I'm on a journey, hello. :)

[Cino]

If you know of some other way to pray, I genuinely want to understand how such is to be performed or if its simply some incorrect word

Less theory, more practice, I'd say.

Leave away the words. Pray in silence.

There's nothing to say, define, or understand.

Don't do anything. Stop, stop, stop. It's out of your hands.

Crazy world, where an atheist explains to a believer how to pray

 

[RJM]

Don't do anything. Stop, stop, stop. It's out of your hands.

Exactly. It means that I pray for guidance/divine assistance and then act from my own highest level and do what I judge to be best, and God will guide my steps. Even if I misjudge, God will do the details and bring the eventual result around alright. Something like that? Imo.

It's a mighty power.

 

[RJM]

Crazy world, where an atheist explains to a believer how to pray

Very interesting

 

[The Artis Magistra]

Less theory, more practice, I'd say.

Leave away the words. Pray in silence.

There's nothing to say, define, or understand.

Don't do anything. Stop, stop, stop. It's out of your hands.

Crazy world, where an atheist explains to a believer how to pray

What aspect of what you described is or would be considered "praying"? If being a blank headed do-nothing is "praying" I spend the majority of my time "praying" by being blank headed and doing nothing most of the time. Atheists might also call that a waste of precious little time we have, but I can't seem to do much else except barely use it for anything much.

 

[RJM]

What aspect of what you described is or would be considered "praying"? If being a blank headed do-nothing is "praying" I spend the majority of my time "praying" by being blank headed and doing nothing most of the time. Atheists might also call that a waste of precious little time we have, but I can't seem to do much else except barely use it for anything much.

sigh ...

 

[The Artis Magistra]

I just don't get it. I'm probably wrong but it seems like people might sometimes try to be cryptic or mysterious in an effort to get some kind of "upper-hand" when intimidated in some way and feeling unable to compete or match up in any other way. I am not sure or suggesting that is happening here definitely, but it almost seems like an effort is being made to be unclear to make me confused or something.

Like, prayer is a word with a meaning, or so I thought, and if one is simply not using that meaning, how the heck am I supposed to know what or how they do this other thing which they insist on calling "prayer"?

It simply sounds like bull excrement or mockery. Like saying, oh, check out my boat, and then I say Ok when?

Boat guy: Now.
Idiot: How?
Boat guy: its right in front of you.
Idiot: I don't see any boat.
Boat guy: Its me!
Idiot: What?
Boat guy: I'm a boat!
Idiot: Isn't a boat something different?
Boat guy: Me too though, I'm a boat.
Idiot: Alright I guess, but its not what most people would understand a boat to be.
Boat guy: Who cares what most people say or think, I'm a boat, and now you know.
Idiot: I'm a bit iffy about adopting this extra usage for the word.
Boat guy: Well you will be better off if you submit to my whims!
Idiot: Now that is something I understand and can relate to, we are not so different after all.
Boat guy: Well you do look like ship to me.
Idiot: Thank you. Thank you?
Boat guy: Anchor.

 

[RJM]

Like, prayer is a word with a meaning, or so I thought, and if one is simply not using that meaning, how the heck am I supposed to know what or how they do this other thing which they insist on calling "prayer"?

Perhaps prayer is about opening a channel of energy between Spirit and nature or God and man?

So what Wikipedia says?

EDIT: words often have a greater meaning in context than their dictionary definition?

 

[Cino]

What aspect of what you described is or would be considered "praying"? If being a blank headed do-nothing is "praying" I spend the majority of my time "praying" by being blank headed and doing nothing most of the time. Atheists might also call that a waste of precious little time we have, but I can't seem to do much else except barely use it for anything much.

The intention to pray, and then actually doing it, I'd say.

 

[The Artis Magistra]

Pray to what though and for what? Its like saying intention to make a call. Make a call to who? Intention to request. Request what?

 

[The Artis Magistra]

Perhaps prayer is about opening a channel of energy between Spirit and nature or God and man?

So what Wikipedia says?

EDIT: words often have a greater meaning in context than their dictionary definition?

So all people are not already posessed as they are?

 

[RJM]

Pray to what though and for what? Its like saying intention to make a call. Make a call to who? Intention to request. Request what?

Spiritual laws are not the same as natural laws. Pray to some sentient power or force greater than nature. Do you believe reality ends where nature ends?

Nature is a room in the house of Spirit. My Father's house has many mansions. Spirit surrounds and contains and permeates nature. Nature is bounded by time. Spirit is timeless. Spaceless

 

[Cino]

Pray to what though and for what? Its like saying intention to make a call. Make a call to who? Intention to request. Request what?

I don't want to be difficult or obscure. The only way I know how describe this kind of thing is to give a how-to description. Try it out if you want.

 

[RJM]

IF I'm drowning and yell for help, perhaps my yells will not bring rescue, but unless I do yell my chance of being rescued is virtually nil.

It may be a dolphin, or a cruise ship, or a fishing boat. I'm not going to be choosy.

Which is why I think the first understanding of prayer is born from desperation, in a way. From then on, it's a lifelong journey and deeper understanding?

 

[Thomas]

Honestly, I'm trying to decide if Christianity as I know it is compatible with being female.

That's a very good question.

Speaking as a Catholic, I can see a lot of reasons why one might say 'No'.

Actually, the answer is yes, but it's application is often fraught with difficulty. Nor can one deny the historical misogyny of the church.

I cannot offer any simple answers ...

but I have heard some very harmful things about femininity and female-ness my whole life that were conveyed to me as "biblical."

Hmmm ... I'd be inclined to doubt that.

I'm also interested in the history of the bible, Christianity, and religion as a whole...ancient belief and practice, etc. Those are long-held interests and not necessarily related.

Big interest!

 

[Thomas]

1 Corinthians 11
And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head - it is just as though her head were shaved.

1 Corinthians 14:34-35
As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.

The problem with citing texts without context or balance is not really helpful on an Interfaith forum.

It just puts one in the camp of a fundie biblical literalist ... I know you're anything but that, but you do rather read the bible as a fbl when it suits ...

 

[Thomas]

Is back when slavery was common, blacks were animals, men were Superior, wives are meant to be beaten...

And yet part of the appeal of Early Christianity is that it reached out to slaves, women, the poor and the dispossessed.

This is the problem when you try and broad-brush the facts so its fits your view of history ...

 

[Thomas]

I love not having to defend slavery, racism, misogyny, inequality....to not have to point to writings or people and claim, it was the time, or look at this passage, ignore that one..

I know, it's so much easier, isn't it?

 

[The Artis Magistra]

I don't want to be difficult or obscure. The only way I know how describe this kind of thing is to give a how-to description. Try it out if you want.

Just not doing or thinking anything for a while? Is that the thing I should try? Its a good time because I'm about to sleep. If there is anything else other than not thinking about anything or doing anything as part of the practice, I can try that also. I will continue to breathe but I will just blank out otherwise and not move and might end up falling asleep.

 

[RJM]

So all people are not already posessed as they are?

Oh I understand. No. Spiritual powers may not interfere with man unless invited? That's an example of spiritual law.

We are subject to natural laws and forces, unless we ask for more? Imo

 

[Cino]

Just not doing or thinking anything for a while? Is that the thing I should try?

I'm not saying you should.

So to recap what I wrote: Resolve to pray, then pray.

Don't fall asleep.

Pray silently if it helps you to let go of that sense of being in control.
Pray with urgency as RJM describes if it helps you to let go of that sense of being in control.

Whatever spins your prayer drums...