Do you pray?

[knittedbreast]

Do you pray? If so how often?

So theres a decline in religiosity (word?) in this country.

is praying something you do?

[Snuppeline]

I pray. Mostly when I go to church either for mass or to light a candle but often also at the start of end of the day. It helps me regain focus on whats important in life, i.e. family and health, and it makes me better at thinking about others.

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

No, never. Even as a child in CofE school I refused to take part. It seemed a silly thing to do even then.

[knittedbreast]

can i just ask how do you begin? is it like a conversation between you and god? do you feel connected or sometimes just like he cant hear you?

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

Yes, sometimes. It helps me to focus my mind.

[miniwedge]

Yes, often. Daily I would say.
I just a bit of a conversation really. It's quite a private matter for me though.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

No.... except during turbulence. And even then I don't seriously think it's going to help :)

[knittedbreast]

do you feel like he talks back to you?

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

No, unless extreme desperation hits......which I know is wrong but there you go!!

Last time I prayed was when my mum was ill...I prayed she was spared but HE apparently wasnt listening........I dont actually think HE exists anymore anyway so I wont be bothering from now on!

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

If anyone talks back, it's yourself doing the talking... remember that.

[OneHelluvaBroad]

Nope. Atheist.

But when the shit hits the fan I do find myself begging someone or something to help me out of this fine mess. Childhood habit, I guess. I don't 6actually^ believe anyone is listening.

[eurochick]

No, never.

I prayed in school as a kid because we got a clip round the ear/shouted at if we didn't but once I was old enough to think for myself (some time in secondary school) I stopped. I won't pray during wedding services, etc, just keep a respectful silence while others do.

Why would I pray when I believe there is nothing there?

[LostMyIdentityAlongTheWay]

OP, do you?

[signet]

Yep, I pray regularly. Several times a day and yes I do feel like He talks back to me. Sometimes just through thoughts that come into my head, sometimes through answering a prayer. I pray about pretty much everything.

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

No, I've never had a response. But I think if you pray for strength, or patience or any other type of coping mechanism, it can focus your mind and feel comforting. If I prayed and heard a response, I'd probably think I'd lost the plot tbh.

[MothershipG]

Of course not, it would be a bit silly as I'm an atheist!

I did when I was a kid, brought up RC, but even then it felt a bit pointless.

[ChairOfTheBored]

Not as much as I should, but yes.

I've never 'heard' an answer, but I had answered prayers.

I have a faith, but even if I didn't am not sure the idea of spending time in peaceful contemplation would be a bad thing.

[JudysJudgement]

yes i do while i am lying in bed most nights

i dont expect or hear anything in response

sometimes i talk to my dad , god rest his soul xx

[CurrySpice]

Only when watching football

When we're losing

I'm banking on god being a Wolves fan

In reality, no I don't as I don't believe in god

[knittedbreast]

yes i do sometimes. I am muslim (a failing one admitedly) and we have set things we say. however when it comes to private preyres (ive never known the word for that) im never sure what to say or how to say it, i just feel quite removed which is an odd feeling because i do feel very connected with him at other times.

he has "spoken" to me a couple of times before, but not in a long time and that worries me.

[TheRhubarb]

Sorry, why is this in AIBU?

Are you asking if you are being unreasonable to pray?

I talk to God and sometimes to my dead gran too. My dd prays every night, it's nothing I've particularly encouraged her to do, just something she started doing herself.

[knittedbreast]

ive watched the wolves play! it was shit. sorry i hate football and my boyfriend dragged me up there to watch reading play the wolves.

its not happened since

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

Theres enough people talking in my head without adding 'god' into the mix aswel

[knittedbreast]

its in aibu because there is high traffic.

[CurrySpice]

It was Reading that was shit. Not the Wolves OP HTH

I think you should pray for more insight

:o

[fuzzywuzzy]

Yes, but I'm Muslim and we are meant to pray five times a day, the personal prayers I do after the ritual prayers, in difficult times my first action is often to pray.