Do you have to be religious to pray?

Pompa indeed- very nice indeed.

I think its almost instinctive to pray in certain situations, and to say 'Thank God' if they are resolved, regardless of ones rational belief system.

Of course you have to believe in God to pray. And you have to have faith. And ask your prayers through Jesus Christ.

Otherwise - well, it would just be asking for some kind of magic to intervene. There is no magic involved in Christianity.

Prayer is also about listening to that still small voice whether you think of that as God or just your conscience. As a result we may be required to offer a kind word on Gransnet for someone in need or we may be asked to do more. Sometimes there is nothing we have to do except leave it in God's hands.

Having said that, I do not believe that God intervenes in our world in the sense of preventing plane crashes or saving some while allowing others to die, and praying for good weather as some do is futile in my opinion.

A friend was having a garden party and prayed (and I don't mean hoped ) she would have a nice day for it.A wiser friend said she should be praying that she will cope whatever the weather.

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.

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

This is what is said to christians.

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

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.

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?

So true absent!

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.

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.

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.

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?

That 'youth' there was donated entirely by my iPad

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,

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.

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

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."

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.

All Prayers count grannyknot

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.

Do you think the the universe hears you?

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.

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.