How do you define "prayer"?

Question

please give some philosophical proofs or basis

Answer 1

Prayer is the elevation of the mind and heart to God:
+ In praise of his glory
+ In petition for some desired good
+ In thanksgiving for a good received
+ In intercession for others before God

Through prayer the Christian experiences a communion with God through Christ in the Church.

"For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy." (St. Thérèse of Lisieux)

"Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God." (St. John Damascene)

But when we pray, do we speak from the height of our pride and will, or "out of the depths" of a humble and contrite heart? (Psalms 130:1)

He who humbles himself will be exalted; humility is the foundation of prayer. Only when we humbly acknowledge that "we do not know how to pray as we ought," are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer. "Man is a beggar before God."

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Prayer is an appeal to the Divine, in a solemn and humble form of communication, to provide for us a certain desired change, answer, solution or cure, for a situation - whether personal, social or global, that we feel powerless to resolve ourselves.
Prayers are done in congregations as part of a set religious rite; but more often and routinely, they are done individually and spontanuously as an expression of a wish from the heart, such as to succeed in a competition or at an exam etc. In such a case
a prayer fits the definition of a postulate: something we want to see come true.

Answer 3

Prayer is an active effort to communicate with a deity or spirit, including a monotheist God, Saints, gods within a pantheon, or others; either to offer praise, to make a request, confess sins, or simply to express one's thoughts and emotions. The words of the prayer may either be a set hymn or incantation, or a spontaneous utterance in the devotee's own words.
The great spiritual traditions offer a veritable treasure trove of devotional acts. There are morning and evening prayers, graces said over meals, and reverent physical gestures. Christians bow their heads and fold their hands. Native Americans dance. Sufis whirl. Hindus chant. Orthodox Jews sway their bodies back and forth. Quakers keep silent.
Praying has many different forms. Prayer may be done privately and individually, or it may be done corporately in the presence of fellow believers. Prayer can be incorporated into a daily "thought life", in which one is in constant communication with God. Praying throughout all that is happening during the day and seeking guidance as the day progresses. Ultimately prayer is a relationship between the created and the creator. There can be many different answers to prayer, just as there are many ways to "hear" the answers. Some may be audible, others may interpret healing, or specific physicals signs as answers to their prayer. How the answer is given and in what time frame it is given can be as varied as the requests themselves. Some outward acts that sometimes accompany prayer are: anointing with oil; ringing a bell; burning incense or paper; lighting a candle or candles; facing a specific direction (i.e. towards Mecca or the East); making the sign of the cross. One less noticible act relating to prayer would be fasting.
A variety of body postures may be assumed, often with specific meaning (mainly respect or adoration) associated with them: standing; sitting; kneeling; prostrate on the floor; eyes opened; eyes closed; hands folded or clasped; hands upraised; holding hands with others; a laying on of hands and others. Prayers may be recited from memory, read from a book of prayers, or composed spontaneously as they are prayed. They may be said, chanted, or sung. They may be with musical accompaniment or not. Prayer may be unconscious. There may be a time of outward silence while prayers are offered mentally. Often, there are prayers to fit specific occasions, such as the blessing of a meal, the birth or death of a loved one, other significant events in the life of a believer, or days of the year that have special religious significance.

Answer 4

This is the request of the 'confessedly' unworthy to a 'other worldly' being to repeal the laws of the Universe in his/her favor. It doesn't make rational sense that modern man resorts to CAVE MAN logic when it comes to emotional and irrational events or actions.

It's statistically proven that one could pray to the Sun and get the same probability rate of success in getting an 'answer' as was requested from a God.

Answer 5

prayer: yes as everybody knows 'it is a communication between the supreme and ourselves'.

but what is this communication? why we need this communication?

To reveal the self. To live happily.

There are three kind of communication in my view.
1)through our actions: yes, it will allow us to reach the supreme.
2)through knowledge: the more knowledge you attain the more you know the supreme.
3)devotion: here comes the rituals and the other stuffs.

It is just upto us, which way we wanted to choose. or we can choose a combination of these things too.

Answer 6

Prayer is soul to soul communication, creation to creator.
There are prayers of praise, thanksgiving, prayer for others and prayer for self. praying within the will of The Father.

Answer 7

Prayer is talking to God. I can be at home or driving down to road. I thank him for everything that I have and ask him to watch over loved ones.

Answer 8

ITS AN CUED COMPOSITION OF PRAISING, TELLING MISERIES, ASKING FAVOURS AND THANKING. It is Theologically so but philosophically whole of our life is Prayer. The cares, worries, happinesses, miseries, laughters, gloom, tears, lonliness, company etc are all the forms prayer. its as i concieve

Answer 9

a slight chance as in "haven't got a prayer"

Answer 10

A prayer is a devotion to god.