Does everyone know the difference between chanting, petition and prayer? More often than not when people say they 'pray' they are actually petitioning God for things they want. Making Prayer little more than a formal wishing cermony. God is not a magical genie who's job it is to grant you wishes. Nor is He obligated to hear or respond to wishes.

At the same time Prayer is not a rehearsed or practice chant. Christ says the Father hates these meaningless many worded chants. at first glance the Lord's prayer is one of these chants, but upon closer inspection we find an outline rather than a perscribed word for word prayer/chant.

Does anyone want to know or discuss the formula behind the outline? It will transform a wishing cermony into a prayer that God will respond to.

Yes, I am curious as to how you are going to use special pleading to justify something that you approve of.

Open the door to invite a sermon? How can I refuse?

No, thanks anyway.

Strange, he seems to be in the wish granting business at least some of the time. I mean hell, if he couldn't do something simple like find your car keys....useless as tits on a boar.

Drich Wrote:Does anyone want to know or discuss the formula behind the outline? It will transform a wishing cermony into a prayer that God will respond to.

I'm interested in listening to what you have to say. What do you see as the formula?

(August 3, 2012 at 12:16 am)Drich Wrote: Does everyone know the difference between chanting, petition and prayer?

I read the rest of your post, couldn't have cared less, but had to respond to this. Chanting is not what you think it is, neither are you correct in your interpretation of "repetitive prayer". Go ask a priest what that phrase originally meant and get back to me. Hint: It had to do with people uttering prayers for no reason other than that they had been taught. Which is why it actually translates as "vain repetition". It also ties into the fact that they believed the other people were praying to a non-existent god or gods so their prayers could of course never be answered.

Chanting in any religion is supposed to be used to open the mind by helping one drown out distractions and focus only on that subject they wish to be focused on, i.e. God, Enlightenment, etc. You again were confused when you connected chanting with vain repetition. They are not at all the same thing and it is Christian arrogance to link the two. Chanting has been an integral part of religions the world over for much longer than the Jesus mythology has been around. It is a time honored tradition that has nothing to do with supplication but is a meditative tool.

Now you are bang on about petition and the fact that most people who are religious almost always pray only as a petition for special favor. I saw this time and again when I was going to church and it always struck me as funny and a little sad.

Since this is in the religion sub-forum I have no problem discussing this with you. But be prepared to hear a different opinion based on someone who has been involved with, and studied different religions since he was 13 and is now 27. I don't back down from a fight if I know I am right, but I am open minded and willing to listen to your side so long as you aren't trying to shove it down my throat. Also if I am wrong and you have valid resources I will be more than happy to learn. So if you would like we can discuss. It's up to you.

(August 3, 2012 at 12:34 am)Rhythm Wrote: Strange, he seems to be in the wish granting business at least some of the time. I mean hell, if he couldn't do something simple like find your car keys....useless as tits on a boar.

Dont forget, sometimes the answer to a prayer is in the form of;

...''no ''

or

...''not now''

or

...''here, take this instead - it's better'''

I also like that other (biblical) word for prayer - meditation.

Meditation has definite health benefits.

(August 3, 2012 at 1:03 am)Lion IRC Wrote:

(August 3, 2012 at 12:34 am)Rhythm Wrote: Strange, he seems to be in the wish granting business at least some of the time. I mean hell, if he couldn't do something simple like find your car keys....useless as tits on a boar.

Dont forget, sometimes the answer to a prayer is in the form of;

...''no ''

or

...''not now''

or

...''here, take this instead - it's better'''

I also like that other (biblical) word for prayer - meditation.

Meditation has definite health benefits.

Why do you get to hear voices in your head?!

(August 3, 2012 at 1:03 am)Lion IRC Wrote: Dont forget, sometimes the answer to a prayer is in the form of;

...''no ''

or

...''not now''

or

...''here, take this instead - it's better'''

I also like that other (biblical) word for prayer - meditation.

Meditation has definite health benefits.

Sure, it's better than getting syphilis but not as good as aspirin.