How do you Pray? Alone..In Groups..or In Masses

@kamran12 (5526)

Pakistan

June 14, 2007 7:55pm CST

I am interested to know that what preferences people have for praying, worship or meditation. Do you do it alone as a personal and individual matter? Do you prefer praying/worshiping in Groups or do you like mass prayers/worship? Meditation is generally held as an individual act. Do you consider it strictly individual and personal or have you other thoughts about it? I can personally pray in any form, alone, in groups and masses. I think probably all has advantages to some extent. what are your views?

12 people like this

35 responses

@jnallen_487 (800)

• United States

15 Jun 07

I usually pray alone in bed before I go to sleep at night. I have a ritual that I do every night. But I also pray at church with everyone else so I can do either.

4 people like this

@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

15 Jun 07

So, you are more open to your choice of how you pray! It's really nice:-) Thanks for responding and sharing jnallen_487:-)

4 people like this

@jnallen_487 (800)

• United States

15 Jun 07

No problem! I love this place and love when I see interesting questions like that. It makes you think!

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@puyol1 (194)

• Malaysia

15 Jun 07

hmm.. for muslims like me, i can pray alone or in groups. the better pray is in groups, but i always do it alone by myself. hmm.. yeah, if in groups, we have some advantages.. there are so many things to say, but i cant tell it now. hmm..

4 people like this

@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

15 Jun 07

It's good to know that you find peace in all types of prayers, puyol1, both alone and in groups. I would like to hear those 'many things' as you mentioned. Thanks for sharing, puyol1:-)

3 people like this

@fellowlife (988)

• Nigeria

15 Jun 07

for me i like praying alone in my bedroom. At times in church we all pray together but my top choice is to pray alone when i am at home.

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@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

15 Jun 07

Seclusion can be a great spiritual turner and I understand why would you prefer it, fellowlife! Do you like mass too and enjoy the same way as being alone? Thanks for sharing:-)

3 people like this

@TerryZ (22076)

• United States

16 Jun 07

I use to go to the church to pray when I was younger. But now I pray at night in my own home. Just before I fall asleep at night I say a prayer or two.

3 people like this

i pray in my home

@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

16 Jun 07

It seems that like many others who responded, you find being alone more comfortable, TerryZ! Thanks for sharing:-)

3 people like this

@hotmamma_05 (183)

• United States

15 Jun 07

I pray alone every night before I go to bed and sometimes before I eat my food. The only time I pray in a group is with my grandparents when we pray we each take turns pray aloud taking turns.

3 people like this

@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

15 Jun 07

Is that some wish type of prayer or simply a thanks type for what you are blessed, hotmamma_05? I asume that praying alone is your personal preference, isn't it? Thanks for sharing, hotmamma_05:-)

3 people like this

@Feona1962 (7526)

• United States

16 Jun 07

I pray at night before I go to sleep..I like to pray alone. Group prayer is intimidating to me..I want it to be personal...

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@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

16 Jun 07

It's understandable if you keep it personal, Feona1962! as it is basically a personal issue. what exactly intimidate you in group praying? Thanks for sharing:-)

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@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

17 Jun 07

I am really sorry Feona1962, that you had to go through such experiences which made you feel a group prayer intimidating for you. I don't understand the behavior of those people who force people to GOD, while actually it should be with love and without any coercion. Thanks for taking your time to explain; I really appreciate:-)

3 people like this

@Feona1962 (7526)

• United States

17 Jun 07

Well, it started when two people I thought were my friends cornered me one night and started scaring the crap out of me..They said if I didn't take Jesus into my life I would go to hell..Actually I can't remember all that they said but they had me in tears...I grew up Catholic. My neighbor took us to church when my sisters and I were little, which wasn't a pleasant experience either...I was about 21 when the above incident happened...I stayed away from church because I was afraid of people cornering me again and scaring me....About 8 years ago, my neighbor asked me to go to church and I was hesitate, but later agreed...Everything from that night came rushing back when I was in a group of people that I stopped going...I was too nervous, so now I pray by myself and I do not share with others because I get overwhelmed...thank you for asking...It was a very painful and traumatic experience and it is hard to explain...but it is one I will never forget, and will probably never get over....

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Andrealoves7and8

@rogue13xmen13 (14402)

• United States

15 Jun 07

I am not religious, so I do not really pray.

2 people like this

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Andrealoves7and8

@rogue13xmen13 (14402)

• United States

16 Jun 07

I meditate if possible or I write a lot. I do most everything through writing.

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@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

16 Jun 07

thanks for sharing it with us:-)

2 people like this

@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

16 Jun 07

I can understand that, rogue13xmen13! perhaps you would like to share if you meditate like thinking for innerself or just being introspective!! Thanks for sharing anyway:-)

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@emeraldisle (13139)

• United States

15 Jun 07

I personally pray alone. I'm a solitary practioner of my faith and I do everything with it alone. The praying, rituals, and all that go with it. It works best for me. I've done the group thing in the past and it just doesn't work for me. I think each person should do what feels right for them.

2 people like this

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@emeraldisle (13139)

• United States

16 Jun 07

I don't know if it's useless but for me it just seemed everyone was just going through the motions. Saying the right things but not really feeling it.

2 people like this

@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

17 Jun 07

I can feel what you are saying, emeraldisle! thanks for responding to my question:-)

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@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

15 Jun 07

I am glad emeraldisle, that you found what works best for you. it's in itself can be a painstaking activity. Usually most powerful spiritual response is during solitary practice. Do you find groups or masses totally useless? Thanks for sharing your views, emeraldisle:-)

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@Shaun72 (15959)

• Palatka, Florida

25 Jun 07

I also prefer to pray along. I have never felt cofortable saying a prayer out loud.

2 people like this

@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

25 Jun 07

Praying alone is fine, Shaun72!:-) Thanks for sharing:-)

1 person likes this

@vesuvius (1677)

• Philippines

15 Jun 07

Actually, I do pray in all manners which you have stated. I do pray alone before eating, sleeping, going out of the house etc; I pray in groups when I am at school and I pray in a congregation when I attend worship services. All of these prayers serve for different purposes and all those types of prayers indeed have their advantages at some extent. I only think the individual prayer would serve best for an individual for he could tell God what really is in his mind - direct connection that is.

3 people like this

@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

15 Jun 07

It's really nice to know that you enjoy praying in each way, vesuvius! I agree that all types has their own benefits. Individual prayers do get strong spiritual connection. Do you think that it's not possible to be individual even in congregation? Thanks for sharing, vesuvius:-)

3 people like this

@CoffeeAnyone (3210)

• Canada

11 Jul 07

It looks to me that all kinds of prayer are important to God. Except for maybe the one that is only prayed to be seen and heard by man. Those are clearly the prayers that God is not interested in according to the bible! I think for me I try to have a balance in my prayer life. I am shy to pray in a group setting but if the situation calls for it then I will! I love to pray with others in a one on one situation but my favorite time of course is alone in a quiet place with God.

2 people like this

@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

11 Jul 07

Thanks for sharing your views, CoffeeAnyone! you have interesting points there. I tend to agree when you say that GOD would be least interested in a prayer that is mean just to be seen and heard by someone other than GOD.

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@mymytri (2030)

• India

15 Jun 07

hello kamran12..i usually do meditation at home individually but i visit often my Guru(the person who teached me) and there we will do meditation in groups nearly 200 to 300 members at a time.there we discuss our meditation progress with our guru and take his suggetions to improve and will listen to his speach and prayer.. everybody at my home prays god individually and visit temple every week where we do pooja in groups

3 people like this

@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

15 Jun 07

You brought up some very interesting points to my knowledge, mymytri! Though I have heard that meditation can be in groups yet it is largely considered an individual act. So it's really interesting for me. Thanks for sharing these informations, mymytri:-)

3 people like this

@butterfly39 (3904)

• Philippines

15 Jun 07

I pray alone at night, and on Sundays we go to church to have fellowship there with my family. I am more at peach praying and talking to God alone.

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@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

15 Jun 07

It seems that people find more peace praying alone. Thanks for sharing butterfly39:-)

3 people like this

• United States

15 Jun 07

I pray alone in bed. My husband is Muslim, they pray 5 times a day. He does it alone when he is home. There is a mosque where he works so he prays with a group when he's not here.

2 people like this

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@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

15 Jun 07

I am glad to know, amyzim1, that you have a good working relationship despite of your difference of religion. Thanks for sharing this beautiful example of tolerance:-)

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@vivienna (582)

• Venezuela

15 Jun 07

I'm glad for the example of mutual respect you and your husband show in spite of your different creeds. Hopefully this may find imitation!

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@icequeen (2840)

• Canada

15 Jun 07

I do my praying alone...but I think that there is nothing wrong with praying with others too. There is power in prayer so the more the merrier. I think that if you are part of a church or group then that is how you would pray...

2 people like this

@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

16 Jun 07

Yes, icequeen, there is nothing wrong in praying together. In fact I some times enjoy praying together, It's important for social spiritual harmony as well as development. Thanks for sharing:-)

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@sarah22 (3979)

• United States

15 Jun 07

I pray alone and when i go to church

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@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

16 Jun 07

Thanks for sharing, sarah22:-)

2 people like this

@youdontsay (3497)

• United States

18 Jun 07

I pray wherever I am. I pray in church. I pray at home. I pray everytime I am aware of an emergency vehicle going by to help someone in need. I pray when I see or experience something that is beautiful or good. I pray when someone is hurt. I even have a dentist who will pray with me when something is hard in my life. Somehow he can sense it and asks me about it and if it is o.k. if he prays with me. I have been in group meditation at times. It is usually guided by a leader or by music. It can be very calming and powerful. We have a group at church that makes fleece blankets and crochet afgans for children in trauma via Project Linus. We meet once a month to make the fleece blankets and before we leave the meeting we pray for the children who will be blessed by the blankets. Sometimes I pray while I read my email from someone needing support. I am on a Board of Trustees that prays at the opening of our meetings. I pray all over the place! Can't ever pray too much, I guess.

2 people like this

@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

18 Jun 07

It seems that prayer is one of the most important part of your every day life, youdontsay! It's nice that you can pray and get into it anytime and any place. I am much like the same in the sence that whether or not there are people around, I can develop a contact and can pray. Thanks for sharing, youdontsay, much appreciated:-)

2 people like this

@sangram112 (103)

• India

15 Jun 07

i pray a lot.. with drums and cymbals... my prayer is - hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare/ hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare... it means - oh god, oh energy of God please engage me in your devotional service.... i'll explain more later.. hare krishna

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@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

16 Jun 07

I'll be waiting, sangram112:-) Thanks for sharing:-)

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@FSCAries (881)

• United States

15 Jun 07

I most often pray alone. Just recently I have had to start going to some meetings, and they always say the Lord's prayer at the end of that, but to me that's not really praying. I believe prayer is something that comes from your heart and goes to God, you can do it alone in your home, send little prayers up as you go throughout the day, however you do it, God knows what's in your heart and what you intend.

2 people like this

@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

16 Jun 07

Do you think that one can not personally attach him/herself to GOD/gods being in public or mass? I agree that prayer is a direct line between a person and GOD as well as that HE knows our intent and content without even being expressed. Thanks for sharing, FSCAries!:-)

2 people like this

• Romania

17 Jun 07

I usually pray alone but when i go to church we pray in groups :)

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@kamran12 (5526)

• Pakistan

17 Jun 07

Thanks for sharing, zip3rul!:-)

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