HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE PRAYER ?

[jcribb16]

I know I need something in my life. I am not sure if prayer is it...I need to rest and be quiet with myself and reflect. I don't know if that is prayer but I think it will help clear my mind

That's called meditation. And it doesn't require fictional deities. It's also very healthy, and recommended for those who deal with a lot of stress.

Meditation is helpful, whether within self, or both self and God, or both self and whatever religion the person is involved with.  It's preference of choice and personal, as well. 

I will add, for myself, God is NOT a fictional deity, and it's one thing (and appropriate, actually) that when telling someone what meditation is or does, to add that your "opinion on the matter" or "your belief," etc. is way less offensive, than saying that meditation "doesn't require fictional deities."  That is speaking as a confirmed fact, and though it may be that to you, it is not that to all.  That is simple respect for those who do or don't believe, without deliberately stoking an issue.

[jcribb16]

I know I need something in my life. I am not sure if prayer is it...I need to rest and be quiet with myself and reflect. I don't know if that is prayer but I think it will help clear my mind

Whichever way soothes your mind and self, whether including prayer or not, soft music or total quiet, sitting or laying, etc., is what you should go with.  Rest and reflection are both keys to the clearing of your mind and inner self. 

[Flackle]

I know I need something in my life. I am not sure if prayer is it...I need to rest and be quiet with myself and reflect. I don't know if that is prayer but I think it will help clear my mind

That's called meditation. And it doesn't require fictional deities. It's also very healthy, and recommended for those who deal with a lot of stress.

Meditation is helpful, whether within self, or both self and God, or both self and whatever religion the person is involved with.  It's preference of choice and personal, as well.  

I will add, for myself, God is NOT a fictional deity, and it's one thing (and appropriate, actually) that when telling someone what meditation is or does, to add that your "opinion on the matter" or "your belief," etc. is way less offensive, than saying that meditation "doesn't require fictional deities."  That is speaking as a confirmed fact, and though it may be that to you, it is not that to all.  That is simple respect for those who do or don't believe, without deliberately stoking an issue.

My saying god is not a fictional deity is in now way any more or less offensive then someone saying it is. Confirmed facts are facts for everyone. No one can have different facts.

Also, god isn't the only fictional deity. What about all those other deities you might believe to be fictional? Isn't saying that god is the only deity offensive to those who believe in other deities? Why is it okay that I don't believe in things like Quetzalcoatl or Zues, but then when I say I don't believe in Yahweh it's suddenly a problem?

[alsalmon]

TALKING TO OUR FATHER.

[jcribb16]

I know I need something in my life. I am not sure if prayer is it...I need to rest and be quiet with myself and reflect. I don't know if that is prayer but I think it will help clear my mind

That's called meditation. And it doesn't require fictional deities. It's also very healthy, and recommended for those who deal with a lot of stress.

Meditation is helpful, whether within self, or both self and God, or both self and whatever religion the person is involved with.  It's preference of choice and personal, as well.  

I will add, for myself, God is NOT a fictional deity, and it's one thing (and appropriate, actually) that when telling someone what meditation is or does, to add that your "opinion on the matter" or "your belief," etc. is way less offensive, than saying that meditation "doesn't require fictional deities."  That is speaking as a confirmed fact, and though it may be that to you, it is not that to all.  That is simple respect for those who do or don't believe, without deliberately stoking an issue.

My saying god is not a fictional deity is in now way any more or less offensive then someone saying it is. Confirmed facts are facts for everyone. No one can have different facts.

Also, god isn't the only fictional deity. What about all those other deities you might believe to be fictional? Isn't saying that god is the only deity offensive to those who believe in other deities? Why is it okay that I don't believe in things like Quetzalcoatl or Zues, but then when I say I don't believe in Yahweh it's suddenly a problem?

The only "problem" I'm seeing is your unwillingness to be open to those on both sides of the fence - don't believe in a deity, do believe in a deity, or do believe in any other thing.  My response to you also clarified that it is helpful or appropriate to simply add that "no fictional deities are required" is your thought, belief, or opinion on the matter, because others do not see that the same. 

In other words, I responded to the other poster, that whatever way is best for the clearing of the mind, etc., of the poster, is the way he/she should go - whether or not it involves only self, self and God, or self and any other deity. 

So, in that respect, you are appearing to ignore the fact that my response to you and the other poster, includes respect and flexibility for whichever way to meditate is chosen. 

If you were to choose to meditate without any deity or only within yourself, or with whichever means helps you, then I am not going to tell you that you must have a deity in order for it to work.  Because it is not my business how you would choose to meditate, especially if you do NOT believe in any deity. 

In the same respect, it would be the same to understand that others may choose to meditate along with God, or another deity, and shouldn't be told that their "deity" is fictional, because to them their deity is not fictional. 

If asked, then yes, opinions, beliefs, and thoughts on the matter could and will be offered, but should be acknowledged as "my opinion, thought, or belief..."  With that, each acknowledges that they disagree, according to their personal views, without pushing a deity on the other, or saying a deity is "fictional" to another, and a potential fire is squelched before it gets too hot. 

It's a personal choice, and both sides should be respected for their personal choice.

As a last note, regarding your comments, "Confirmed facts are facts for everyone. No one can have different facts." - That will be true for a great deal, as we all know, with regards to historical facts, time zones, seasons, science, math, family ancestry, and on and on. 

However, the concept of God being a "confirmed fact that he is fictional" is false to many or true to many.  The concept of God being real or not real is indeed different, depending on whether someone believes in Him or someone does not, or if someone believes on a different deity.  In that respect, people can very much so have different "facts" based upon their personal beliefs, evidence shown or perceived or proven to them, testimonies, history, research and studies, etc.

[Flackle]

I know I need something in my life. I am not sure if prayer is it...I need to rest and be quiet with myself and reflect. I don't know if that is prayer but I think it will help clear my mind

That's called meditation. And it doesn't require fictional deities. It's also very healthy, and recommended for those who deal with a lot of stress.

Meditation is helpful, whether within self, or both self and God, or both self and whatever religion the person is involved with.  It's preference of choice and personal, as well.  

I will add, for myself, God is NOT a fictional deity, and it's one thing (and appropriate, actually) that when telling someone what meditation is or does, to add that your "opinion on the matter" or "your belief," etc. is way less offensive, than saying that meditation "doesn't require fictional deities."  That is speaking as a confirmed fact, and though it may be that to you, it is not that to all.  That is simple respect for those who do or don't believe, without deliberately stoking an issue.

My saying god is not a fictional deity is in now way any more or less offensive then someone saying it is. Confirmed facts are facts for everyone. No one can have different facts.

Also, god isn't the only fictional deity. What about all those other deities you might believe to be fictional? Isn't saying that god is the only deity offensive to those who believe in other deities? Why is it okay that I don't believe in things like Quetzalcoatl or Zues, but then when I say I don't believe in Yahweh it's suddenly a problem?

The only "problem" I'm seeing is your unwillingness to be open to those on both sides of the fence - don't believe in a deity, do believe in a deity, or do believe in any other thing.  My response to you also clarified that it is helpful or appropriate to simply add that "no fictional deities are required" is your thought, belief, or opinion on the matter, because others do not see that the same.  

In other words, I responded to the other poster, that whatever way is best for the clearing of the mind, etc., of the poster, is the way he/she should go - whether or not it involves only self, self and God, or self and any other deity.  

So, in that respect, you are appearing to ignore the fact that my response to you and the other poster, includes respect and flexibility for whichever way to meditate is chosen.  

If you were to choose to meditate without any deity or only within yourself, or with whichever means helps you, then I am not going to tell you that you must have a deity in order for it to work.  Because it is not my business how you would choose to meditate, especially if you do NOT believe in any deity.  

In the same respect, it would be the same to understand that others may choose to meditate along with God, or another deity, and shouldn't be told that their "deity" is fictional, because to them their deity is not fictional.  

If asked, then yes, opinions, beliefs, and thoughts on the matter could and will be offered, but should be acknowledged as "my opinion, thought, or belief..."  With that, each acknowledges that they disagree, according to their personal views, without pushing a deity on the other, or saying a deity is "fictional" to another, and a potential fire is squelched before it gets too hot.  

It's a personal choice, and both sides should be respected for their personal choice.

As a last note, regarding your comments, "Confirmed facts are facts for everyone. No one can have different facts." - That will be true for a great deal, as we all know, with regards to historical facts, time zones, seasons, science, math, family ancestry, and on and on.  

However, the concept of God being a "confirmed fact that he is fictional" is false to many or true to many.  The concept of God being real or not real is indeed different, depending on whether someone believes in Him or someone does not, or if someone believes on a different deity.  In that respect, people can very much so have different "facts" based upon their personal beliefs, evidence shown or perceived or proven to them, testimonies, history, research and studies, etc.

In other words, I shouldn't tell people their god is fictional because it might offend someone? When someone states that god is real I am very offended. But I don't tell them not to post, and I don't tell them to not say these things because they might offend someone. I argue against them.

The idea of a god is not different from other forms of facts. Facts can either be true or false. God is either real it or isn't. Its that simple. In all cases dealing with reality, or something existing, there can only be these two decelerations. No one can say for a fact that a specific movie genre is better than another because there isn't a real way to measure this. Thus it's an opinion. Whether or not something exists isn't an opinion. We have a way to measure this. It's called the scientific method.

We can disagree on whether or not god exist, but one of us has to be wrong.

[svetick]

For me prayer is a way of expressing my deepest feelings and try to revive myself into being a better person. Its my fuel every day before my day starts

[queensurvey]

prayer to me is the time you give to Our Creator,the time you stop everything else around you and just take a moment to have a conversation with the Most High. Some of us call him God but others have different names for Him. It doesn't matter what you call Him, prayer is being grateful, having faith and believing!

[melissakat01]

I think prayer should be like a conversation.  I normally thank God for all the wonderful things he has given me and will give me.  I also prayer when I am between a rock and a hard place. I prayer for others so that their worries will leave them.   

[sarabtrayior]

Prayer is when I talk to The Almighty, God, I talk to God in the car, I talk to God when I'm going to sleep, God is available at all times and I feel sorry for folks who don't believe...

[batmobile]

yeah i agree... there are different types of prayer and its a talk with God.  God is not a sugardaddy so just remember the wrong types of prayer. 

[svetick]

My way of defining prayer is this: it's the best way to be connected with your inner self, in this world we get distracted and most likely we don't pay attention to what we need ourselves, so praying allows us to spend time w ourselves and God and to recharge

[gaylasue]

I define prayer as the lifting up of my praises and concerns to the Creator and my Saviour.

[batmobile]

a groovy talk with God and not thinking he is a sugar daddy would be the proper way to pray

[angprescott]

Prayer is definitely a conversation with the Lord. Since I started truly praying just over a year ago (this includes praying in tongues) My life has improved so much. I have reached a place in my life I only used to dream of. We were able to buy a house, and  we have two newer vehicles, we have made some wonderful friends. God is Amazing and I truly Pray for the Salvation of each person out there.