I was taught to pray before bed every night. It’s become a comfort to me over the years. Sometimes its just a short thank you for a productive and uneventful day. Other times it may involve a problem or crises in my life.
Prayer can be anything. Serious or just frivolous. Just like any conversation we have.
I’ve always found it interesting that prayer is found in every religion. Sometimes very formally ritualized and sometimes quite casual.
Even when I was religious, I didn’t pray regularly.
No.
Define ‘regularly’ for purposes of this poll.
I don’t pray at a fixed time or place, other than before meals, which to me is more of a ritual than genuine prayer. But I pray frequently.
You might want to make the poll a little more specific. We have quite a few atheists/agnostics here (myself included). The answer is sort of obvious for them.
I do. I find it relaxing and easy. No set schedule or anything but usually at least once a day.
I remember when I was a catholic schoolboy and being told that you should pray, and hearing about all the great benefits of prayer, and being ashamed that it was all a great socially-obligatory chore to me. My current atheist persona feels the same way about prayer, but without the guilt about feeling that way.
Negatory.
I used to pray quite frequently when I was a teenager and young adult. Even when I didn’t quite believe, I prayed because it made me feel better.
Incidentally, I was also quite anxious during this time. Every thing was a source of stress and worry. Praying was the only coping mechanism I had been taught by my parents, and it was easier than doing other things (like opening my mouth and talking to a flesh-and-blood person).
But it’s been years since I’ve prayed. I just don’t have a need since I don’t feel so helpless and in constant need of assurances anymore. And I’ve learned some strategies for keeping stress under control. When it gets to be too much, I talk to a person.
I don’t think I’ve ever prayed.
Me too, except I’m sure of it.
I used to pray a lot, but haven’t in a very long time.
Caveat: I am a skeptical agnostic.
I sort of wish I had the habit established. I see that it could be a great comfort, akin to meditation. However, not having any habit or experience of it–and scarcely any opportunity–I never do.
I kept the OP and poll a bit generic on purpose. Each religion approaches prayer uniquely. The circumstances of how and where it’s done really isn’t that important. It’s really a very personal choice.
For example, we don’t make a big deal out of a dinner blessing at a restaurant. A quick thank you for this day and the food we are about to share, is sufficient. Some people bow their heads, hold hands and so on. That’s their choice. We don’t see the need in our family.
Prayer before bedtime is mostly a time to reflect on the day. What I did, how I reacted to situations. Were there things I could have done better. Basically close the book on that day and put everything in perspective before going to sleep. There’s no set time or place. I’m not big on rituals.
Only to Jeebuz.
I put other because I pray frequently but mostly spontaneously. I am a Muslim but do not pray regularly as is taught in the religion (five times per day at set times).
I pray the lord save us from his adherents.
Other than that, never.
I don’t think I ever have, even as a child.
Not on any kind of a schedule and not in the classic sense but I do feel like I have a conscious contact with God. I don’t ask for things or look for answers as much as I just acknowledge what I feel is his work.
Years ago, I used to make a regularly scheduled long drive. To pass the time and stay awake on these drives, I used to talk to myself out loud. The topic was always whatever problem I was having in my life at the time, and I would start by explaining the problem to myself as though I was speaking to someone who knew nothing about it. This did a lot to clarify my thinking (bullshit that seems cool inside your head sounds a lot bullshittier when you say it out loud) and spark my thoughts in new directions. At the end of these drives, I would always feel a bit better and have some plan of action to take next. Maybe that’s what it would feel like if I were religious and believed I was talking to God.