praying to...

[ShadowsAndDust]

Are you asking something from this form of god? I personally would not pray to any being without intellect as it doesn;t havetheintellect to do anything for you. You may honor this things or use them as representations of god as Dharmist , Sufis, Baha'is and Zoroastrians do but other then that is would be pointless.. The sun, stars, earth and the moon do what they are created to do daily and never stop nor quit. I would not worry on the names of god but whether it exist and its intentions. I would focus more on your salvation and realization with god then an empty soulless creation.

 

[confused453]

Are you asking something from this form of god? I personally would not pray to any being without intellect as it doesn;t havetheintellect to do anything for you.

I don't think I even comprehend the true purpose and effectiveness of praying, so maybe somebody could enlighten me, using a language that makes sense.

 

[ChristineES]

I don't think I even comprehend the true purpose and effectiveness of praying, so maybe somebody could enlighten me, using a language that makes sense.

You won't get an answer that is really satisfactory, as different people, different faiths, different religions, etc. each have a different purpose of prayer. When I pray it is only to communicate to God- I couldn't expect you to understand that since you believe that the God I believe to be real is just imaginary. I do get something out of prayer- in fact, I get a lot out of prayer.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Is it sensible to ask something that doesn't have consciousness something?

 

[painted wolf]

I don't think I even comprehend the true purpose and effectiveness of praying, so maybe somebody could enlighten me, using a language that makes sense.

Prayer is a way of expressing thankfulness, a way to focus on the needs of others rather than the self and maintaining humility.

It can be a form of meditation and a means of connecting with others and a way to stay culturally involved.

Prayer has a lot of uses.

wa:do

 

[ShadowsAndDust]

I don't think I even comprehend the true purpose and effectiveness of praying, so maybe somebody could enlighten me, using a language that makes sense.

Your issue is you do not know what prayer is so you must tell me what you wish to gain from it unless you mean worship which is totally different.

 

[ShadowsAndDust]

Prayer is a way of expressing thankfulness, a way to focus on the needs of others rather than the self and maintaining humility.

It can be a form of meditation and a means of connecting with others and a way to stay culturally involved.

Prayer has a lot of uses.

wa:do

What you described is worship not prayer.

 

[painted wolf]

What you described is worship not prayer.

No, what I'm describing is prayer. Prayer doesn't have to be what Western Abrahamics practice.

I should know how I pray.

wa:do

 

[ShadowsAndDust]

No, what I'm describing is prayer. Prayer doesn't have to be what Western Abrahamics practice.

I should know how I pray.

wa:do

Worship means to honor or give reverence without asking in return so you described worship according to the dictionary not Abrahamic standards.

 

[confused453]

When I pray it is only to communicate to God- I couldn't expect you to understand that since you believe that the God I believe to be real is just imaginary.

It's just there're too many views and definitions of God, and I just refuse to pick one up, and pretend it's true.

I do get something out of prayer- in fact, I get a lot out of prayer.

Do you get some special advantages or some kind of protection? Or do you just feel good within?

 

[confused453]

Is it sensible to ask something that doesn't have consciousness something?

Maybe just to try couple of times and see if it works. If there're no results, then it is totally not sensible to ask for something, from something that doesn't have consciousness.

On the other hand, I don't think we fully understand the consciousness thing yet.

 

[confused453]

Prayer is a way of expressing thankfulness, a way to focus on the needs of others rather than the self and maintaining humility.
wa:do

So would you agree that we should not give a penny to a random homeless person, but take a minute to pray for him/her and hope that God will take care of it? If you don't agree, please explain how prayer can help a homeless person, or solve poverty issues in the world?

 

[Jainarayan]

No you don't. Get a microscope, work in a garden for few minutes, don't wash your hands, point the microscope towards your skin, and you should see the tiny microbes.

I'll concede that the existence of microbes can be proven using a tool.

Totally true, and there's no single definition as far as I understand. So if we don't know what God really is, why do we bother interacting with it?

Uh uh uh uh... that's not what I asked. I asked you to describe God, then prove or disprove. What tool will you use, comparable to that microscope, that will allow you to disprove the existence of God? Using US jurisprudence as a template, the burden of proof is on the accuser. To that end, because you make a statement asking why pray to something that can't be proven to exist, you must support that; i.e. you must prove God does not exist, showing me that I am praying in vain.

 

[Jainarayan]

Is it sensible to ask something that doesn't have consciousness something?

How do you define consciousness? How can you prove that the universe itself is not conscious and is not (part of) God (I'm a panentheist)?

 

[Jainarayan]

It's just there're too many views and definitions of God, and I just refuse to pick one up, and pretend it's true.

You pick what speaks and makes sense to you, not speaks and makes sense to me, or to the Patriarch of Moscow, or to the Right Rev. Dr. Billy Saul Hargass, or to the Dalai Lama.

"Whosoever worship Me through whatsoever path, I verily accept and bless them in that way. Men everywhere follow My path." Bhagavad Gita 4.11

"The Truth is One; the wise know it by many names..." Rig Veda 1.164.46

What do these mean? I think they're pretty clear. Whatever form of God you wish to communicate with, worship, pray to, be devoted to does not matter. Assuming one believes in a God. This leaves a bad taste in the mouths of some Hindus, Christians and Muslims (not sure about the Jewish view at-large), but I believe that one who worships and prays to (OK, talks with) Allah, or Jesus, or Krishna, or Yahweh, or the Flying Spaghetti Monster with true faith and devotion, you've found your God.

Do you get some special advantages or some kind of protection? Or do you just feel good within?

Yes.
Yes.

 

[painted wolf]

So would you agree that we should not give a penny to a random homeless person, but take a minute to pray for him/her and hope that God will take care of it? If you don't agree, please explain how prayer can help a homeless person, or solve poverty issues in the world?

Where the heck would you get that twisted idea from?

I pray for others because other people need more help than I do and I need to keep that in mind so that I will act on it. I keep my own needs from being the only thing I focus on so that I am ready to give even my last dollar to someone who actually needs it. And when I have no money to give, I give whatever else I have to give.

wa:do

 

[painted wolf]

Worship means to honor or give reverence without asking in return so you described worship according to the dictionary not Abrahamic standards.

Where did you get that I don't ask for things.

I just don't ask for personal favors.

Plus, prayer is a form of worship, not limited to asking for things.

prayer

1    [prair] Show IPA
noun 1. a devout petition to God or an object of worship.

2. a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.

3. the act or practice of praying to God or an object of worship.

4. a formula or sequence of words used in or appointed for praying: the Lord's Prayer.

5. prayers, a religious observance, either public or private, consisting wholly or mainly of prayer.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/prayer

wa:do

 

[confused453]

you must prove God does not exist, showing me that I am praying in vain.

It doesn't matter if God exists or not. If he does exist, God is all knowing, so he already knows what you need now, or what you will need in the future. So what's the point of praying? If God doesn't exist, again, praying doesn't accomplish much.

 

[Jainarayan]

It doesn't matter if God exists or not. If he does exist, God is all knowing, so he already knows what you need now, or what you will need in the future. So what's the point of praying? If God doesn't exist, again, praying doesn't accomplish much.

To talk to him as a child would to its parents. Your father knew you wanted the car keys for Saturday night, not because he is omniscient, but because he knows you. Yet you still asked him. Is he going to just toss you the keys and say "have fun and be careful"? No, it's his job to give you what you need, not what you want, without asking. Need? No need to ask. Want? Yes, ask. Maybe you'll get it, maybe you won't.

 

[Katzpur]

To talk to him as a child would to its parents. Your father knew you wanted the car keys for Saturday night, not because he is omniscient, but because he knows you. Yet you still asked him. Is he going to just toss you the keys and say "have fun and be careful"? No, it's his job to give you what you need, not what you want, without asking. Need? No need to ask. Want? Yes, ask. Maybe you'll get it, maybe you won't.

I couldn't possibly have expressed it better. That's exactly the way I see prayer.