I had some "Rev. Joe" posts (I am an ULC Church self-ordained minister after all) over the years. Religion is one thing that has intrigued me over the years in its various complexities. I came from a Christian background and that is the general religious sentiment of this country at least as a sort of a default. Thus, Christianity is the religion that I'm most familiar with and the Bible (including non-canonical works related to it) the sacred book that I have most read about and studied. But, religion overall as well as related things such as morality and conscience interests me a lot.
There are various requests to "keep us in your prayers." I saw this recently in relation to someone on Twitter who had a family member killed. We also have the whole "thoughts and prayers" bit for shootings. For those who don't believe in God, and even those who do, that might seem empty. But, I think prayer shouldn't be seen in a simplistic matter. Moving past, to be clear, the need for not merely prayer but works (slip in quotation from James) here. A set response should not just include a respectful comment sending the message that you are thinking of the people but also something tied to action. The phrasing can go various ways but various politicians are using that sort of thing these days too.
The broad nature of "prayer" was seen in the recent court of appeals ruling that upheld blocking a secular invocation to Congress. It was not that "prayer" could not include secular statements: "(defining “prayer” as “an earnest request, desire, or petition put up to God, or some other person or persons” (emphasis added)." This is seen in the various usages of "prayer," including in legal contexts. Putting that aside, there is something special about "prayer" here that need not involve an appeal to God.
The "thoughts and prayers" line has a stale nature to it but works best if done in a honest and forceful way. Actually taking the time to think about things, including people, can matter. Once you think about someone, it is harder to avoid them and their interests. It's quite possible, obviously, but it is harder. We try not to think about certain things for that very reason. Thoughts can result in actions. Same with "prayers" -- it "earnest request" and so forth is taken seriously. Doing so to a deity has special implications, obviously, but again that is not the only way prayer can work.
Prayer is related to the sacred, which is an important factor in religion. The sacred is something given a certain special quality to it, often having some sort of taboo. So, a marriage ceremony can be sacred with or without a minister. There is something to a special ceremony here as compared to just getting a license and doing it at City Hall in front of the relevant witnesses. Prayer in this context is a form of respect for the person or persons died and their survivors. The request for prayers is a prayer in itself. It is a petition to give said respect and meaning.
Prayer has various purposes and often is a request for a specific thing, including having the ability to deal with some trauma. It also can be, though this comes off as in bad taste to some, a request for certain actions or goods. A common prayer is that someone is safe. This is not merely a belief that God is listening and hopeful that said God will keep the person safe. It is an individual emotional act and can be a sort of catharsis, addressing an a basic human need. How one carries out this act is the thing, obviously, and I don't agree with the beliefs of many on let's say God's place in all of this. God as an existing deity as such etc.
Nonetheless, the basic core thing involved is something I deeply respect and does seem valuable. People can handle this in their own way such as via meditation or contemplation. Prayer can factor in there. Again, prayer includes a request for action, which can and should be the case in this context. A request to keep a person or people in your prayers factors in all of these things. It need not be an empty cliche.
There are various requests to "keep us in your prayers." I saw this recently in relation to someone on Twitter who had a family member killed. We also have the whole "thoughts and prayers" bit for shootings. For those who don't believe in God, and even those who do, that might seem empty. But, I think prayer shouldn't be seen in a simplistic matter. Moving past, to be clear, the need for not merely prayer but works (slip in quotation from James) here. A set response should not just include a respectful comment sending the message that you are thinking of the people but also something tied to action. The phrasing can go various ways but various politicians are using that sort of thing these days too.
The broad nature of "prayer" was seen in the recent court of appeals ruling that upheld blocking a secular invocation to Congress. It was not that "prayer" could not include secular statements: "(defining “prayer” as “an earnest request, desire, or petition put up to God, or some other person or persons” (emphasis added)." This is seen in the various usages of "prayer," including in legal contexts. Putting that aside, there is something special about "prayer" here that need not involve an appeal to God.
The "thoughts and prayers" line has a stale nature to it but works best if done in a honest and forceful way. Actually taking the time to think about things, including people, can matter. Once you think about someone, it is harder to avoid them and their interests. It's quite possible, obviously, but it is harder. We try not to think about certain things for that very reason. Thoughts can result in actions. Same with "prayers" -- it "earnest request" and so forth is taken seriously. Doing so to a deity has special implications, obviously, but again that is not the only way prayer can work.
Prayer is related to the sacred, which is an important factor in religion. The sacred is something given a certain special quality to it, often having some sort of taboo. So, a marriage ceremony can be sacred with or without a minister. There is something to a special ceremony here as compared to just getting a license and doing it at City Hall in front of the relevant witnesses. Prayer in this context is a form of respect for the person or persons died and their survivors. The request for prayers is a prayer in itself. It is a petition to give said respect and meaning.
Prayer has various purposes and often is a request for a specific thing, including having the ability to deal with some trauma. It also can be, though this comes off as in bad taste to some, a request for certain actions or goods. A common prayer is that someone is safe. This is not merely a belief that God is listening and hopeful that said God will keep the person safe. It is an individual emotional act and can be a sort of catharsis, addressing an a basic human need. How one carries out this act is the thing, obviously, and I don't agree with the beliefs of many on let's say God's place in all of this. God as an existing deity as such etc.
Nonetheless, the basic core thing involved is something I deeply respect and does seem valuable. People can handle this in their own way such as via meditation or contemplation. Prayer can factor in there. Again, prayer includes a request for action, which can and should be the case in this context. A request to keep a person or people in your prayers factors in all of these things. It need not be an empty cliche.
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Thanks for your .02!