on someone who prays only when they need help just because they may not be devout or a believer? So the prayers of a non-believer would therefore count.
If you pray is it because at that particular moment you believe there is a greater power, or is it because of years of indoctrination when you were young and therefore instinct?

And if your prayers are answered (as mine have been even though I am a Doubting Thomas) is that serendipity, luck or God answering your prayers?

The Thought for Today grannyknot!

I feel the same as pompa

Isn't this your conscience? Or your "second brain" - the one that talks to the other and tells it to get it act together and stop being daft.

Yes jings in much the same way as any prayer would be heard. We're not talking ears here, are we?

Someone earlier mentioned the "still, small, voice". I listen to that, but not with my ears.

Do you think the the universe hears you?

parcs I think so too.

annie not necessarily, you could be praying to a power greater than yourself - but doesn't have to be a God. Some times I pray to the Universe.

daisy I quite like that.

All Prayers count grannyknot

Mishap, I like your comment :-

"It is a bit like being moved by an opera - you do not need to believe the story to get the effect."

I have visited several Christian churches, Buddhist temples, Hindu temples etc. All have had a similar effect on me, a feeling of reverence.

Most religions provide a philosophy that enables human beings to live in harmonious groups (even if they chuck things at other groups).

I spent several weeks in the company of a Buddhist whilst working in Singapore, could have adopted his way of life quite easily.

Be careful what you pray for, no matter whether or not you are devout.

An atheist was walking through a wood admiring the scenery: emerald glades, a sparkling stream, green and yellow leaves fluttering in the gentle breeze and the captivating scent of the bluebells. Suddenly he spotted a large bear amidst the trees and he started to run. Looking over his shoulder, he saw the bear running after him and getting closer. In a panic, he tripped. He rolled over onto his front and saw the bear standing over him, one paw raised.
"Oh God!" the atheist cried.
The breeze died down, the stream stopped flowing, a bright light appeared and a voice called out, "So are you admitting you do believe in Me after all?"
The atheist thought for a moment and replied, "Well it would be hypocritical of me to profess complete faith at this moment of desperation."
"So why did you call Me?"
The atheist thought quickly, "I wanted to ask you a favour."
"What is that?"
"Could you make this bear a Christian?"
"Certainly!" God replied.
The bright light vanished, the breeze blew and the stream flowed. The bear got onto his hind knees, put his front paws together in prayer and said, "Oh God, thank You for providing this food for me. For what I am about to receive, may the Lord make me truly thankful."

Members of the Society of Friends (Quakers) say 'I will hold you in the Light'.

I also think (despite my agnosticism) that the Christian story does have something to say that is profound. The concepts of strength in weakness (birth in a stable) and of good triumphing over evil (the resurrection) are moving and sustaining , whatever your religion or lack of it. That does not mean that I think the facts are true or that a deity exists.

It is a bit like being moved by an opera - you do not need to believe the story to get the effect.

Some of the most beautiful western music is around the Easter theme and I am sucked into it like everyone else listening.

I always think that John Rutter is an interesting case in point - virtually all his music is Christian in its content, but he is agnostic. When asked about this he says that he believes while he is doing the writing, but reverts to normal when he stops.

I do not "love" the Christian story - it is extraordinarily grim in parts, but there are some important messages in there. They are not lost on me.

So with no belief in God a pray or a plea means one is talking to one's self surely ?

God is jolly useful to blame for all the ills in the world though,

That 'youth' there was donated entirely by my iPad

I don't want to leave the "beauty" of the Christian religion behind. (I know some of it is far from beautiful) it is an amazing story youth. How can you not love it?

Yes. Who knows how much, almost, "brainwashing" has been involved in an ingrained feeling for God. I can't completely stop believing, although I often come very close. Especially recently.

My heathen son might succeed in winning me over yet.

Despite my best efforts in years gone by I'm unable to believe in a deity. There have been times in my life when I would have liked to have had the strength of faith that helped my mother and grandmother throughout their lives. My non belief hasn't stopped prayer like thoughts entering my head at times of great stress, I think that is almost ingrained or learned behaviour.

feetlebaum if you believe in a God, you pray to that God, and you know who you are praying to. I don't know what magicians rely upon. Skill I suppose.

I'm not actually talking about any kind of religious ritual here. More about personal, one to one prayer.

So true absent!

The only benefit I can see from 'praying' is that to ask for help with a problem, you have to explain the problem. Laying it out for a third party, even a non-existent one, to understand can clarify your own understanding of it, allowing you to come up with a solution - job done!

Jings: What is the difference between religious ritual and magic?

Good morning all.

If we take the earlier definition of "prayer" :-

"According to the Oxford English Dictionary apart from being an appeal to a deity it means 'an earnest plea'."

Then there does not have to be a belief in a deity. However I'm not sure that many of us think of a prayer in that way. Certainly not those that believe in a deity.

Even in the commonly accepted sense of the word, there is no doubt that non-christian "pray" to their particular deity, ie Muslims, Buddhists etc.

We all need to be tolerant of others beliefs or non-beliefs and accept the differences.

So far in my life, I have never seen or experienced anything that causes me to believe in a higher deity, so I don't, that's not to say I will never.

I have always rather liked the idea that god always answers prayers; it's just that sometimes the answer is no.

www.olivetree.com/read/nrsv/1%20John/5.14

This is what is said to christians.

I was talking about prayer as something that just arises from the unconscious in times of suffering and also a need to express gratitude, it isnt necessary to be a Christian for that to happen, it just does, because we are human and I wouldn't want to dismiss it as magical thinking

I hope there is a middle ground between a being a signed up member of a religion and a human robot in a meaningless world, not that any atheists I know actually live their lives as if that were true.