I mena prayer is something that happens outside the realm of the auditory or visual aspects, it happens within the heart, so If someone is praying in front of you and you do not pray are you really being forced to pray?
2007-01-15 06:38:59 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I guess you're talking about prayer in schools and so forth.
If you had a child in school, and he came home to tell you that the class is taking time out several times a day for muslim kids to sing prayers, would you have a problem with that? I'm guessing you're not a muslim. But your child is forced to sit there quietly, listening to them pray, rather than do his schoolwork. Would you have a problem with that? Maybe you wouldn't. But I would.
Now, just imagine if the teacher was leading those prayers, also...
2007-01-15 06:44:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
No one can be forced to pray. The prayer is an act that comes from heart and mind and it is between the created and the creator.
However, if someones are praying collectively and you wish not pray along with them, then you have to have good reasons and with good intentions and knowing that what will be wrong if you join them. One must remember that prayer is a form of worship i.e. recognizing that only the One and only One God can answer to our prayer to provide what we ask in the prayer. So asking Him is a form of prayer. There is no compulsion in joining a prayer by others if inconvenient or for other good reason otherwise it may indicate vanity or something like that.
It is true that prayer happens within the heart and mind. God the Almighty says in he Quran that I am closer to you than your jugular. Call me by my name or by my attribute and I will respond. There is no intermediary necessary and the call does not have o be auditory but can be a whisper or just in deep thoughts.
2007-01-15 14:58:28 · answer #2 · answered by Ottawan-Canada 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can be forced to go through the motions but no one can tell you what is in your heart. The Church tried to force people to pray during the Inquisition and the Burning Times but all that did was get a lot of innocent people murdered.
Blessed Be )O(
2007-01-15 14:59:25 · answer #3 · answered by Stephen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are being put in a social situation where if you are an atheist you can be ostracized and discriminated against by those who are praying--at school or the workplace. Discrimination by christians is real, their being human and desiring only to associate with other christians. Religion, like political affiliations, should be a private matter if a person so chooses it to be. If I were Republican, and everyone at work or school were not, I should not be "forced" to reveal my views because of fear of social isolation or worse, discrimination. Same with praying.
2007-01-15 14:49:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I liked d_chino_m 's answer. It works in reverse too. You can have those feelings of ostrization when your told you cannot pray as well. I agree also with the answer person who said, its a personal thing done ffrom your heart to God. I prefer to pray audibly so mine is done in private. I pray in public when asked to at functions. Otherwise, I pray silently in the heart in public
2007-01-15 14:45:34 · answer #5 · answered by BelievesInGod 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In a sense. You would do it not to draw attention to yourself. Forced to protect yourself from ridicule. Actual utterance of words, is a different thing entirely. Have you ever been in a situation like that? I have. Many times. It's not a wonderful thing. Prayer should be something you do lovingly and comfortably - not something awkward and showy. Good Day.
2007-01-15 14:42:45 · answer #6 · answered by The Pope 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If everyone around you is praying and you are not, you will be ostracized by the group.
So yes, if you don't want to be an outcast you are forced to perform the actions of prayer.
2007-01-15 14:43:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Praying is done 24/7 only if we are born of God and can pray to God in spirit and truth. Truth is honest from the heart, so God won't listen if one isn't praying to God from the heart. God would have us worship Him in spirit & truth.
No one can be forced to pray or believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord & Savior. It is done by hearing the Word of God and having faith in Gods Word. Faith is a gift of God also.
Being forced to pray, isn't prayer. Prayer is actually communicating with God. It is praying to God and hearing from God in our spirits.
2007-01-15 14:51:14 · answer #8 · answered by LottaLou 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A person cannot be forced to pray, but a person can be made to feel uncomfortable or threatened about not praying.
2007-01-15 14:46:57 · answer #9 · answered by Lao Pu 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'd pray to the girl in your avatar picture.
2007-01-15 14:48:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋