Why do some people close their eyes fold their hands and

I always pray before I eat, whether at home or in a restaurant. I bow my head and hold hands with whomever I am eating with. God deserves our thanks because He has provided us with all the things we need. I see it as humbling myself before the Lord. God bless.

I am not religious at all, but I don't really think it's funny. They're praying, it's their own business, and that's the way they want to do it. I agree that people don't have to physically pray to thank god or whatever, but that's what they like to do. Your wording seems judgemental and presumptiuous.

I agree with you barehugs,I too bless my food,and our pooches food,I give thanks several times a day for all that I have.When we are out with frinds enjoying a meal I simply give thanks silently,don't feel the need to go na na na nana..lol,find this way I am not offending or laying a guilt trip on other diners whom choose not to say grace. Who knows,very possibly others do give thanks silently as well.To simply appreciate a thing in my mind is giving thanks! Only minutes ago found this posting from eight months back by a mylot member,can't make out his name,will get back to you on it. An Atheist was walking through the woods and said to himself.... "what majestic trees!" "What Powerful rivers!" "what beautiful animals1" As he walked alongside the river,he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him.He turned to look and saw a 7-foot grizzly charge towards him.He ran as fast as he could up the path.He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closing in on him. he looked over his shoulder again,and the bear was even closer.He tripped and fell on the ground.Hhe rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right on top of him,reaching for him with his left paw and raising his right paw to strike him. He looked over his shoulder again,and the bear was even closer.He tripped and fell to the ground.He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was roight on top of him.At that instant,the atheist cried out,"oh my God!" Time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent. As a bright light shone upon the man,a voice came out of the sky;"You deny my existence for all these years,teach others I don't exist,and even credit creation to cosmic accident."Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament?Am I to count you as a believer?" The atheist looked directly into the light and said,"It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now,but perhaps,you could mmake the BEAR a Christian?" "Very well," said the voice. The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. The bear dropped his right paw,brought both paws together,bowed his head,and spoke: "Lord bless this food,which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord,Amen."

some people like mwah , bow their heads before a meal at a restaurant because ....we do it at every meal so why not at a restaurant, and oh guess what else some times i even get on my knees and pray b4 i go to bed.. . btw it is not for others to see it is for our gratefulness to God. if others do see then they see us taking the time to stop and show appreciation to our God for our bountiful feast. God does not require this we simply do it b/c we choose to, and we pray all day as well, just because you do not witness it does not mean we dont do it, the head bowing and eye closing is so that we can show reverance and focus . any more questions?

Having been mauled by a couple of zealots and pseudo zealots in the past week I though that I would just pop down from the feral end and see how things are here in the inner sanctum. You have managed to get a little fur flying. But we like that. But no one has really lost it and that is good too. I don't really mind whether people pray before they eat or not. Each to his or her own I say. I have often prayed in the middle of a meal because it was so awful. I struggle to see how people could pray for a fast food meal though. That's not food, it's a fast track to meet your maker. So perhaps it's not such a bad idea. Bye.

Sorry I have to disagree . There is nothing wrong with showing your love for your god. And thats how the majority of people think

well, i think it is but natural to close eyes when people say their grace - though i can tell you i am not 1 one of them. i say my prayers and thanksgiving before meal but my eyes are open and my hands are not joined together. i guess it can be different for different people. Also. some find it more comforting, i guess and relaxing to have thier eyes closed. im not really sure... but i have friends who does this and i did not feel awkward about it. :)

I don't find it amusing. I'm respectful of it. I say grace at home, but don't out in public. You should find no entertainment value in it. I'm sure these people you refer to thank God on a continuous basis also, but, especially at meal times before they receive food.

I pray before and after each meal, often silently. Sometimes I bow my head, sometimes I close my eyes, sometimes I make the sign of the Cross. I can assure you it is not a public announcement of my holiness. I know I am a sinner and I will be the last person to say that I am holy. Nor is it to mock people with other beliefs. I respect people with different beliefs/religions. I do it as a blessing for the bounty that is before me. I do it as a thanksgiving for the food that I eat. Every person should be free to worship God in the manner that he/she wishes. No person can claim complete knowledge about God or the perfect way to interact with Him.

Hi barehugs, I'm with you on this one, but I see no great harm in it. Our life is a prayer and there is no need to close the eyes or bow the head. The God that I believe in knows my every action, and loves me just as I am. Blessings.

Hmm. I am not a religious person but I don't see the people that pray before a meal as entertainment at all. I have never looked at them as amusing or as an announcement. People pray to give thanks not to be a public spectacle.

I love my wife. 24/7, and she knows it. She is the single best thing God ever created. I feel that way at all times, and she knows it. But, she still smiles and enjoys it when I tell her so. Taking action to express love and gratitude does not in any way whatsoever inherently diminish, or overshadow, constant unspoken veneration.

I think it's very nice. They are giving thanks to God for their food in public, which means they are not ashamed. They aren't putting on a display of Holiness. They are being grateful. Hello!!! The idea that you find entertainment in it is somewhat daunting to me. When those people aren't praying in public, they probably do keep God first in their minds and hearts.

I disagree. I'm not ashamed to show that I love and want to honor the creator of all things, in such a way. He has given me everything. I think giving him a moment of pray before a meal and throughout my day, is nothing compared to what he gives me everyday. If I go out to eat, I am not going to skip my prayer because someone may think it's wierd and the fact that they do, well, I just find that really sad in itself....

well its how they like to show how thankful they are on the blessings that they had receive..specially on food..every man have their own way to do their thing ..and i respect them for that...no matter what is the motive(showy or whatever).its the burden then of their conscience if they show what they are not in real life..

People who pray over their food in a restaurant are honoring God, and everyone has a different conviction about what it means to honor God and offer him thanks.Some feel that more overt thanks are in order while others quietly give thanks by bowing their heads or saying a prayer in their hearts. If it makes you uncomfortable then perhaps you could turn your head the other way or go visit the facilities while they offer their thanks.

well im no christian either and when i lived with my dad who is one of the biggest bible thumpers i known we had to pray in public, it embaressed me. But i dont see anything wrong with a group of people getting together and praying b/c its there religion, there right. thats sorta like telling people they cant smoke in resturants, which im agianst too. sit in the bar and smoking section and im sure you wont bump into anyone praying. I agree with you though that we are already connected to god because we are all part of god and in our own way we are all gods, and there is noi need to pray to him/her/it for it to hear us. the only thing im not sure is if god really is a consious being.

What makes you think that people who pray before a meal pray Only before a meal? That is quite an assumption to make based on very little knowledge of the people. I don't see why there is anything wrong with it. Does it upset you? Does it bother you to know that there are people who are different than you and don't share your beliefs? I would think that people who are close with god would be more tolerant. I am not a religious person. I do not pray before meals at home or in public. But it does not bother me that other people do. Why don't you go ahead and worship the way you see fit and let others worship as they choose. I'm pretty sure that god teaches that we should not judge others.

I think that all people do things that follow what they believe and don't believe so to each his own. You have a different view on spirituality than other people have and so on. I actually don't see how you find this amusing as I do not think it is done for Entertainment, but actually an act of those people's beliefs. I myself don't bow my head and pray over my food but I also don't care if other people do. The funny part is that I am often too busy trying to decide what to eat, keep my kids settled down, what them eat, and eat myself that I don't notice what other people are doing. I guess I should work on my observation skills though because I miss alot. :)

I think that all persons who gives thank shis way should continue to do so and give thatnks to the good lord up above the way that we feel in our hearts to do so!!!!