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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you pray?

80 replies

knittedbreast · 23/06/2011 13:00

Do you pray? If so how often?

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

is praying something you do?

OP posts:
Insomnia11 · 23/06/2011 13:30

Yes, quite often, in my head, not out loud. I don't get on my knees or put my hand together or anything though. It's like a kind of meditation or reflective thing when I go to bed in particular. Apologising, giving thanks and praying for someone. I think it's a good idea, whether you are religious or not to think of a good thing and a bad thing that happened during the day, and something that you would like to happen or work towards.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 23/06/2011 13:30

This isn't an advert for atheism. But if you pray and feel removed or that there's nothing talking back, then maybe that's because there isn't anything there. Once I had worked that little gem out, life suddenly made a lot more sense. No more asking for help... get on and do it yourself. No more searching for false hopes in hopeless situations.... adapt to the reality.

Original poster
knittedbreast · 23/06/2011 13:30

do you make all your prayers each day fuzzy?

Re wolves- i cannot remember what happened and who won. i just remember your awful stadium ;) and the over priced burgers that looked wrong.

could have been at any football stadium watching anyone play, they are all shit and i dislike them all equally lol!

OP posts:
Original poster
knittedbreast · 23/06/2011 13:32

cognito, its more like a wall blocking. that to me says theres somthing in my life that needs to be changed as the connection is being blocked. annoyingly this is usually when i need guidance the most!

OP posts:
CurrySpice · 23/06/2011 13:32

I'm ignoring you now OP Hmm

Insomnia - surely unless you are talking to or appealing to a deity, it's not a prayer is it? I also contemplate my day, think about friends and family and think about "stuff" at times - but it's not a prayer imho

fuzzywuzzy · 23/06/2011 13:33

In summer I do Knittedbreast, but in winter I do as many as I can as I work and we dont have the facilities (which is fair enough IMHO).

LostMyIdentityAlongTheWay · 23/06/2011 13:34

OP - sorry, but WHAT THE FUCK??? You started this thread. Keep it focused a bit dear, there's a love...

TheRhubarb · 23/06/2011 13:36

I know praying makes a lot of sense to dd, it feels natural for her and she says prayers every night and often talks to God in her head. But then she's always been a bit spiritual. My gran died when I was 3 months pg so dd never got the chance to meet her, but she told dh when she was 2.5 that she knew my gran was down a dark hole in a place with lots of big stones and that there were gates to the entrance of this place - which I assume to be the graveyard. She also asked me once in church who the man was in the robes standing on the altar. I explained that was the priest and she said "no, behind the priest! The man standing behind the priest!" There was no-one standing behind the priest.

I too have heard God speaking directly to me at a time when I was at my lowest ebb. It was a voice that was speaking inside my head - very hard to describe but it was not my voice and it was speaking directly to me. I had a feeling of utter calm come over me too.

So yes, I'll often talk inside my head to God and I gaze in wonder at dd sometimes.

Original poster
knittedbreast · 23/06/2011 13:37

theres a love? excuse me? my thread thank you. itl develop how it wishes

OP posts:
LostMyIdentityAlongTheWay · 23/06/2011 13:38

Oh sure, but why start a convo about God and end up wittering about burgers at a football match? You only put this on AIBU because of the heavy traffic, and this is the most ridiculous use thereof that I've seen in a long time.

Love.

BsshBossh · 23/06/2011 13:38

I'm Catholic and go to Church every Sunday. Have alot of faith. Am (very happilly) married to an athiest. Funnily enough I don't actively pray each day but I find myself at odd moments of the day giving thanks to God for "little" things like my DD's smile or the way the sun hits the trees or when I'm walking I find myself reciting the palm "Be still, and know that I am God" which I find extremely meditative. I don't make a thing about it and go down on my knees, but these are little prayers that filter into my head every now and then. When I was gravely ill a few years ago (cancer and didn't know whether I would make it) I actually never prayed to God to make me better but kept noticing the things in creation that made me be thankful to "Him" ("Her"). I think that got me through the illness, to be honest.

BsshBossh · 23/06/2011 13:39

Psalm, not palm.

Original poster
knittedbreast · 23/06/2011 13:39

when was spoken to the voice wasnt mine, but i couldnt really focus in on the voice either, it was more the words. i couldnt say what the voice was like, or the accent it was like i couldnt hear the voice just the words/message etc..

very strange and unlike anything else.

OP posts:
Original poster
knittedbreast · 23/06/2011 13:41

not really very nice are you? i was replying to someone joking about prayers during a wolves match. if you dont like the way this thread is heading feel free to stop reading and replying

OP posts:
CurrySpice · 23/06/2011 13:41

lostmyidentity she mentioned football because I made a joke about praying when my team are playing. The OP responded in a banter-type way. Sorry and all that

BsshBossh · 23/06/2011 13:41

Actually, I do pray about negative things too - like when my DD throws a tantrum or someone pisses me off - then I often pray "God, for f's sake give me strength!!!" Grin.

BsshBossh · 23/06/2011 13:42

Oh, I see this thread has moved on....

Original poster
knittedbreast · 23/06/2011 13:42

bssh, thats how i connect with him too.

wouldnt ,mind a burning bush moment though!

OP posts:
GrimmaTheNome · 23/06/2011 13:44

Is the question AIBU to pray, or AIBU to ask whether or not you pray?

TheRhubarb · 23/06/2011 13:44

Yep, think our posts have been lost in the banter BsshBossh. Never mind, I read yours and thought it was lovely. I hope the fight against cancer is won?

BsshBossh · 23/06/2011 13:45

Thanks Rhubarb0, yes cancer free for nearly 8 years now Smile.

mumblechum1 · 23/06/2011 13:46

Only in turbulence.

Achange · 23/06/2011 13:51

Yes I do.

I have no ritual or formula to it. Might just be driving or doing the laundry!I don't think God cares really.He just wants a realtionship.

I do it mainly to either thank God for our blessings or for guidance-. The guidance always works, I always seem to know the answer and it comes from a place of great wisdom and maturity (that I know are a lot more useful than my intial reactions!)

It can also be a great form of therapy- telling God your hopes and fears and feeling s/he is listening and reassuring.

Also in times of great emergency and it always helped me feel hopeful and protected.

Its one of the most calming, richest experiences life can bring.

TheRhubarb · 23/06/2011 13:51

They say after 5 years of remission you've beaten it don't they? Fantastic news for you and your family BsshBossh!

Can I just ask, being married to an atheist, do you often disagree on practices to do with bringing up the children? Does he mind if you take them to church or does he see it as brainwashing?

greencolorpack · 23/06/2011 13:55

Yes. And we always say grace at mealtimes.