Do you pray?

[NurseJackie]

Why? Or... why not?

41 votes, 1 pass | Time left: Unlimited
	Yes, often/always
	12 (29%)
	No, never
	25 (61%)
	Sometimes
	4 (10%)
	1 DU member did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[padfun]

1. I'm a person of action.

To chant for something invisible to help you is kind of, well....

[rzemanfl]

2. Never, but this year?????????

[doc03]

3. I would pray every day if I thought it would get rid of

Trump.

[redstatebluegirl]

4. I was raised as a Catholic, I have not practiced for years.

I find organized religion today to be very scary. With that said, I do find that I pray when things are not going well. I also find that I think God when things are going well. My mother's religion was very influential in my life. We were married by a Unitarian Universalist minister and we still consider ourselves UU. My husband was raised by an Apostolic Christian family, he has even more problems with religion than I do.

[Crunchy Frog]

5. Almost never.

[NurseJackie]

9. I hear ya!

[defacto7]

7. There's a great podcast that deals with the phenomenon

of prayer, secret friends and how we imagine. It's really great for believers and non-believers alike..

Hidden Brain

on NPR - Hidden Brain - Secret Friends

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. Not ordinarily, but I think I might start.

I'm running out of other options.

[USALiberal]

10. God should not need prayer to do the right thing. nt

[NurseJackie]

11. Logical.

[Dagstead Bumwood]

18. Made me think of the Rosanne Barr bit

from the '80s about how life would be so much better if God had a wife.

Why don't you get off the couch and feed those people?!

[USALiberal]

35. LOL ! Nt

[stillcool]

12. I do my thing...

talk to the stars...capella, sirius, aldebaran etc;..the winter sky is just awesome, and the closest thing I've come to understanding any God is imagining all that the universe holds

[Iliyah]

13. Yes I pray quite often now ...

I pray for my fellow Americans and the our country.

We have met the devil and he intends to destroy our hopes and dreams, he plans on destroying our Democracy.

[Initech]

14. I'm not a religious man but...

Every day I pray to the highest of high gods that something will rid us of this wretched administration!

[5X]

15. Only when its appropriate "thoughts and prayers". n/t

[Croney]

16. No reason for an atheist to pray.

[NurseJackie]

20. That's a completely rational response.

[Generic Brad]

17. I do not

I have no desire to denigrate those who do nor do I claim to have some special insight. It's just not for me.

[jcgoldie]

19. ... because I spend enough time cussing at myself...

... no time to include a big imaginary space friend in the loop.

[Claritie Pixie]

21. Not in the Christian sense of the word but yes I do.

[hunter]

22. It's more like a continuing argument...

... and it can get quite heated at times.

[NurseJackie]

25. I don't have the words...

... to tell you how much I like this response.

[Bettie]

23. Praying does nothing

because there is probably no god. If there were some sort of god, I doubt it's first priority would be granting wishes.

[GoCubsGo]

42. Yep. That's pretty much my take, as well.

And, I'll add that, if that god didn't intervene in the Holocaust, Killing Fields, etc., he/she doesn't give a shit about your math test or your stupid football game. Because you KNOW there were billions of prayers that went out there. Doesn't seem like many of the requests were granted.

[Bettie]

44. It doesn't

and you know, I would love to be able to believe in a benevolent force watching over us.

I sometimes imagine it would be comforting, but then I note that nearly all of the believers I know use their belief as a bludgeon, a weapon to attack those who believe differently or express their belief in a different way.

From my view, religion is the single most toxic and corrosive element of human society. It divides us far more than it has ever united us.

And yet, if a certain orange man was struck by lighting on the golf course, leaving behind just one smoking shoe, I might start to believe.

[GoCubsGo]

45. Yeah. My sentiments, exactly. nt

[Iterate]

24. Never. Beware the voice in your head.

Life is tough enough without adding superstition.

I especially don't like how it has crept into the public discussion.

[Orrex]

26. Where's the ''LOL'' response?

[PJMcK]

27. Why bother?

They say that god answers prayers in three ways:

1. Yes, your wish is granted.

OR

2. No, your wish is denied.

OR

3. Have patience and wait.

I mean, really? That's what you've got? How does one know which choice god made?

It's all such bullshit.

Sorry. That's my personal opinion.

[Prue]

28. Not that there's anything wrong with that

Praying is not for me. I understand that it provides some with comfort and strength but I believe I control my own destiny and I am in charge of how my life turns out.

[NurseJackie]

31. I feel the same way.

I see how it is a great comfort to others, their belief, etc. Sometimes I'm jealous that they can find comfort in such a simple "ritual". I can't. I gave it up long ago.

[UTUSN]

29. When I'm in trouble?!1

[NurseJackie]

32. I understand.

[UTUSN]

33. I'm irrational sporadically!1 Thanks for being understanding!

[Bayard]

30. Afraid not to when I was much younger

You get it beaten into your fearful little head if raised Southern Baptist.

But real life and common sense stomped all that out.

[rurallib]

34. no. I do a lot of thinking

[Ron Green]

36. Most of the replies in this thread define prayer as some kind of request.

I believe prayer is instead simply a connection, an acknowledgment, an appreciation for the beautiful and terrible things that make up our human experience. If there’s a request involved, at least in my case, it’s for the courage and strength to face the pain and suffering that’s part of life and bound to come.

Mostly I suggest prayer is thanks - for this opportunity to increase love and forgiveness to those around us, and by extension to the world.

For these reasons I chose “often or always,” because it seems right to practice this attitude every day.

[NurseJackie]

40. ...

[yortsed snacilbuper]

37. When I'm in a casino,

Last edited Sat Feb 22, 2020, 10:21 AM - Edit history (1)

especially when I'm losing!

[Raine]

38. Sometimes

when I get really scared for a loved one. It helps calm me down sort of like meditation does.

[sakabatou]

39. Used to, but I haven't in a long time

The only times I "pray" are at the big holidays/events that I'm with family. Otherwise, no prayer, as I'm an atheist.

[panader0]

41. Epicurus:

[WhiskeyGrinder]

43. It depends on what you mean by pray.