Why do people come online and say a prayer? Why do they do it in public? I'm sorry but I just don't understand why anyone would say online or in a crowd what's supposed to be their private prayer to god. Someone enlighten me.

There are times when the human feeling that precipitates that prayerful urge also generates a sense of community. I imagine there were many instances last night where these two urges converged in similar fashion. I saw a local newscast where patrons of a bar were reaching out to each other, lowering their heads in what appeared to be prayerful moments, after seeing the news on TV.

Personally, I happened to be in my office, alone, TV in the background, and reading a post here at AD. I guess my post at that time was my own way of reaching out.

If that offended you in some way Joey, I apologize. And, as it wasn't a debateable topic, I apologize for not following the guidelines.

I think what joe is trying to say is that prayer should be private and not done in public. the bible states this, I think it was actually jesus (not positive) that said you should not pray on street corners or out in public but you should do so privatly and even silently (as no praying out loud)

I think praying is stupid anyway, because god is supossed to be all knowing, and if that is true, he already knows what I will pray for before I pray for it, so why pray? in fact, I think it says this somewhere in the bible.


B.I.B.L.E.-basic instruction before leaving earth

Sources, please.

I wasn't offended MM, I was just confused. If I were to pray (and I don't being an athiest of sorts) I would keep it private.

I'm a bit familiar with this passage since I frequently cite it when dealing with obnoxious preachers at school who complain about the humanities programs of college, the secularization of America, homosexuality, etc...

Matthew 6: 5-8

Admitting that one needs help is one of the basic principles of Christianity. No one can find God by himself, they need Christ.

As for other religions, I don't think I can think of one that doesn't pray or meditate. I think of meditating as praying to oneself (of course, I am probably WAY off base there.)

I'm not really qualified to opine on the subject, but that's never stopped me before!

Prayer to me is a time when you think only of God, jesus, a ham sandwhich; whatever you worship. (Please don't smite me Mama...) This time of introflection is important because it allows YOU to be aware of your relationship with a higher power and concentrate on that solely.

A friend wrote this in relationship to prayer. Her name is Queen.

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December.

     I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his theory of evolution.

     Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game.  So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire book of Acts.  They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game.

     "But it's a Christian prayer," some will argue.  Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country founded on Christian principles.

     And we are in the Bible Belt.  According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1.  So what would you expect -- somebody chanting Hare Krishna?  If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.  If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.  If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha. And I wouldn't be offended.  It wouldn't bother me one bit.  When in Rome...

     "But what about the atheists?" is another argument.  What about them?

     Nobody is asking them to be baptized.  We're not going to pass the collection plate.  Just humor us for 30 seconds.  If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs.  Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand.  Call your lawyer.  Unfortunately, one or two will make that call.  One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do.  I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.

     Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights.  Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us just to pray without ceasing.  Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.  God, help us.  And if that last sentence offends you, well..........just sue me. The silent majority has been silent too long.. it's time we let that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard, that the vast majority don't care what they want..  it is time the majority rules!

     It's time we tell them, you don't have to pray..  you don't have to say the pledge of allegiance, you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him.  That is your right, and we will honor your right.. but by golly you are no longer going to take our rights away ..

     We are fighting back..  and we WILL WIN!  After all the God you have the right to denounce is on our side!

     God bless us one and all, especially those who denounce Him...

     God bless America, despite all her faults..  still the greatest nation of all.....

     God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God...

     May 2003 be the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions.

     Keep looking up......

     In God WE Trust

Bayside, you seem to be a very nice, intelligent fellow, and I have found myself in agreement with much of what you have posted here in this forum. Do not think badly of me, please, when I tell you that I found much of what your friend Queen said to be not only incorrect, but somewhat offensive to those of us who are non-theists.

Queen seems to think that I and my fellow non-believers wish to prevent them from praying. Nothing could be further from the truth. I know, that if religious intolerance is allowed, I will be among the first victims of it. I do stand strongly, however, against any form of prayer which is led by a government authority figure (such as a public school teacher or coach) and in which others (such as students) are expected to participate.

Certain phrases in this concern me. "Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1." "The silent majority has been silent too long . . . it is time the majority rules!" "We are fighting back -- and we WILL WIN!"

I reject the notion that, in what is supposed to be an open, minimally repressive society, the majority "rules." I reject the notion that numerical superiority confers greater status to one set of opinions over another. I reject the notion that this is a "fight" which one can "lose" or "win."

I strongly support Queen's right to publish this opinion. I strongly support her right to express her faith at any and all times. I strongly reject the notion that any government official may require anyone to participate in any form of religious activity, or to place anyone in a position where choosing not to participate makes the person in a pariah.

My very best wishes to you and your friend.

I posted Queen's views because she expressed them better than I could. As for you disagreeing with my post, this is okay. I would not want to live in a world that everyone agreed with each other, so it is okay that you see differently.

As for fighting and winning that you felt so strongly against, let me clear this up..maybe you don't know that I am very active in politics and making change in NY. I, along with others fought for years to ban smoking in NYC. We testified at city hall, I have speeches to community boards, schools, malls and universities about the dangers of secondhand smoke in the workplace. So, this is why the words were a bit strong. Just politics. Prayer in school is also something that I feel very strong about. I will try to help you understand why this is so.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects both believers and nonbelievers from such a situation by mandating government neutrality between belief and nonbeliever. The government--through its proxy, the educators and administrators who facilitate our schools--may not lead children in prayer or force them to pray a certain way. However, all children have the right to pray voluntarily before, during, or after school, and nonreligious children do not have to pray at all. I grew up with prayer in school and it was wonderful. When I felt down or when I had troubles, I prayed for things to go okay. I talked to God, when my mom and dad did not understand me. Many adults say the schools did not begin to have problems until they took prayer out of the school system. That could be true with the recent rash of school shootings and other violent acts in the schools that are bringing the value of education down in this country. I believe this also. Prayer in school was the roots that keep me focused and controlled when I felt weak or afraid, I knew I had God. As Queen said, our country was founded on religious basis and I am fighting to have prayer back in school. Prayer does not hurt others and every students should have at least 1 minute for prayer before the day.

What I don't understand about people, who don't believe is WHY do you care, if others pray before class, especially if it helps some children. Prayer doesn't care harm to those, who don't believe. Prayer also brings different perspectives to the learning child. I would hope that parents teach their children non biased teachings. Children need to know both the creation theory along with evolution. Prayer is school is nothing more than meditation.
Please know that it is certainly discrimination when a particular religion is forced upon anyone; but it is also discrimination when individuals are denied reasonable opportunity to practice their faith within the parameters of the law.

You might want to read my original question there bayside. Your post was extremely eloquent, but it didn't really have anything to do with what I was saying. I don't have a problem with people who pray in public venues; I just don't understand it given my knowledge of religions.

Nothing to do with free-spech, separation of church and state, or discrimination whatsoever.

What is it you don't understand about prayer in public venues? Religions are communal and very public in nature. Even though we may communicate with God in a more personal way at times, we celebrate Him publically as a way of honoring Him.

I always thought that christianity was supposed to be about a private relationship with god or jesus, or whoever it is you worship. I don't see anything in the bible about honouring him by making spectacles.

Hmm. Never heard of people, coming online to prayer, just to pray, but when my mother had her stroke and became paralyzed, I went online to talk to other Episcopalians for answers, they guided me, where my friends and family could not.

I don't have an Episcopalian church near by, so it was great to have some many wonderful people, praying for me, my family and my mom online. So, it was great to have people from all over the world, prayer for my mom on a message board similar to this.

I know more people, who come on line, to help others in prayers, but not really to come online to pray. I guess you can also ask the question, why do people look for dates online or read news online. I guess because it is easier and you can get a greater number of people sharing a common goal.


I sometimes pray when at a restaurant before a meal, to be thankful for what I have. It has been customary for Christians to pray before meals, before school and doing Sport events. I guess we pray in public, because we can. Unlike in other dictatorships, where prayer can get you killed. We live in a society that gives man and women the right to pray anywhere that he or she wants. It is just as simple as that.



People, who pray, pray mostly at home. However because we live in a society that was founded on religious beliefs, we want to be able to pray where ever we feel. When, I pray with others, it feels more powerful. Hard to describe, but it is wonderful. Just like when I meditate alone, it is also great, but the energy increase when others also do it together. I guess it has something to do with biophysical/spiritual energies that become elated when others are around. It is kind of like when you want into a room when two people are fighting, you can feel the tension. Prayer together is the opposite, you can feel the love.

I participated in vigils within NY for those, who lost people in September 11, I did not lose any friends or family, but I felt their pain. It is this common prayer together that binds a community and binds one spiritually. The feeling of this connection is more powerful than and emotion know to man. So, yeah, it is cool to pray at home alone, but it just feels so much better praying with others.

Just like dancing. You can dance alone at home and its fun, but dancing together with another is just more fun. Prayer is a spiritual dance of the body, spirit and mind.

I hope this is clearer.

I think many would agree with me when I say that prayer in public spaces is fine, as long as it doesn't involve the rest of us. Praying silently(according to my religion) holds just as much potency as praying publicly. Saying a prayer in class that you do well on your test is great, but don't stand up in the front of the room and sing praises out loud. Much of the controversy about seperation of church and state is caused because of old Cold War decisions made to distinguish us from "Horrificlly Atheist Commies." If we plan to live in a diverse society, we can't stamp out religion, as the Soviets attempted to do, but the government also can't advocate a religion. Doing so really just intimidates Atheits are non-Judochristians.