Why does praying in pubic offend or make others feel uncomfortable, any religiou

1. 68

   Matthew RNposted 8 years ago

   Why does praying in pubic offend or make others feel uncomfortable, any religious prayer?
   
   This is not a question to single out one person, group, or faith, but curious.  I am NOT focusing on one religion, I am asking as a whole.  No  wrong answers, keeping it honest without attacks please.

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2. 83

   Austinstarposted 8 years ago

   Because it is perpetuating the myth that prayer is acceptable and valid. Every study done proves that prayer is ineffectual - in hospitals, people die or get well at the same rate whether or not prayer is used.
   Prayer doesn't help you win the lottery or help your team win the "game".
   Prayer is supposed to be done in private according to the Christian bible.
   Prayer doesn't put out fires or fix disasters.
   Prayer doesn't regrow severed limbs.
   Prayer doesn't bring peace.
   Prayer doesn't feed the starving children in Africa (or elsewhere).
   Prayer doesn't make you a better person.
   Prayer doesn't convert Satanists or cast out demons.
   Prayer only comforts the person that is doing the praying, it doesn't comfort the person being "prayed for", which makes a prayer a bit selfish.
   Prayer is a personal thing, not a group thing.
   Teaching kids to pray is the same as teaching them to wish for things instead of going out and working for them.
   Prayer is simply awkward.

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3. 84

   Billie Kelpinposted 8 years ago

   This is an excellent question, Matthew and one which has forced me to examine why I am so uncomfortable when my friends pray in public. (Let's take the dinner table for example). When friends who know what I believe, or don't believe, say "Do you mind if we pray?" it puts me in a terrible position. I like to think of myself as a kind human being, of course, and I don't want to spoil anyone's time by creating what is most likely perceived as negativity and opposition.  So I say, "Sure" and I hold hands and bow my head. It makes me feel completely isolated and powerless in my world. Also, I'm not naive about the underlying agenda that some of my friends, being caring people, have. "If I could just get Billie to believe like me she would be so much happier and at peace," they think.  Many of these are new friends who have very little idea of the journey to my beliefs. They are puzzled that I had once considered becoming a nun, prayed during my lunch hour at work on my first job, and was very devout for decades.   It makes me feel very disrespected. There is an elitism among modern day "Christians" and while I'm sitting holding hands I recognize that they feel as if they've been saved and I haven't been. (I must add, that when I was a very religious person, I don't believe I EVER prayed in public, except in Church.)  But I still hold hands with my friends because I know that in their hearts they enjoy my company and actually want me to be happy in the only way they believe a person can be happy.  All in all, when I'm in a group of praying people, I feel extremely marginalized and alone -  as marginalized and as alone as anyone in any minority feels. For all that Christian prayer in public is supposed to promote, it actually feels very un-Christian to me in its effect.

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4. 80

   peachpurpleposted 8 years ago

   I don't like people to pray in public, showing hyprocrite to me. Not show off, we should pray privately

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