# Closing your eyes during prayer. Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 12, 2003, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-your-eyes-during-prayer-why/148114 "2003-01-12T08:05:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-your-eyes-during-prayer-why/148114/1 "2003-01-12T08:05:26Z")
When I was a little kid and a prayer was being said (at the dinner table, church, before a math test, etc.) we were told to close our eyes. I’ve always noticed that people tend to close their eyes during prayer. Even on the childrens shows on the religious channels they show the puppets covering their eyes during prayer. Any reason why? ---
**Author:** ![Iguana\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@Iguana\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iguana_Boy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-your-eyes-during-prayer-why/148114/2 "2003-01-12T10:35:56Z")
I would guess it is to prevent any outside distractions from taking your mind off your prayer, but, as far as I am aware, there is no scriptural instruction to do it. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-your-eyes-during-prayer-why/148114/3 "2003-01-12T10:36:08Z")
Just a guess, but probably the idea is to eliminate distractions and allow the person doing the praying to focus on God and spiritual things rather than on whatever bright, shiny objects or other visual distractions happen to be lying around. This leads me to a mental picture of people praying with their eyes shut _and_ their fingers stuck in their ears, but I suppose that would be undignified. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-your-eyes-during-prayer-why/148114/4 "2003-01-12T12:01:59Z")
This is what I’ve heard also. It just helps you focus. I don’t believe there is any specific Scriptural injunction to do so, but it is natural for people to shut their eyes when concentrating, and so it follows naturally to do so when concentrating in prayer. Of course, sometimes I say a prayer while I’m driving, and then I try not to close my eyes. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-your-eyes-during-prayer-why/148114/5 "2003-01-12T13:06:04Z")
When you are talking to someone who is invisible it is good form to close your eyes, otherwise they may feel uncomfortable. Not everybody likes being invisible and by closing your eyes you make them more at ease. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-your-eyes-during-prayer-why/148114/6 "2003-01-12T13:13:55Z")
It keeps you from paying attention to the man behind the curtain. Out of my Top 10 cynical answers to this question, that’s the one I decided to type. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-your-eyes-during-prayer-why/148114/7 "2003-01-12T13:51:30Z")
Another possible reason: holdover from the idea that God is so holy that if a human were to look at God, the human would die. But I think mostly it’s about focus and respect. ---
**Author:** ![raygirvan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@raygirvan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raygirvan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-your-eyes-during-prayer-why/148114/8 "2003-01-12T15:34:12Z")
_11811 But I think mostly it’s about focus and respect._ It serves both to focus the thoughts of believers, and to force the ritual and at least the appearance of praying on others. I remember being told off at a school assembly for not having my eyes shut: but as a child was in no position to say, “Ah, but how did you know?” ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-your-eyes-during-prayer-why/148114/9 "2003-01-12T17:52:10Z")
At one point in traditional (orthodox) Jewish prayer, it is customary to close or shield one’s eyes, because the Divine Presence may become manifest at that moment, and one shouldn’t look upon it. Otherwise, I’d guess it’s a way of focusing internally and not being distracted by the legs of that gorgeous woman sitting in the next pew. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-your-eyes-during-prayer-why/148114/10 "2003-01-12T17:57:14Z")
Reminds me of a line from a poem that I wrote for my Confirmation: _And when I pray, I close my eyes To let my prayer flow freely To the world around me Where God dwells_ ---
**Author:** ![CasperQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@CasperQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CasperQ)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-your-eyes-during-prayer-why/148114/11 "2003-01-12T18:05:02Z")
> [@](#): > > I weave a silence on my lips, > I weave a silence into my mind, > I weave a silence within my heart. > _**I close my eyes to distractions, > I close my eyes to attentions, > I close my eyes to temptations.**_ > Calm me, O Lord, as you stilled the storm, > Still me, Lord, keep me from harm. > Let all the tumult within me cease. > Enfold me, Lord, in your peace. > > - Celtic Tradition Says it all… though personally, I prefer to keep my eyes open! ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closing-your-eyes-during-prayer-why/148114/12 "2003-01-13T00:34:26Z")
iirc, there are many references to Jesus ‘looking’ into Heaven and praying. too lazy to check for cite.