# Why do people of faith not pray for their enemies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 12, 2005, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-of-faith-not-pray-for-their-enemies/312153 "2005-07-12T11:22:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-of-faith-not-pray-for-their-enemies/312153/41 "2005-07-15T10:32:08Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > The true sucess of your enemies (and your self) would be that they have a change of heart,and do not want to harm others. The Christian Bible quotes Jesus as telling his followers,do good to those who would harm you, turn the other cheek, he who lives by the sword dies by the sword , etc. Most of Jesus’s teachings were common sense. Perhaps if they heard a huge public prayer that was in good taste that would help toward their understanding that no one wished them harm. If prayer really works then that would help non-believers to see the power of prayer,as many claim it does. > > Monavis By public prayer I do not mean the Government, but in their churches etc, and their homes. It doesn’t even have to be out loud. Monavis ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-of-faith-not-pray-for-their-enemies/312153/42 "2005-07-15T10:37:18Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > Sure, but for an awful lot of politicians, _everything_ is subordinated to political strategy. Public proclamation of faith _is_ a political strategy, and naturally it’s going to be a version that pays attention to PR. That’s politics for you. I would not use politicians’ actions as a good indication of what people of faith should do, or are doing. I think your point is well taken. Our forefathers were very wise in separating Church and State; the early settlers came here to be free to practice their faith, not to get away from Pagans and Atheists,but other branches of Christanity. Monavis ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-of-faith-not-pray-for-their-enemies/312153/43 "2005-07-15T10:45:46Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > I have a question,I am not sure if this should be in the great debates or here. It should be in debates. Don’t know about great. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-of-faith-not-pray-for-their-enemies/312153/44 "2005-07-15T10:48:18Z")
Roman Catholic. We pray for our enemies at several points in each Mass. That’s several billion institutional prayers daily, plus what people do individually. Some lines that pop into mind, please excuse the translations but I don’t remember the exact sources and anyway I know them in Spanish: “Do not come into My temple if you are angry with your brother - if your brother angers you, make peace with him first, then you may both come into My temple.” “…forgive us, like/when/if we forgive our enemies…” (from the Lord’s Prayer) ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-of-faith-not-pray-for-their-enemies/312153/45 "2005-07-15T12:21:54Z")
Moved from GQ to Great Debates. **samclem** GQ moderator ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2005, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-of-faith-not-pray-for-their-enemies/312153/46 "2005-07-16T01:33:36Z")
When we have to alter our public prayers for the sake of political expediency, then it’s probably not a good idea to offer what’s left over. It’s not being offered in the right direction anyway. Public prayer outside of church is uncomfortable for me anyway. That’s just me. On a day to day level, I have found that praying for those that I perceive as personal enemies changes _me_. Often the resentment melts. Sometimes it stubbornly abides. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2005, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-of-faith-not-pray-for-their-enemies/312153/47 "2005-07-16T10:01:23Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > When we have to alter our public prayers for the sake of political expediency, then it’s probably not a good idea to offer what’s left over. It’s not being offered in the right direction anyway. Public prayer outside of church is uncomfortable for me anyway. That’s just me. > > On a day to day level, I have found that praying for those that I perceive as personal enemies changes _me_. Often the resentment melts. Sometimes it stubbornly abides. It has been my experiance to be extra kind to those who would harm me, I try to be understanding, to me the word understanding means: to stand in their place with them on my shoulders, hoping they will get a better view point and I can see theirs, I have found it to work at least 90% of the time. If a person is trying to get even with me I feel that person must believe I am ahead. I am not offended because someone disagrees with me. I try to see their point of view,sometime I change my thinking, some times I do not. I agree with you, public prayer is not supposed to be used, but when a President asks for the public to pray it doesn’t mean all the public, just those who believe prayer works. I would hope we can search our hearts and actions and see if we can bring calm to the people we call enemies. Not agitate them to the point of anger and once someone is put on the defensive he or she becomes more angry. I found a small soft voice is more calming than a scream at some one. Monavis [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-of-faith-not-pray-for-their-enemies/312153.md?page=2)