Prayer ... SERIOUSLY?!

[Cinjin]

@ Statler first. Hey thanx for hijacking my thread with the baseborn history lesson.

To answer your questions.
-how you believers pray?
Just like I talk, like a conversation. (awaits talking to yourself comment)
-Where do you pray?
Wherever I am when it strikes me to pray. I don't always pray at meals, but it's a time to sit and chill and chat with family so usually I find it appropriate to pray at that time
-How often do you pray?
I don't really have an exact number but I would guesstimate 20-40 times a day. Most of them being a little three word prayer or a quick thank you.
-what the hell is up with the “holier-than-thou speech” used in prayers?
I don't know, I don't use that. I consider it a sign of ritualizing prayer, which IMO lessens it's value.
- Is that really necessary?
No but I find it usefull
-Does your god really need you to thank him that often?!?!?!
I don't know, thankfulness is typically for the release of teh thanker not the gratification of the thankee, IMO

20 to 40 times a day?!?! holy shit! I don't even think my father prays that much and he's jesus' best friend!


You said you find prayer useful. How? Does god answer your prayers even 20 times a day?

We do agree on that last point though. I think prayer is solely for the gratification of the thankor and not the thankee.
Since the majority of christians admit that they don't actually hear god talking to them, than it would clearly seem that prayer is only useful to the pray-er as a placebo. Probably no surprise hearing that from me.

I'll let the "talking to yourself" comment slide this time.

---

I see one place in the prayer you have probably misquoted because it does not fit with the rest of the prayer, listen closer next time and see if you can find it, it jumped off the page as soon as I read the prayer.

I'm reasonably sure I didn't misquote him. I've heard this prayer many times, but I suppose anything is possible. Keep in mind, he's a mechanic who grew up drinking boos and huffing paint fumes ... not a man who's had 40 years of doctrine. His prayer's are going to reflect this.

As for your theory about tainted food ... that's one hell of a leap man. I haven't prayed for my food in 20 years and never once have gotten ill from bad food.

On another point. Do you pray before you eat no matter where or why??

Yes, I'm thankful for what God provides. If you're wondering if I fill embarrassed when praying in public I do not and really see no reason to be.

Praying in public is odd, but that's not really where I fault you on that particular statement. I would argue that god didn't provide you with that food. In fact, stop going to work and earning a pay check and we'll see if god keeps providing you with food.