Matthew 6: Jesus condemns public prayer

[truthBtold]

What about school sponsored prayer at a graduation ceremony? Is that earnest prayer, even though the praying is triggered by conformity rather than an earnest desire to pray?

I'd say no to public school sponsored prayer. As for the politicians, it looks like a show to me. If a certain church body were to get together and have an outdoor service, say at a park, then I would say that it wouldn't violate Jesus' words. I don't know what's going on in the heads and hearts of the individuals.

Its jesus madness.. every body do the jesus harlem shake!!!

[Minimalist]

What about school sponsored prayer at a graduation ceremony? Is that earnest prayer, even though the praying is triggered by conformity rather than an earnest desire to pray?

I'd say no to public school sponsored prayer. As for the politicians, it looks like a show to me. If a certain church body were to get together and have an outdoor service, say at a park, then I would say that it wouldn't violate Jesus' words. I don't know what's going on in the heads and hearts of the individuals.

One of them is Ted Fucking Cruz the biggest hypocritical cocksucker in the Senate. That ought to give you a clue.

[Coffee Jesus]

An interesting study on the University of British Columbia website. It's almost as if they set out to test Jesus' claim.
Of course, neither Jesus nor this study explains the correlation.

http://www2.psych.ubc.ca/~ara/Manuscript...an2009.pdf

Higher church- synagogue- mosque-attendance was correlated with having a positive view of suicide attacks against religious outgroups.
Prayer frequency and religious devotion (importance of religion in life) were also correlated with support for these suicide attacks, but the correlation disappeared after they controlled for church attendance.

[Wyrd of Gawd]

Praying from a Biblical POV is really asinine. The general doctrine is that the God creature's will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. So whatever happens is simply the God creature's will. Therefore when people pray they are whining that they don't want to be subjected to the creature's will and want a better deal for themselves than the one he's giving them. That suggests that by pleading they can get the creature to change its mind. There's a story about how the despicable Abraham actually got the creature to change its mind so maybe it works in some cases. However, that invalidates the general doctrine.

I'm against public prayers because it forces people to conform, even in church services. Besides, praying doesn't work unless the person doing it gets off his butt and makes things happen. It does provide a certain level of emotional comfort and may even have a calming effect on the person who's praying. When politicians do it it's just a cheap stunt that appeals to their dummy constituents.

[Cinjin]

What about school sponsored prayer at a graduation ceremony? Is that earnest prayer, even though the praying is triggered by conformity rather than an earnest desire to pray?

I'd say no to public school sponsored prayer. As for the politicians, it looks like a show to me. If a certain church body were to get together and have an outdoor service, say at a park, then I would say that it wouldn't violate Jesus' words.

But that's NOT what it says does it Lek. Nope. Jesus doesn't give you a disclaimer and he doesn't give you a time when it is ok does he? Nope he doesn't. It is just your worthless opinion that your messiah thinks what you're doing is ok. Lets look at the verse again:

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Hmmmm. Nowhere in that verse do I see your god giving you the OK to pray in public under ANY circumstance. In fact, I'd say he has given you a direct order that you in your tiny mortal coils have chosen to disregard.

My point is, if you're allowed to make judgement calls even where Jesus gave you a direct order, than how arbitrary can your decisions become when you DON'T have Jesus giving your direct orders. I'd say that's more than a little terrifying. Oh wait, that's the Christianity we've all come to know and despise: Dangerous & Terrifying.

[Tonus]

But that's NOT what it says does it Lek. Nope. Jesus doesn't give you a disclaimer and he doesn't give you a time when it is ok does he? Nope he doesn't. It is just your worthless opinion that your messiah thinks what you're doing is ok.

It appears that Jesus said prayers during the last supper, which would imply that he was okay with group prayer... or perhaps that it was only okay for him to do so. Or he simply contradicts his words with actions. The Bible doesn't lack for contradictions, after all.

It also doesn't lack for convenient interpretation of text. As Minimalist pointed out, there seem to be very few wealthy Christians donating their entire holdings to charity in order to follow Christ. But they'll put on their finest threads to pray in public!

[Coffee Jesus]

Actually, taking a closer look at the grammar, I think you guys are right.

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites..."
Don't pray like the hyprocrites?
How so? and Why?
"...for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others."

Summary: Don't do what they do because they're only doing it for attention.

However, one could argue that Jesus isn't saying to not pray in public, but to not enjoy ("love to") praying in public.
"...for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others."

The video I linked to said it well. Why not pray during the moment of silence, or pray before or after the ceremony? Why do you have to make a big deal out of the fact that you're praying?

[Godlesspanther]

I just don't get the whole prayer thing anyway. If you believe in the grand-cosmic cupcake and it is what you think it is, then why bother saying a single word to it? It already knows exactly what the fuck is going on anyway -- right?

[Minimalist]

Prayer = human ego run amok.

[FreeTony]

If you're a Christian then Jesus always agrees with your particular opinion on a matter, even if he is reported to have said the exact opposite in the bible.