What is the point of a prayer? (Muslim, Christians, beliefs)

[Huckleberry3911948]

does not change a thing except aligns our thought with the divine mind.
the answers are already there just need to see them.

[Ceist]

Here's an interesting video about Prayer by Mr Deity:

Mr Deity and the Messages

[effie g-tad]

know better how to fool my own mind..

[Tzaphkiel]

Originally Posted by ZugZub

I don't believe in deities and yet I meditate. I don't hear "god" talking to me either, for good reason. Meditation is for introspection, relaxation, de-stressing, et cetera. Not for hearing voices.

meditation is also for peace, bliss, enlightenment, rapture, joy, happiness, tranquility, contact with universal truth. same as prayer. same as union with the divine.

[Tzaphkiel]

Originally Posted by beablessing

There is a saying, "Our thoughts are our prayers. Be careful what you are thinking."

so true beablessing, thanks for this reminder

for instance worry is a form of prayer
so is fear
because whatever we focus our attention on, we tend to draw to us

so be careful, be mindful, what we think, feel, dwell on, obsess about

[ZugZub]

Originally Posted by DimSumRaja

meditation is also for peace, bliss, enlightenment, rapture, joy, happiness, tranquility, contact with universal truth. same as prayer. same as union with the divine.

If you're trying to contact god, you're not meditating, you're praying. There's a difference.

[MysticPhD]

Originally Posted by ZugZub

If you're trying to contact god, you're not meditating, you're praying. There's a difference.

If you successfully achieve the "end state" of deep meditation you will meet God whether you intended to or not, ZugZub.

[DFW123]

"what's the point of prayer?" is a common question from many religious followers. That's what happened to people when they choose to believe religious nonsense -- it keeps them baffled for life. Basically, there are two options for the baffled followers:

1). become 100% blind-faithed. Keep praying hard until your brain is totally numbed.

2). abandon religion and become a rational person.

[that1guy]

I pray, but not to God...and not for the same reasons that religious people pray. I pray just to verbalize my hopes, my fears, my happiness, my sadness, or my madness. So in reality I talk to myself (not in the crazy way...but in the "I hope I pass this test" way). "Prayer" is essentially a verbal diary. People who chronicle or verbalize their inner feelings actually cope with stress better. So prayer works, but not in the religious sense. It works more as an efficient coping mechanism. In a sense, we all pray. How many of us have went "I hope that xyz happens"? We are not talking to anyone person, but yet we feel compelled to verbalize our thought. For believers, prayer goes to God, for non-believers "prayer" is seen for what it truly is...a good coping mechanism.

[effie g-tad]

Originally Posted by that1guy

I pray, but not to God...and not for the same reasons that religious people pray. I pray just to verbalize my hopes, my fears, my happiness, my sadness, or my madness. So in reality I talk to myself (not in the crazy way...but in the "I hope I pass this test" way). "Prayer" is essentially a verbal diary. People who chronicle or verbalize their inner feelings actually cope with stress better. So prayer works, but not in the religious sense. It works more as an efficient coping mechanism. In a sense, we all pray. How many of us have went "I hope that xyz happens"? We are not talking to anyone person, but yet we feel compelled to verbalize our thought. For believers, prayer goes to God, for non-believers "prayer" is seen for what it truly is...a good coping mechanism.

the substitue for being well, or welcome..