I am an atheist & I would like to pray - I need ideas?

Question

I would like to pray, not to a God, but to the universe perhaps? Something that gives me inner strength and hope and peace of mind...in general or for a particular situation.

I would like some ideas on what thoughts I could use...? I wonder if atheists have certan nice, standard prayers that could be used. If not, I think there should be a resource.

ps: I really think prayer doesn't always mean praying to a God.

Answer 1

its called meditation. Look it up and try it. You dont meditate to anybody. Its like freeing your mind or something.

Answer 2

Being an atheist does have it's drawbacks,huh??
Christians don't need help in the prayer dept. Interesting, an atheist asking for a non religious prayer, (here's a clue, the 1st 4 letters in the word prayer are PRAY).
That's an oxy-moron. If you aren't praying to God, then It's not called prayer. Chanting, or something like that, not prayer
pray: 1 to address god
prayer:2. the act or practice of praying to God.:
3. a supplication or expression addressed to God
(this was taken in part, from the new Britannica/Webster Dictionary & Reference Guide)

Let me try to help you anyway, I'm not your judge.

How's this??
To the universe I extend my will for the following changes to be implemented into my existence, That I may gain strength from the energy of the cosmos, hope from the ever changing winds, and peace from that place, that lies deep within us all. I hold these ideals in the knowledge that all things are said to be possible.

Answer 3

Who do you want to pray to? You could pray to a star, I guess. Will that make you feel stronger and at peace. Just pick up a rock and hit yourself over the head, and you will see stars. Just kidding. The only one that will make a difference is praying to the real thing, God. If you want a nice, standard prayer, you could just make one up, and of course you have to have something to pray to. Whty pray, do you need strength in your life, or something bigger than yourself. The only one that can follow through, is the real thing, and that is the Creator of the Universe and you, God, and Jesus Christ. If you have a need, know that you will not ever get the satisfaction you are looking for,nor the strength, if not for God. Go to a church and pray that God will come to you and the Holy Spirit. It is not a joke, and believe me, it is the truth. If you chose to not believe, then that is your choice, but give it a chance. It will and can change your life and how you look at things. There is a hereafter, and there is good and evil. Don't fool yourself, this world and you was not created for no reason, it had a purpose. Go to your knees and ask God to come to you,and you will never be lonely again. Don't pray to a bottomless black pit. What is so rewarding to that, to believe that when you die, you just roll up and dry up like a bug. That is the lie. You were created for a purpose.

Answer 4

Prayer is the act of attempting to communicate, commonly with a sequence of words, with a deity or spirit for the purpose of worshiping, requesting guidance, confessing sins, or to express one's thoughts and emotions.

If you are an atheist, I don't understand your need for prayer. If you know there is no god or deities, what is that need all about? Why would an empty prayer to nothing give you inner strength, hope and peace of mind?

Of course atheists don't have standard prayers. We don't PRAY because we don't believe in deities. Prayer IS praying to a god whether you believe it or not. You don't sound like an atheist to me. If you can't give up prayer, maybe you should go back to church.

Try meditation, if that doesn't do it for you, then religion may be your answer.

atheist

The Atheist Bible, it could be said, has but one word: "THINK." - Emmett Fields

Answer 5

Well, atheists Do belive there is no God, and you've just contradicted that!
As an atheist you should know the definition of a God. A God (supposing that there is one) is a higher power that controls the universe and maintains its balance and divinity. And thats why people pray, cause prayer is the way they communicate with that higher power.
So, when you say I want to pray, you prove the theory that God exists, and that human beings are born with the ability to sense his power and to try to seek it at some point of their lives.

Maybe you'd consider learning more about other religions, am sure you'll find what you're seeking in one of them..

Good luck :)

Answer 6

Prayer does mean praying to a god. That's what prayer is by definition. If what you're doing constitutes drawing upon your own strength, looking to uncover the silver lining in things, then it becomes meditation. Or... if you're looking for a set of words to say... it's called an affirmation.

Or, you know, talking to yourself.

Watch that. They're medicating people for that now.

Lazarus

Answer 7

I agree praying need not be to a God and it can be about attuning yourself inside, achieving peacefulness, or opening yourself up more deeply to life and possibilities. I think many people who think they are talking to a God are really just holding an internal dialog. The process can be very therapeutic but that doesn't imply there is a supernatural force listening and answering. There is a book called "Secular Wholeness" which talks about the benefits that some religious practices give people that aren't necessarily linked to any supernatural agent. Its available on Amazon if you want to check it out. I also recommend meditation on a mantra or single affirmation on thought, very similar to praying. You can script you own prayers or affirmation that are specific to your need or goal. I think keeping them simple and somewhat repetitive makes them sink into your subconscious being more but that may be just me.

I can give you one technique that I am aware of adopted from a Buddhist medition. You start with yourself.

May I be well and healthy.
May I be strong.
May I have peace of mind.
May I know joy and happiness.
(you can customize this to what works for your goals.)

Once you have deeply internalized these wishes for yourself you can choose to expand to others you care about and insert their name for the I. Then you can go on to add people who are somewhat problematic or difficult for you. Finally you can use the affirmation extending it to all beings. May all know peace etc... This process is supposed to help you grow love and confidence in yourself then move on to seeing that all beings should have this experience in order to create a better world.

I agree there should be more resources for nontheists to apply some of the beneficial aspects of religious practices to their lives without the supernatural dogma.

Answer 8

Praying to the universe or any other object, how is that going to do you any good?Just like praying to a god won't do you any good. But praying to the one and only Almighty God of the universe with a humble sincere heart would.There are many that are called gods but are not!

Answer 9

Hi Tocca, why would you pray to the created and not to the Creator Who is infinitly greater than the material universe.
You would be selling yourself short and soon come to realize that the prayers you direct to the universe will never return an answer and after all prayer just like conversation has to be a two way street.

Answer 10

Hmmm - perhaps you would be interested in Pantheism. I also do not believe in a god as such, but I definitely believe there's some sort of higher power at work and it gets me thinking every day. I think there's enough to be worhipped in the real world to bring us happiness - spend time outdoors, plant trees, make love etc. For me, there's nothing more sacred than planting trees. This can be somewhat of a ritual. I dont' really believe that the Universe hears our prayers, but that is just my own belief.

Answer 11

There is a resource.

It is called the course in miracles.

Don't be put off by the christian terminology. The God the course is talking about is not the tiny insecure christian small g god who is so insecure that he needs worship.

Love and blessings Don