why do we pray

[Sabour]

I have came across a reply saying that why would God want us to pray and praise Him? It seemed like stating that if God exists, He doesn't need us.


I agree with that 100 percent. Allah doesn't need us. But we need Him.

Speaking about psychology, people always tend to follow people they praise.. They have aspirational people who they talk good about. They view them very successful and talk good about them all the time. Sometimes it goes over the limits and tend to do every single thing that person does. They try to follow their footsteps.

As I see it, that is why we worship Allah. It is for our benefit for we are more likely to follow the commandments when we do that. Allah doesn't only give us commendments. He also gives us a way to do so.

I see prayers and praising important because they help us in following the commandments that Allah gave us rather than following the "evil" desires.


Thoughts? If you pray/praise, why do you do that?

 

[idav]

Praying for desires is hoping god is in our favor. Praying as praise for something greater is how to do it. Jesus said this how you pray to our father, that his will be done.

 

[Nada]

Prayer is for thanksgiving, asking and making petitions to God.

 

[Brinne]

Prayer is for thanksgiving, asking and making petitions to God.

This.

Praying also puts us in a certain kind of mood that I feel is very beneficial. I can't speak for everyone but after prayer I always feel kind of at peace; for me it's a good way to start the day. Not to mention if you pray for something to happen you're already putting the intention to accomplish that goal into spoken word which is helpful in visualizing and eventually completing your goal.

 

[Sabour]

All are good answers which I agree with but I think I didn't present my question properly and I ised the wrong words. Perhaps I should have asked why would God demand from us that we worship and praise Him instead of using the word praying.

But still the answers were direct

 

[Sleeppy]

I say you're right.. Prayer is for us, so that we think and perform more efficiently.

 

[gzusfrk]

cause the Word tells me to.

 

[arthra]

Prayer needs to be daily and part of our lives ...It is a spiritual sustenance... We "starve" ourselves without it. "...it is not the physical act of praying but the spiritual state induced by prayer that is important."

 

[StarryNightshade]

.


Thoughts? If you pray/praise, why do you do that?

I pray to go into a contemplative state; to meditate on the essence of Brahman. Sometimes I might pray if I need a boost in seld-confidence, guidance, or luck. It's all very Psychological for me.

 

[Looncall]

People pray in the hope of doing an end run around the natural order of things, and because they have been conned by clerics into thinking that will work.

 

[deeoracle]

Prayer is everything, its a form of suggestive thinking that is lauded in the modern self help books

 

[ChristineES]

I pray to talk to God.

 

[sojourner]

Prayer is breath. Prayer is life. Prayer is not some objective act we participate in, it is the subjective understanding of who we are.

 

[Akivah]

All are good answers which I agree with but I think I didn't present my question properly and I ised the wrong words. Perhaps I should have asked why would God demand from us that we worship and praise Him instead of using the word praying.

Worship and praying mean about the same thing.

I worship G-d mostly to thank Him for creating the world and for all the blessings that He has sent my way. About the only things I ask from Him is strength to overcome certain obstacles in my life.

 

[Nada]

[youtube]mye1aCskFcM[/youtube]

 

[Jainarayan]

As others said prayer is for asking, thanking, praising, talking to one's God or Goddess. I don't usually ask for anything for myself, except for strength and guidance. I ask others people's well-being. Mostly I thank the gods for what I have and what they give me, even though I didn't ask for anything. And of course I chit-chat. Sometimes I even shut up long enough to hear what they have to say.

 

[1137]

93.

I don't really pray but I do similar things. It's essentially just a form of meditation, and we know very well that meditation is beneficial.

 

[Triumphant_Loser]

I have came across a reply saying that why would God want us to pray and praise Him? It seemed like stating that if God exists, He doesn't need us.


I agree with that 100 percent. Allah doesn't need us. But we need Him.

Speaking about psychology, people always tend to follow people they praise.. They have aspirational people who they talk good about. They view them very successful and talk good about them all the time. Sometimes it goes over the limits and tend to do every single thing that person does. They try to follow their footsteps.

As I see it, that is why we worship Allah. It is for our benefit for we are more likely to follow the commandments when we do that. Allah doesn't only give us commendments. He also gives us a way to do so.

I see prayers and praising important because they help us in following the commandments that Allah gave us rather than following the "evil" desires.


Thoughts? If you pray/praise, why do you do that?

In my opinion, people pray because in doing so, they feel like they're actually doing something to help with a problem. Humans don't like feeling helpless. Talking to a higher power makes them feel like they have a little more control of a situation. At least that was my experience with prayer when I used to be religious. As to whether it actually works...well... I've personally never seen a prayer answered that couldn't have been answered just as easily with regular human intervention. Whenever I start seeing paraplegics growing back limbs or other things that cannot be attributed to human intervention, then maybe I'll be sold on the idea of prayer.

 

[sojourner]

In my opinion, people pray because in doing so, they feel like they're actually doing something to help with a problem. Humans don't like feeling helpless. Talking to a higher power makes them feel like they have a little more control of a situation. At least that was my experience with prayer when I used to be religious. As to whether it actually works...well... I've personally never seen a prayer answered that couldn't have been answered just as easily with regular human intervention. Whenever I start seeing paraplegics growing back limbs or other things that cannot be attributed to human intervention, then maybe I'll be sold on the idea of prayer.

Prayer isn't that for me, generally, though.

 

[Triumphant_Loser]

Prayer isn't that for me, generally, though.

I have not completely abandoned the idea of prayer though. Just prayer involving asking for things in return. Since I don't believe deity intervenes on anyone's behalf, I sometimes do pray, but it is in thanks for that which I have already received, and not to ask for things. Being a deist, though, I'm not sure deity even hears my prayers, or if it even cares that I do.