Poll: Do you pray?

you've got to pray just to make it today, well, I do anyway.

Coincidentally, in readers digest this month wa an article titled "proof that prayer works". Apparently, they did a bunch of studies that shows that patients who prayed did better in general than patients who didn't. I'm sure some people would chalk that up to all sorts of psychobabble, but that's ok.

I don't pray to change God, I pray to change me.

I pray, but not to anyone in particular. I worship nobody. Oddly enough, I've been assigned an essay on "Why are you going to hell, and how do you plan to prevent it?"...

According to Dante's Inferno [and the infamous test], I've been banished to the 7th level of hell, primarily for lust and extreme violence. My birth date and time lead to my influence being that of Mars. People influenced by Mars are violent and lustful. It's not my fault. I didn't start it.. God is playing marbles with his planets and his stars creating havok in my life with his influence on mars..

I'm actually going to church for confession tomorrow [despite my loathing of organized religion and non-catholicness] for research for my paper. This is going to be a trip.

Forgive me father but I have sinned, well actuallyI have this paper to do. Would you mind answering a few questions?

actually, that's how I'd planned on doing it.� Confessing, -then- asking questions..

"Forgive me father. I've sinned. I smoke like a chimney, swear like a sailor, and masturbate like an autoerotic hooker. By the way, how can I prevent myself from going to hell?"

"It's too late. Begone with you."

(That's not funny, don't laugh at that. :-P "Lord, I apologize... be with the starving pygmies in New Guinea, amen.")

*snickers*
-- Pauley

Well, of course... people who believe in something are always more at ease.... and it's inner peace that leads to health.

I'd vote, but... this is a case of being so not-quite-fitting in any category that for once I'm staying out instead of trying to split the difference by picking the closest fit.

I'm not comfortable saying "yes, I pray." Because to me responding to a poll like this by saying "Yes" would imply that prayer is a regular part of my life. And to me, it also would imply something that fits whatever the standard idea of prayer is.

But neither can I say "No." (I'll get back to that, going down in order.)

"I used to but no longer," again - only meaning this to apply to me, mind you - implies both that it is a regular, common part of life, and in the model that is whatever might pass for standard.

"No but I prey" is, of course, the flippant "these don't apply to me" sort of option. But given that the tone (by my reading of it) of the question is so simple, unassuming, and unpresuming of why I'd respond however I would... I don't know. Chalk it up to the Pope's ill health, but I can't joke about religion just now.

Back to why I don't fit answering "No." For one thing, I do pray in what I consider the "standard" model of praying (sometimes even the whole nine yards on the knees thing) in times of extreme crisis. When my mother was being life-flighted to a different hospital comes to mind as an example. When my father was in the hospital with a lung problem, and they couldn't figure out what was going on (it turned out to be an infection of a type so currently rare that it's not even in current medical textbooks) - that's another example.

Beyond that... There are moments that are - to me - like prayer. When the sky is clear, and the full moon shines on new snow in the dark of a winter night... When there are just enough clouds of just the right type, in just the right place, and the sunset or sunrise tinges them not red or orange or even yellow, but a pure brilliant gold. In the quiet moments when it's impossible not to be struck by the sheer brilliance and beauty of the world - the universe... those moments are like prayer.

When a perfect moment of music comes together before me. When the right words fall into place exactly as they are needed to. When I find myself rarely in just the place I need to be to be able to honestly help someone... there is a sort of reflection, a sort of gratitude to whatever force (or even random act of a chaotic universe) that allowed that moment, that action, that scene to happen.

I'm rambling and probably not making sense, and I suppose this has turned into a response that's more of a journal entry. Sorry for cluttering up the thread everyone.

To Hepheastus.

As horrible as this sounds, I used to pray, wish on stars, blow those white fluffy dandelion seeds and wish that my family would be like all the families that seemed to be happy, loving, affectionate etc.
It didn't work, so nope, I don't pray, wish on stars,� or blow dandelion seeds anymore.
Now I write until I feel as hopeful as I did when I used to pray and� wish.

Hows that for depressing?!� =D

I don't think it's depressing... just realistic. :)

I first saw this, and I figured "eh...i don't have anything interesting to write. However, now I do. My answer is: yes. But that's not all. no, no, no. i've got lots more to say, so sit tight. i'm in a writing mood...stupid schoolwork. so, take what you will out of this. I just wanted to give some perspective on what i've been thinking, even if i didn't go too much into the actual question.

I've been a Roman Catholic since...as long as I can remember. I usually just pray during mass every saturday, because:
A- Father Himsworth doesn't know how to work the mic, so half the time i can't hear him, and
B- I'm only 14. I believe some of the things, but some of things I'm not so sure about. So I'm not committing myself. I'm keeping my options open.

I pray for things for myself, yes, but I also have a whole list of other people I pray for. People I know well, people I don't know so well, people I don't know, but I feel could use a prayer every now and then. (sometimes, i pray for the fr�heads... :D ) I also think. It's a usually semi-quiet during church, and I can just think for awhile.

Anyway, tonight was a little different. The pope died, as I'm sure many of you know right now. I had been at Sam's house all day, doing a history project, eating easter candy, and listening to old Michael Jackson 45s in the basement. I got picked up at ten of 5, to go to church. It had been raining on and off all day. We got into church, it was dead silent. There wasn't any music, because of John Paul II's death. But I could hear the church bells. Which they almost never toll. I like that kind of thing, the old time town sort of things. Nostalgic things.

There was a pretty big turnout, which I found nice. The mass went on, and the rain picked up. As Father Himsworth started the homily, (speaking of course about the passing of our holy father) the rain was so deafining you couldn't even make out what he was saying. That was so eerie, you know? That really made me think. I mean, yeah, I know how rain actually works, but it still was like a little hint of a possible higher power. And mass continued on. The rain was still coming down in sheets, and soon rain was coming into the church. Mass ended, everyone filed out silently, braving the rain to get to their cars.

But today made me think about things like the following:
1- My problems are nothing compared to what our world is facing at the moment.
2- The passing of Pope John Paul II is a bad thing, for many reasons. Firstly, the Roman Catholic church is on the fritz anyway, and the new pope will make or break that. (may i suggest allowing women into the priesthood?) Second, when you think of some of our current world leaders, John Paul was a great man in many respects, (didn't agree with everything, but hey. better than w.) and it is a loss to the Catholics of the world and all people that he is now gone.
3- I need to think more about religion.
4-The Return of the King soundtrack is good music to write to if you want something long and rambling. ;)

please please please please learn to use commas. it hurts my head.

I don't think there's any comma needed in "Do you pray?".....

I was referring to the response selections. And I'm being a dickwad.

i think i used commas...if it was me, sorry. :) if not, then i'll help you be difficult.

learn to use commas, freaks! *shakes fist like a senile old man*

But I could hear the church bells. Which they almost never toll. I like that kind of thing, the old time town sort of things. Nostalgic things.

Totally.. it's little things like that that really make life worth living.

John Paul was a great man in many respects

I definitely agree.... I think I can sum up my feelings in one sentence: I didn't agree with a lot of what he said and stood for, but he meant well.

I'm someone who has never been part of any religion..... but I can definitely understand the appeal..... both as a community thing, and as a safety net.

In any event.... I guess my point was.... I'm sad to see the old boy pass on.... it seems to me that he lived a good and full life, though, so I'm happy for him.

I can only hope that the church as a whole can chose someone who can help them evolve into the next (or current) century. :)

I guess I had more to say than I thought..... it's funny, having no personal connection to the whole catholic thing.... how much this does make me sad.

Ahh well. I'm done.

Also... since having heard redbird perform patience tonight..... my thoughts are on Mark Sandman... a major loss to the music world....

oO I spent all day yesterday listenin' to the church bells ring..... must've been a sunday, I could hear the choir sing...Oo

naw, I also cannot figure out what she's talking about.
:)

One can choose not to be a dickwad. :)

"Totally.. it's little things like that that really make life worth living"

exactly. those things are the best. watching snow outside my window, taking a walk in the park. this one thing specifically came to mind when i read this: playing basketball barefoot in the rain with two friends. that was one of the coolest moments ever. i swear. so awesome. and yet way off topic. done now.

" I didn't agree with a lot of what he said and stood for, but he meant well."

That's exactly how i felt about this whole thing. he was trying to do good for the world, and so it doesn't matter if i thought he went about it the right or wrong way. and he did live quite a long time, which is a good thing. he was pope for...27 odd years i think i read somewhere. although its good that he's not suffering anymore. he was really in a lot of pain, i believe.

"I can only hope that the church as a whole can chose someone who can help them evolve into the next (or current) century. :)"

mm-hmm. i just hope it doesn't turn out like "angels and demons." heheh :)

"...how much this does make me sad."

i've never been totally vested in the catholic church myself, because as i said, i have some doubts. i am suprised at how sad i really am, actually. and worried that the whole establishment's going downhill fast.

now i'm done too...got to get some rest.

I can't imagine a higher power who's worth praying to being in the least interested in hearing the prayers.

I mean, God *is* omniscient, right? So what's my supplication going to add other than noise?

As you can tell from the placement of her post on the extreme left she was referring to the poll itself, not anyone else's post. She would prefer that the last two choices be written

• I used to, but no longer
  
• No, but I prey

I do something in between meditation and prayer . . Prayer being to no being ni particular per se, but the universe or one-ness or something.

I think I prayed more when I was more involved in the Catholic thing, I didn't pray for the Pope because I thought enough people already were. Now the prayers are more like conversations in my head with God or whatever as I try and work out how I feel about my faith. I still pray but not as much of the praying to praisenow, though somethimes when i feel really good or something great happens I still want to say thank-you

yay!

*hugs*