Thursday, 19 June 2008
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Praying in Front of Others - Disrespectful?
Whenever I eat with my some of my friends, I often struggle with whether or not it's disrespectful to pray out loud. Among my Christian friends, we almost always pray together outloud before a meal - giving thanks to God and the friends at the table. But, when the same friends and a non-Christian friend come into the mix, I noticed we no longer pray out loud. We either do "POYO" or Pray on your own, or sometimes not pray at all.
So, here's my question - if you're a non-christian or have talked about this before, what's your take about praying out loud before a meal?
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Comments (36)
Sometimes with my friends (mostly Christian) I will pray outloud but othertimes I just pray silently (especially if I am super hungry.. lol). My prayers before meals are just "God thanks/God Bless this meal." Usually, since eating-out is junk food, I refrain from praying "it nurishes my body" because me and God know its not true.. ha ha. I know that sounds funny but I do!
As long as you do it for the glory of God and not to be noticed, I don't think it's disrespectful. Non-believers may not like it. But disrespectful? No.
However, say you're visiting a friend's house. And said friend and family are all of a religion that might not like Christian prayers in their house. I think it's important to respect the family and their household by praying silently.
Praying outloud in groups is subjective to the group. In the end, it's best to do what God says in right and respectful -- even for the people who don't believe the same as you.
I think it depends on the people you are with.
It's funny, I have never really been into the whole praying over my food. We certainly did growing up though.
I don't have a problem with it, and certainly don't mind if I am with people that do it.
I am not sure why it developed- maybe marrying a non-Christian.
I just tend too think that God looks at my heart, and 'knows' if I am thankful whether I say it out loud or not.
Hmmm some food for thought there lol
x
If you find that you need to pray aloud to connect with God, then it would be a disrespect to you for your friends to criticize or be offended.
ohh, well i'm a muslim, and i guess i can relate! we say 'salaam' as the islamic greeting when we see eachother, and i've been at an islamic school for the past 5 years of my life, but this year i'm at a normal school, and at first we (me and my muslim friends) found it weird, but now we just say 'salaam' as normal :) it's cool! and we pray as well, the five daily prayers which is like a whooole sequence of actions, but we do it wherever! it's nice when people ask questions and watch ;D when we sneeze, we say prayers and the person with you says a prayer back and you reply too! and we do that... anyhow, i don't think it's disrespectful to pray out loud :) it sometimes feels weird if people look at you, but you gotta do what you gotta do :) though i have to say, i'd probably do the POYO thing, i think... depends on the situation!
good post (Y)
@beckylou_who - i agree, yeah :)
I thought I'd answer this one, since I'm an Athiest, well, actually an agnostic. I'm one of those Force people you described above.
I don't mind if my christian friends pray when we sit down for dinner, but it makes me a little uncomfortable in that I don't know what to do while they do it. I usually bow my head and close my eyes with everyone else. I'm all for the freedom to practise your own religion. If you want to pray, I won't stop you. Just like if I choose not to believe, you won't bug me about it.
I don't think that anyone should have to limit what they do, based on the religious beliefs of others. Break out the prayers, I'll bring karma.
Yeah... not disrespectful. Nowadays people are tolerant of pretty much anything. (And sometimes that scares me.) All my life I've prayed before I eat. It's just what I do. It's something I've always done with my fam. Which is a good thing.
It is not rude to pray to one's God in public or at the dinner table, so long as you aren't trying to force others. Everyone needs to show a little patients for the beliefs of others, Wiccans, Atheists, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Taoist, whatever all need to learn to live with disagreement without letting it affect them.
Interesting. This whole long thread by professed Christians and non-Christians alike. The very question divulges the breadth of your Christianity.
The Bible says is plainly:
Matthew 6:5-6
5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,
for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street
corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received
their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the
door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees
what is done in secret, will reward you.