When do you pray?

[4323Lopez]

I was just wondering when you pray, if ever. It's just a question.

[Pasqueflower]

1. Prayer accomplishes more than is imaginable

It is truly amazing. If more people did it, this world would be a lot better off.

[Deja Q]

13. Prayer is talking to one's self. We need to talk to many others if we...

want the world to be better off.

Actually, my comment was unruly and harsh. Prayer has its values, particularly during childhood.

Osama prays. bush* prays. Lots of people in Israel and Palestine pray. Lots of people around the world do pray. Hasn't done the world a lot of good as everybody keeps killing each other, and in higher quantites... I pray to keep my job, but that won't be forever either. So I pray for a painless death when the time comes. Don't look now, but I'm still alive.

[bookman]

2. Whenever I want

Isn't America a great country?

I just don't have the need to be public about it, or force others to join in.

I pray in my mind. I believe there is a God. I haven't found an institution the fits with my belief.

[FDRrocks]

3. Pray, What?

I'm not religious. I think if there is a god it is probably nature and plants.... which created our atmosphere and allowed life to develop on this earth. In my final moments on in this world... I will give a prayer of thanks to this big floating earth.

[supernova]

4. More like an ongoing conversation

I don't have a specific time to pray. I'm not that disciplined about it. Just when I have a need to verbalize something or get something off my chest.

edit: on 2nd thought, that sounds selfish. It's a two-way street. God makes Him/Herself known to me on a regular basis. It could be anything really, a conversation with a stranger. The particular way the sunlight makes everything glow. Looking at the stars on a clear night.

[Shakeydave]

5. Pray? I don't think that's the concept!

Minute by minute! Not in the sense of the church, but that every person I meet, every second I breathe, every glance I return, every being I touch is held firmly within my thoughts and conscience outside of any pre-fabricated deity discipline. My brothers are my brothers. My sisters are my sisters. Daily life is spent wishing the best for them all. The need to pray sets up the need to fail. My choice is to succeed in making all that are here be my kin. This isn't meant to be negative on believers, but rather my thoughts toward all humanity!

[JanMichael]

7. When did you get all eloquent?

Have you been drinking or perhaps been struck in the temple with a blunt object?!

No puns intended!

[Shakeydave]

8. Darrrrrrgggggghhhhhhhhh!

Let me be ya scaliwag!

[JanMichael]

6. I don't. Used to though, when I was Apa-theistic.

Not opposed to others doing it.

[roughsatori]

9. I'm a non-theistic Buddhist--but I pray through out the day

Sometimes I pray for a few hours before bed-time (2 to 4 hours). It is a practice I was taught by my parents and the Nuns and Priests. I also have studied Christian "centering Prayer," and other methods that have been used by Christian "mystics" and Monastics. I keep a list of people to Pray for--when I read posts of DUers who sound troubled I add them to my nightly list.

Some Buddhists are atheistic and some do believe in a "higher-power." I mediate doing basic "sitting practice" "loving-kindness" and sometime "tonglen" (which I find to be a disturbing form of meditation.) I also practice Buddhist Chanting--but not very frequently.

Though I say I am an atheist Buddhist. I pray to the "Jesus" of my youth. I find no duality or trouble with my practice on an ontological or theological level but others seem to hate my way.

[jokerman93]

10. It's weird but lately

every time I see an American flag or a flag bumper sticker, or a flag pin, I find myself talking in tongues...

State religion must be my thing.

[UrbScotty]

11. Every now and then.

I feel sorry for those who don't pray.

[SiobhanClancy]

12. I pray when I go to mass..

which isn't too often..but I really think it's just a form of meditation.

[Endangered Specie]

14. no reason to feel sorry for us who dont pray

I get along fine without it, tried it, never found it useful.

I sometimes think it is overdone... why pray for something when you can help make it happen?

someone once said: "Two hands at work do more than a thousand clasped in prayer"

[jsw_81]

15. I don't pray

Prayer is a silly, primitive ritual. It accomplishes nothing.

[Nikia]

16. Not enough

Thanks for reminding me about it. I say a quick prayer every night. Then I pray for specific things when I need to. I have been worrying about many things. Perhaps, I should pray about them. Pray does help particuliarly in difficult, hopeless situations. It isn't just when someone is dying. There are some situations when we can do nothing else but pray. There are other situations where we don't know what to do. Prayer can help with both of these things. It can bring the answers that we need even if we don't get the miracles that we want. It is also a way to stay in touch with both yourself and the divine.

[Sean Reynolds]

17. I've been praying a lot these past few days.

It's really helped me through my grandma's death.

[elcondor]

18. I pray twice a day

Before bed and in the morning I say the Shema. It helps me feel ready for the day and it relaxes me before bed . . . I enjoy it, actually. :-)

[mlawson]

19. I have never understood the concept.

I'm not an atheist, BTW. But back as a child when I was forced to go to church, the preachers always said that "God can read even your most secret of thoughts". :o

So, if that is the case, WHY address him/her/it in a 'prayer'?? Apparently 'God' already knows what we need or think.

[BlueJazz]

20. I pray when my 20 to 1 horse is coming down the stretch

and leading by one length in front.