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Strong Objections to Public Prayer?
- Thread starter Sunstone
- Start date
I am certainly against praying out loud on a busy street just to show off, but if a group of Christians are in a public place, like a park, and having some kind of gathering, I don't certainly don't mind them having a group prayer.
Skwim
Veteran Member
Because Christians come in so many different varieties I believe most would not care to be subjected to public prayer, no matter how close it came to their beliefs. Even in churches audible personal prayer doesn't seem to be particularly welcome. Pray if you need to, but keep it to yourself appears to be the prevailing attitude.
Me Myself
Back to my username
Good question. I wonder abut the answer myself. I would expect this to change a lot from culture to culture. (City to city, depending on soecific oublic place, etc)
I tend to like prayer in general, to at least most deities. I imagine there could be prayers that would bother me but I dont imagine many people to be such to recite them.
I tend to like prayer in general, to at least most deities. I imagine there could be prayers that would bother me but I dont imagine many people to be such to recite them.
Me Myself
Back to my username
I think one can not know the motivations of someone you dont know.
Some carols are directly prayers to me, and in a way, a prayer can be said outmloudmfor the same reasons or similar reasons than those for which they would sing carols.
In general, I actually think it could be very beautiful to hear prayers once in a while on the streets.
Some carols are directly prayers to me, and in a way, a prayer can be said outmloudmfor the same reasons or similar reasons than those for which they would sing carols.
In general, I actually think it could be very beautiful to hear prayers once in a while on the streets.
Agreed; moreover, this is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; As long as there is no public or governmental sponsorship, it's perfectly legal. I for one have no problem with it.
Skwim
Veteran Member
Keep in mind that the OP wasn't addressing any legal aspect of public prayer, but merely Christian opinion on it: like it V. don't like it.
Praying in public is fine. Government-backed/sponsored prayer... As long as everyone approves of it, I don't see a problem. I do realize that people being forced or pressured to say prayers or participate in the services belonging to another religious tradition is off-putting, and doesn't do any favors to the religious position being promoted by Government.
Triumphant_Loser
Libertarian Egalitarian
I'm not even religious, and I'm perfectly fine with with Christians praying in public.
It doesn't bother me in the least. I come from a small town where prayers are still said before football games. It doesn't really bother me at all. I just bow my head and pretend that I'm praying, even though I really believe that my deity isn't even listening.
I was concurring with Christine's comment why there shouldn't be anything wrong with praying publically if it's a private group; I agreed with her, but for a different reason.
Karl R
Active Member
Matthew 6:5-6
"When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."
I am not adamantly opposed to some forms of public prayer. New christians learn by example, and they benefit from hearing others pray. It is certainly possible to pray to god while standing in front of others.
However, I have heard a lot of public prayers which were obviously not a communication between the speaker and god. In one case a group of us (teenagers) went to hear a christian choir sing. During the performance, the choir leader stopped for a prayer. He prayed for 45 minutes. During his prayer, he read The Little Gingerbread Man. I'm quite certain he wasn't praying do god. God already knows the plot of that book.
If it sounds more like preaching than praying, you probably shouldn't be praying that way in public.
Yes, I agree. If people wish to pray in public of their own free will, that's beautiful. No pressure needed or wanted.
Me Myself
Back to my username
Agreed.
Jesus may have said it is better to pray in secret, but he also said that a light should not be hidden.
It has to do with why you pray IMHO. If one has the honest inner impulse to praise God in an aduible way out of devotion, I think it might actually be a mixture of shame (oh noes praying ipublic is so weird and people will believe I am a religioust nutcase show of holier than thou!) and pride ( I want to pray now, but I am so devoted I will repress this and go pray on my closet, cause I am so spiritual) that would withhold one from doing so.
Truly believe it, pride and shame.
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