Poll: Good Night! - How many of you pray before going to bed - on a regular basis?

[Jalapeno]

If you do, why? Does praying give you "strenght"? Does it help you go through life?

If you don't, why don't you?

I was raised a Christian, but rather quickly gave up on it once I grew up. I'm curious what prayer does, or doesn't do to you guys.

 

[eyez]

I don't pray.

 

[jsm]

I pray every night. I think it helps me get to heaven! I sure can't wait for that!!!

 

[eyez]

I'm good friends with a priest....told him I'm a nonpracticing pantheist...he promised when the day comes, he'll talk God into taking me! No need to pray.

 

[RecklaZ]

I say my prayers

 

[LordMaul]

Every once and awhile. Not every day, and certainly not never.

 

[Isla]

I pray almost every night.

It has absolutely nothing to do with heaven. I don't really believe in heaven or hell as being places.

I pray because I believe that there is an energy... a mind/body connection.. that is activated mentally. I believe that energy connects us all to each other.

I believe these things because of the experiences I have had in life, and also because of my studies. Did you know that there was a documented case of a man with multiple personality disorder, and one of his personalities had diabetes? Measurable, life-threatening diabetes that came and went depending on his state of mind.

I have also had experiences... dreams... in which I connected with the living. For example, the Mr and I have often had the very same dream on the very same night but from slightly (and naturally) different perspectives.

The bottom line: I pray because I believe that there is more to life than the naked eye can see, and prayer seems to strengthen me and those around me.

 

[Jalapeno]

"I pray because I believe that there is an energy... a mind/body connection.. that is activated mentally. I believe that energy connects us all to each other.

Isla,

this is an interesting theory. To me it sounds like a "naturalistic" approach. Not at all like praying to an individual like jesus.

Who/what do you pray to?

 

[RaDragon]

<< Does praying give you &quot;strenght&quot;? >>

Prayers give me *strength*

 

[focusyn]

yes

 

[shiznut123]

I don't pray at all.

 

[Isla]

Jalapeno

Well, even though I don't believe that God is a man, I do start my prayers by saying &quot;Heavenly Father&quot;. I also pray to Jesus/Holy Spirit for intervention. However, I don't really think it matters, the names I use. I'm pretty certain that the only thing that is being registered is what is in my heart. I could be saying &quot;Dear Fred Flintstone&quot; and it would make no difference because the heart speaks a language of its own.

I've had some interesting religious experiences which have pretty much convinced me that organized religion is not for me, but I still have a strong faith. I am not a Christian by some (many) people's standards but I do call myself a follower of Christ. If you ever want to chat about it, just PM me. I have a tendency to avoid talking about religion or politics publicly.

 

[nullshark]

I pray that there is no god and no hell because I'm an athiest.

 

[UG]

I have yet to convince myself prayer is necessary. I have yet to decide what I should pray to achieve.

I seem able to achieve without having to resort to prayer.

Go figure.

 

[Noriaki]

I don't pray regularly. On occasion I will form my &quot;prayers&quot; into words, but not often. I don't feel the need, I'm sure that &quot;God&quot; knows what I'm thinking and feeling without my needing to use human speech to convey my thoughts to him.

When I was 10-12 I used to go to Church with my Dad and his 2nd fiancee...but there were some bad things that happened in that time period, that have somewhat soured me on the whole church thing. I'm not a proper christian. There have been times when I'll talk to &quot;God&quot; because it doesn't feel right talking to myself at the time, and there's no one else to talk to. But most of the time, no my thoughts in themselves are prayers.

To me anything I do in my life is a Prayer, God put us here and gave us our lives, I live my life, I share my uniqueness and skills with everyone, and learn from theirs. We were all given our own special traits, and isn't using those special characteristics the most sacred kind of prayer?

I have some odd views on religion, so in my view yes I pray every day of life, in the strict christian sense, I almost never pray.

 

[goodoptics]

I don't.

 

[Dofuss3000]

burn in hell...

 

[RaDragon]

<< even though I don't believe that God is a man >>

-- Isla, I am curious if you've ever watched the movie &quot;Dogma&quot; and what you think of it? Sorry if it's OT, you can just PM me your thoughts! Thanks!

[edit] Dofuss3000, I know you're only kidding about that remark (<<Burn in hell>>) but I wanna make sure that you're clear that prayers alone won't *save* you.[/edit]

 

[troglodytis]

no praying here.


i don't do it b/c it is a silly ritual that was designed to help control the masses by having them remind themselves why they follow that robed guy that stands at the altar.


big G doesn't require anything that formal or prescribed. it'll get there anyway it comes...pray, think, write, meditate, breathe, or just be.

and remember...us humans have the wrong answers, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't keep asking the universe.

 

[Jalapeno]

Pretty interesting. I liked Isla's response the best so far...

 

[bobtist]

I pray, a lot I guess... Prayer has been amazingly powerful in my life. I like God

 

[GTaudiophile]

I pray every night. I pray at my computer, while reading new prayer requests in the Prayer Thread. I have also set the goal of praying for 7 non-Christian friends for 7 minutes a day for the next 7 weeks. I believe in the power of prayer. It it was brought me life.

 

[gnognugs]

Prayer/Meditation (more than simply thinking), are a fantastic way for me to center my mind and body. It helps a great deal when organizing my thoughts. I believe we all have a connection to the universe, and prayer for me is my means of realizing my miniscule, but integral part in things. For me there is an energy in that humility, and it brings me a sense of direction, and comfort. Whatever happens, everything will be as it should. Even if this is all really just an illusion. Who knows?

 

[Elledan]

No, no prayer. I still don't see the use of it, actually.

Seeing that I'm a Buddhist, I meditate every day, sometimes two or three times a day. And in case you didn't know it yet, prayer and meditation are two totally different things.

 

[gnognugs]

Not really, they are an effort at the same goal. Balance, Samahdi, Nirvana, whatever.
Just semantics.