Prayers in the day and age.
By killahclaire
@killahclaire (3665)
February 2, 2007 12:03pm CST
In this day and age alot of people are more sceptical about prayers, religion, higher being and the bible and anything that goes with it.
There are so many religions out there now and everyone is choosing their own whether it be through traditional family history or through something that has happened to them.
Now I'm not saying for a second what people should or should not believe in what I am asking is....
Do you think in this day and age is it okay to say to someone "I'll pray for you!"
So many people nowadays are opinionated about stuff. Politcal Correctness and stuff has gone crazy.
Do you think everyone should be entitled to say this if they choose?? Including school teachers in a non-religious school?? George Bush or Tony Blair??? Or just a stranger to someone they meet on the street in bad circumstances or when hearing a story of someone in need of help???
10 people like this
43 responses
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
2 Feb 07
I think it all depends on the circumstance. I try to feel the situation out. If I know someone is "not into that stuff" as my daughter puts it then I keep my thoughts to myself and pray anyway. But here just a few weeks ago for some reason I told a stranger I would pray for them and they got this huge look of relief on their face and thanked me. You just never know but I feel we have a right to pray anywhere anytime just so we don't force it on others who don't feel the same way.
@killahclaire (3665)
•
2 Feb 07
Thank was a very warming post. The reason I posted this was I was on Yahoo last the other night playing dominoes and got talking to a guy and I told him how my firends was in hospital for a few hours getting antibiotics on introvenue after getting a form of blood poisoning for an unknown reason.
I told him I was very worried about him and the guy just said out the blue. "He'll be in my prayers" and believe it or not it really did relax me. It gfelt nice to know that someone out there would be wishing him well and if there is a God out there then he would be listening.
2 people like this
@mdilan (803)
• United States
2 Feb 07
This is a very debatable discussion, good for you! In my own opinion I think that yes, we can say I will pray for you. I think God sees our real intentions. Famous people, yes, they can say it. As long as they do not offend anyone andthey do it with good intentions, not beingsarcastic, I mean.
2 people like this
@killahclaire (3665)
•
2 Feb 07
Yes I suppose you are right there.
For some reason I couldn't imagine famous people saying that but maybe thats because religion can seem uncool or maybe they just dont want to offend any of their fans.
I think that it is a very sweet thing to say to someone as long as you do actually mean it.
@vinod_sailes (214)
• India
3 Feb 07
It is your view but I feel allergic to say to someone 'I'll pray for you and yet I pray for the whole world daily without fail, unless of course I dose off during prayer, which happens to take place just before sliding under the mattress at around 10 PM.
This is from a Roman Catholic from New Delhi (India) - you may have heard of me as I have become very famous in myLot with my outspokenness. I stand by them any way.
Back to the point, you know prayers have been my guiding spirit and just as it does to everyone, miracles have taken place which essentially point to as the exact result of my prayers. But, do we really need to tell someone that we pray for him or her ? Let it be a part of our life to pray for everybody, without our mentioning it to another. Of course, overwhelming love for someone may give your tongue a slip and you may even without your knowing mention the 'I'll pray ...'. That is another matter. But, pray and pray for everybody, that will see you through all problems, enhance your confidence in people and in God.
Praying for another or for that matter for the world is something that comes naturally to me. At times I even pray for people whom I may not have even talked to.
I remember some twenty years ago, as I used to walk to my office, I happened to see a gentleman (a Hindu in fact) who used to distribute chocolates to children hurrying to school and lovingly place his hand on their head. I felt overwhelmed and I do not know why. I started praying for that particular gentleman. I did this for some fifteen years and automatically after that period my memento of him went off my recollection. It happens.
I strongly feel telling a person that you will pray for would amount to parrotting a wish (worldly), but praying for people and even the world would enhance God's love for you to a point of infinity !
1 person likes this
@killahclaire (3665)
•
2 Apr 07
I am sure what you are saying about increasing gods love to infinity is true.
in my country it is almost"normal" for people not to express religious views, if they have any at all. It is a multi cultrural, multi everything place so I tend to find that if someone does tell me that they will pray for me then i am very very touched.
@rosie_123 (6113)
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2 Feb 07
Interesting question. Well, I can't deny I am an atheist, and therefore the thought of anyone praying for me, does not really have any affect on me, because I don't believe there is anyone there to pray to. However, some people say it as a means of showing you they care, and that they are thinking about you at a bad time in your life. Everyone needs friends, and everyone needs some positive thoughts sometimes, so I would not object.
2 people like this
@iheartducks (343)
• United States
2 Feb 07
Great post - I totally agree with you!!!
1 person likes this
@happy29 (28)
• United States
2 Feb 07
I feel that someone offering to pray for me is usually well intentioned.However,I also think it reveals an assumption on their part that I have the same beliefs they do,which is something that does annoy me.I don't feel this is something you should say to someone you do not know very well,unless they are a member of your religious organization.
@killahclaire (3665)
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5 Feb 07
Its good to see that you have thought of it from the other side of the opinions.
Someone might be offended that an assumption might be being made on their religious beliefs.
At the end of the day if you don't believe in god then it shouldn't hurt you that s omeone is praying to him because in your non believing eyes he doesn't exist.
@samtaylorskykierajen (7977)
• Canada
2 Feb 07
Yes , no matter what religion a person is they still believe in God and if they don't they would know your intentions were meant well . The power of prayer can be very strong and is always meant with the best of intentions , no matter the religion .
2 people like this
@killahclaire (3665)
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2 Feb 07
It's good to know that everyone has nice thoughts
I must admit I thought their maybe some people unhappy about people saying they'll pray for them because it is sort of expressing their religious fews and religion is becoming such a taboo subject.
@pramod_roxx (44)
• Singapore
14 Feb 07
yes , it is okay to to say " i'll pray for you " .
because if you say this to anybody then he/she feels good for that work and he/she will feel close to you........
2 people like this
@killahclaire (3665)
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14 Feb 07
Thats true!
I often think of tyhe few people that have said it to me!
1 person likes this
@killahclaire (3665)
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5 Feb 07
Maybe we should be with people in hard times more and maybe one way of ensuring that is constantly reminding ourselves of them.
@Eskimo (2315)
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2 Apr 07
I think Shakespera sums this up very well - "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." Many people believe in prayer, and that prayer will help, and I would not be offended if someone of any religion said that to me in a time of need.
It may only be psychological the way it works, but I have heard countless people say that they have been helped by prayers.
There are, however a number of people who have gone too far with political correctness and would be very offended by someone praying for them.
1 person likes this
@killahclaire (3665)
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3 Apr 07
It is so true that people would be offended but yet so crazy!
1 person likes this
@34momma (13882)
• United States
2 Feb 07
I think that if it is important if it is important to you. The Lord wants us to pray for people, that is how we help our fellow man. Those who don't believe will deal with that when it is their time. Don't worry about what others may say, think or feel. Do what you know the Lord wants you to do, and do what you feel in your heart of hearts. PRAY.
@taruharish (110)
• United States
2 Feb 07
It is away to express your feelings for the others and there is nothing wrong in it.everybody must tell this whenever they feel like it.Praying for somebody is wishing him best of luck and religion has nothing to do in that.
2 people like this
@taruharish (110)
• United States
2 Feb 07
It is away to express your feelings for the others and there is nothing wrong in it.everybody must tell this whenever they feel like it.Praying for somebody is wishing him best of luck and religion has nothing to do in that.
@jennybeans (912)
• United States
3 Feb 07
Personally, knowing a lot of alternative spirituality people, I tend to say things like, "I'll keep you in my thoughts," instead of "I'll pray for you." It keeps them from being offended, and it still means I can do my part to help draw positive energy into their situation.
1 person likes this
@killahclaire (3665)
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5 Feb 07
I think I should make more of an effort to think more positive for people.
Im not a cruel person but maybe just not thinking of people as much as I should.
@mikeyr6000le (2123)
• United States
3 Feb 07
If a stranger wnats to pray for me, I tell them it's a waste of time or if I'm in a good mood I'll just say thank you and leave it at that. I personally wounldn't want anyone to pray for me because I think it's waste of time.
Do I think a teacher should be able to say that? Not really mainly because religon should be left out of the school system. Unless the teacher knows the students religon denomination and it's OK with the student.
1 person likes this
@randyequal (439)
• China
3 Feb 07
Nowadays, there are many non-religion persons. I think it is not good to say I pray for your to everyone who is in trouble or in need of help. To a non-religion person, I think he/she would prefer a real suggestion to just one signle sentence'I will pray for you'
1 person likes this
@stavre_sf (14)
• Bulgaria
3 Feb 07
I think that everybody have to think and do just what he want.
1 person likes this
@missmuffet (238)
• United States
3 Feb 07
I think it a fine to say that yiou will pray for someone. It just shows that you are thinking of them and it certainly can't hurt.
1 person likes this
@Steveint (17)
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3 Feb 07
I think if the person who its said to is even halfway decent, they will just nod and say thankyou, even in this day and age, regardless of their religion. This is coming from a rampant on the fence agnostic too, so just carry on doing what you want, the world won't change that much that fast. Not yet anyway.
