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Thread: Do people actually pray?

  1. #1
    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Do people actually pray?

    I mean, when they say they will. I -always- hear people saying they;ll 'pray for this person' or 'pray for you' online and offline. People telling me they'll pray for me when I have an illness or something.

    But... do people actually do it? I always thought it was something you just -said- to someone but there was actually no feeling behind it. Like saying you wish someone has a good day or 'get well soon'. Like, you don't necessarially mean it or will do it but it's something you just say.

    Or do people actually do this?


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    God/dess PaigeDWinter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    I know I do...
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    God/dess Silverback's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    Most I've met just "prey".
    "He will come in one of the pre-chosen forms. During the rectification of the Vuldrini, the traveler came as a large and moving Torg! Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the McKetrick supplicants, they chose a new form for him: that of a giant Slor! Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you!"

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    God/dess Deogol's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    I know my brother prays with his kids before they go to sleep naming off people who have colds and bad mommies and daddies, etc.

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    Veteran Member Aprilleigh's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    i never say i pray but i tell them that my thoughts are with them. i usually spend a few moments reflecting on their situation and do genuinely hope things improve.
    Appearing at Dreams Gentlemen's Club, Melbourne

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    God/dess PookaShell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    Whenever I've found myself feeling miserable for long periods in the past I've realized it was a very ungrateful period - so what I've done since then is carry a little notebook with me, and I write little things in it throughout the day - things I'm worried about, or appreciative of, or realized I had, realized someone else didn't have, kind of thing. When someone shares something with me and I tell them I will pray for them I write it in my little book. Then whenever I get a spare moment towards the end of the day I pray about all the things that I came across in my day...

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    Featured Member Sunshine73's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    I pray for people.
    Quote Originally Posted by Picaresque View Post
    Maria Callas said it best: "When my critics stop hissing, I shall know I'm slipping."

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    Veteran Member Aprilleigh's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    ^^^ wow pookashell, you're turning out to be a very kind hearted and thoughfull person. i really admire that quality in you
    Appearing at Dreams Gentlemen's Club, Melbourne

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    God/dess PookaShell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    Quote Originally Posted by Aprilleigh
    ^^^ wow pookashell, you're turning out to be a very kind hearted and thoughfull person. i really admire that quality in you

    Thank you very much, Aprilleigh. I appreciate it. I have had alot of bad things happen in my life and the wonderful people who saved me from them were all people who had no reason to help me besides the fact that they cared about humanity in general. Since I've met some of them I have aspired to be that kind of person to as many people as I could, just in case one of them needed me like I needed the people who didn't have to help me. Anyway - I'm rambling now, thanks for the compliment.

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    God/dess leilanicandy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    Yes, soemthing i even turn to the 700 club when I am not busy and pray for the people over seas
    If you want the present to be differant from the past, study the past.
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    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    So strange. I always thought it was more of a courtesy statement then something people actually did. I wonder if all those people that said they'd pray for me actually did now. Huh.

    I'm not religious, which is why I ask.


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    God/dess PookaShell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    Religious or not, lovely Lilithmorrigan, you have been scribbled in my little book before

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    God/dess MrChristopher's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    I don't. But I don't tell people I will pray for them either. In fact, anyone I know well enough to possibly say that to would know better. I have had people say it to me in certain situations, like when my son was in ICU and very ill. Did they mean it? I don't really know. I suppose a few of them probably did. I always thank someone that says it, regardless of my personal belief system. It's a lovely gesture. If they don't actually pray does it make it hollow? Nah...I don't think so. I would assume most don't anyway, it's more of an "I am thinking of you/sending positive vibes your way" type of thing.
    waffles are just pancakes with little squares on them.

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    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    Quote Originally Posted by PookaShell
    Religious or not, lovely Lilithmorrigan, you have been scribbled in my little book before
    Heh, not religious in the slightest, really, but that made my day. Made me smile. Even though I'm not one for praying - the fact someone thought about me and took a moment out of their day to wish me a better one just seems so nice.


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    God/dess leilanicandy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    Quote Originally Posted by lilithmorrigan
    So strange. I always thought it was more of a courtesy statement then something people actually did. I wonder if all those people that said they'd pray for me actually did now. Huh.

    I'm not religious, which is why I ask.

    I am not religious eithier, but I do believe thier is a god . I know you can pray to him. But I dont know about all these differant religous belief. I will pray with you and pray for you.
    If you want the present to be differant from the past, study the past.
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    Dont throw away the old bucket until you know whether the new one holds water.
    Swedish Proverb

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    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    I'm polytheistic. I believe in more than one god. I cannot even fathom the idea of one sentient being making everything. It just seems impossible. I also can't believe anything can be perfect, so that kills most religions for me.

    I kinda made up my own religion - so I never really say I'm religious. I don't pray (maybe twice a year if I need it) and I don't go to church. I don't mind other religions, I just don't understant the concept of some things.


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    God/dess PookaShell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    I'm Christian, and believe what I beleive, but I don't believe that non-christians are damned. I love to learn about other people's beleifs. It's all about the kind of person your beliefs lead you to be that matters. If you'd ever feel like putting your ideas into a thread Lilithmorrigan, I'd be interested in hearing about them.
    Last edited by PookaShell; 08-29-2006 at 11:07 PM. Reason: Who can spell "believe" on the first try anyway.

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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    There are 2 billion people in the world far worse off than any of us. I'm sure that many of them have prayed and still gotten screwed over. So, I skip the praying. I've never seen a correllation between praying and good things happening. It's actually been the reverse.

    Basically, you need to be able to help yourself out and rely on the people around you.

    I especially don't get it when people pray so that they can win a sporting event. As if God cares about that. It just strikes me as egotistical. If you pray for something to happen, it's egotistical in my opinion to believe that God would choose to help you while simulataneiously allowing genocide, natural distasters and starvation to kill people all over the world. That stuff doesn't get solved by prayer. Neither will your problem.

    Sorry if that sounds harsh, but that's the way it is.

  19. #19
    madmaxine
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    Rosemary Altea said that thoughts have energy.
    When one says, 'I'll pray for you," the thought expressed in itself is a small kindness.
    Thank heaven for little favors.
    I pray all the time for my cousin who is in his second tour of Iraq & my step-brother who will join him there soon. I don't ask God for much, I just think of him over there.

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    Senior Member evh1980's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    When I say it (which is not often unless I feel some connection to the situation in question), I mean it ... but, then, I don't subscribe to the classic concept of religion, in that I don't follow any organized faith system. I am theistic, but spiritual... so, in that context, to me, "prayer" means something different than what most might expect.

    Mostly, to me, it's an introspective moment where I reaffirm my own beliefs and focus them on my thoughts about the person/situation for whom I am "praying." To me, that is the concept of a prayer.

    Not sure that makes much sense...

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    God/dess PookaShell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    Those things are happening because of a natural order. I'm sure God doesn't enjoy watching genocide, disease, natural disasters happen, but he can't change the fact that without bad there would be no good. Maybe when we discover what we would do with billions more people on the earth every year God would spend more time preventing causes of death. With medicine like it is, people don't die off or get hunted to control the population like animals...and if that many more people were alive we would all end up diseased, starving, at war, etc. Not that I wish those things to exist, but things are the way they are for a reason....or that's just my opinion. I have seen prayers do powerful things. But prayer can't stop the natural order of the world.

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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    maybe prayer does do some powerful things, but your odds might be better at Vegas.

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    Senior Member evh1980's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    your odds might be better at Vegas.
    perhaps ... but saying a prayer (if you feel like doing so) is really a zero cost effort. If it fits into one's belief structure, and if they feel like offering a prayer would in some, if immeasurable, way, help ... more power to them. And the opposite holds true too, i.e., if one feels a prayer is unnecessary, then more power to them as well.

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    God/dess MojoJojo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    I pray all the time...and I'm atheist. Praying, for me, is simply focusing on something that I feel is pure and important.
    "The problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind."
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    Default Re: Do people actually pray?

    i don't "pray" in the traditional sense of the word, but i ask the deities in my pantheon for things for me and others, and leave offerings to them. also do the same with certain spirits and intermediaries. i also thank them for the good things in my life, and sometimes just meditate. i guess that's similar to Christian prayer, as it's focusing energy on some desire and articulating it.
    "Seeing the landscape at this superficial level only captures its boring uniformity, not allowing you to immerse yourself in the spirit of the place; for that you must stop at least several days."

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