Would you request a prayer from someone of a different religion to you?

[Dilbertian]

Some work colleagues have just set up a Christian prayer group. Although the group is specifically for Christians, they say they welcome prayer requests from people of any faiths, and they will pray for anyone who asks them to.

I have no objection whatsoever to this group or its aims. I'm just curious whether, if you are not Christian, would you ask Christians to pray for you? If you don't believe Jesus, for example, would you want prayers said for you in Jesus' name?

Would it work the other way around? Would Christians ask for prayers from Jews or Hindus?

hi @LuciaPillson I am sorry to hear what you are going through

I hope that your burden is eased and that this time passes exactly how you wish it to.
sending you love and good wishes

I think it's a beautiful gesture.

Thank you so much @therealcookiemonster 💙🩵💚

I'm sorry to hear that, @LuciaPillson

I'm glad you are comforted by sharing in the light with others.
I am comforted by the Christian image of praying with all the saints- those who have already died and those still with us. When we do communion or intercessions, it's in the knowledge that the world is girdled in prayer at all times, because of Geography! At any given time, around the world, people are praying. We are never alone. I add you to those prayers, Lucia.

I would be touched if anyone of any religion prayed for me when i needed it .

I am not religious so wouldn’t ask for prayers for myself. However my mum is catholic and when I or my friends have had hard times she has always told me she has lit a candle, prayed, organised a mass etc… I have always appreciated this and been very grateful to her.

I would never ask a Christian group to say prayers for me but would be grateful for them to be offered.

Further, if I knew someone who shared their faith (for example my Mum) was having a hard time I would not hesitate to ask the group to pray for them as I know it would be so graciously received.

@AGlinnerOfHope Oh thank you, that is very kind!

If a religious person asks someone in a different religion to pray for them they are admitting that they think that other god is real. If their own religions says there's only one god they are admitting that their own one is not real.

The modern 'but it's the same god' thing doesn't really work when most gods have a rule about worshipping the wrong one. Jehovah for example considers it a vile act worthy of punishment.

"For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me"

He's saying he'll hurt your great grandchildren too if you cross him on this.

I'm aware that people sometimes say they'll pray for you, but I mostly let that pass as an expression of good will. As an atheist I don't need to fear my own god taking exception if I don't strike them down for their blasphemy.

I don't know how devout believers manage to get through the day.

No, I wouldn't. I am an atheist, so I think praying is pointless.

I pray for people of any faith and no faith.

I don't ask for prayer except of other practicing Christians, usually in the context of something awful happened please pray for them.

Christian here.
I would definitely pray for anyone who asked me to pray for them.
I would definitely never ask anyone who was not a Christian to pray for me.

Honestly, I think it depends on the person. I’m not super religious myself, but when my mom was really sick, one of her friends offered to include her in their church’s prayer group. At first, I was hesitant because it felt a bit outside my comfort zone, but seeing how much it meant to her friend made me think, why not?

When you’re in a tough spot, sometimes you just want all the support you can get, wherever it comes from. I’ve even used prayers for help from places like Invitation to Prayer because it gave me a sense of peace knowing someone, somewhere, was lifting us up. It didn’t really matter to me how or in whose name; what mattered was the kindness and intent behind it.

I believe that too. So do my Muslim friends.

It seems that we would all welcome prayer from someone of a different faith, but nobody would request prayer from someone of a different faith.

When my dad died people would say 'I have said a prayer for you' and this was sweet - a member of my staff had prayers said at her church (catholic) and a Muslim relative gave money on dads name and had prayers said. It was nice because I knew they were believers.

When a young relative took her life the family wanted prayers from all angles to 'help her on her way'. It was their way of coping. I said prayers and lit candles in the U.K. and Italy, as I still do for my patents and other relatives.

I am not religious but i do pray , i have faith that we can ask the universe/power of goodness -whatever is out there for help and guidance , it gives me comfort .
I would pray for anybody i thought may benefit and i would find it very meaningful and be touched if anyone of any belief chose to pray for me .
To me it doesn't matter what belief someone has when they pray and all that good energy flowing around from people caring for one another can't be a bad thing.

No, most definitely not.
Prayers benefit those who pray, but they have no actual effect on anything else.

We have some (small) thing in common.
I don’t know how people who don’t know Christ manage to get through the day.

Same.

Yes.

I don't believe in god.

But I think it's very kind if someone from any religion has ever told me they're praying for me/my family.

It's like being told they're thinking about you in the nicest, most keen to help way.

Well, that is the same God. They are Father and Son

when one of our dogs was ill, some Christian friends of my mum asked if they'd mind if they prayed for him.
and, of course, she didn't. anyone putting positive vibes and well wishes into the universe for someone you love can never be a bad thing.

on one very diverse forum I used to be on, if people had a job interview or health issues, it was normal to ask "can I have thoughts, prayers, candles or nekkid wibbly dancing please" it was basically asking for people to think of them and hope for a good outcome, in whatever way felt right to them.

I'd be happy to have anyone of a different religion pray for me. I'm a pagan/occultist polytheist - I believe that the God of the Christians exists, he's just not a deity that I choose to align myself with or get to know.

But if I'm in a tight spot, I figure I'd like all the help I can get, so I would be happy for people of religions different to my own to pray away for me.

I feel this way..I am not Christian.