Isn't a prayer in the silence of you mind as "effective" as a "verbal" one?

Question

...And if so...I'm confused about the "prayer in school" and "prayers before meetings" issue. If a silent prayer is as "effective" as a verbal one, then it seems to me people can pray whenever they want to using a silent prayer in their own mind, and nobody can stop them...so they "already" have the right to prayer whenever...or is a "group" prayer more effective than a "singular" one?
Am I right about this? Or is there a flaw in my logical conclusion of the facts? If a "group" or "verbal" prayer is just as "effective" as a silent one, why not just do silent ones whenever you want? In class, during meetings....whatever?

I meant "silence of YOUR mind"

A question for Sydney...I have the ability to do more than one mental activity in my mind at the same time...and I've always assumed that's true for everyone...am I some kind of mental genius having that ability? Or am I right that people can prayer AND do other mental things at the same time?

Answer 1

You are right and it is possible to pray while doing something else. Not hard at all.
I never looked at it the way you just put it.... good point! They do already have the right to pray. I think they just want it to be that they can do it verbal, in groups or whatever without it being a problem, but they do actually have the right and it will be just as good.

Answer 2

Effective in what way? If it's in a way to be "heard"...how can anyone know the answers to the questions you've asked? I believe many pray for themselves...to feel at peace...if so, then praying silently, alone, will be just as good. When the need for group prayers and verbalization comes in, I think it's just people believing that the positive energy from each other will make them feel better, which it probably does. I don't think any type of prayer is better than or worse than the other.

Answer 3

Prayers could be done silently or verbally. It doesn't really matter. But it is best to say it verbally especially in school. It teaches the students the value of praying and reciting it with feelings on every words in the prayer. I see your logic but we have all the freedom to choose on what manner we are going to pray. What is important is we always pray.

Thanks for asking. Have a great day!

Answer 4

I feel that silent and verbal prayers are just as effective but have different purposes. For me, silent prayers are more personal and I am having a direct relationship with God through them. With group prayers, a sense of community is formed first and then that energy is sent to God.

Answer 5

Well, in the Bible it says two things about this. "When two or more gather in my name, I will be among them...", and "He who confesses with his mouth that he is a sinner..." Don't quote me on the exact words, and I can't tell you exactly where those verses are located in the Bible, but they are in there.

At the same time, God can hear our thoughts. So, I doubt a silent prayer goes unnoticed. I pray silently most of the time. It's just more convinent to me. I can think exactly what I want God to know, and I don't have to put it into words that make sense to everyone else.

As far as prayer in schools, the way they just removed God was disrespectful to both Him, and to those of us who worship him. I have never had more respect for a man alive than the day that the 9-11 bombings took place, and our principal (whom I had never liked) came on the speakers and said, "If this offends you, then don't listen, but if you're a Believer, we're going to say a prayer right here right now." He proceeded to pray on the intercom, and he was not once reported to whoever handles these matters.

But, you know, they cannot ban the students from praying out loud in schools, alone or in a group? Teachers, counselors, principals, and anyone else working there can be fired for it, but as students, they have the right to pray (freedom of speech) and even to distribute Bibles amongst the student body.

Students have a legal right to meet in religous clubs (on campus), express religous beliefs (be it through signs, symbols, or clothes- on campus), the right to speak on your religion, distribute religous literature, pray, the right to be exempt from activities that contradict religous beliefs (take that Evolution Theory), the right to celebrate and study religous hollidays, and the right to study religous themes, religous literature, and religous history. NO ONE CAN STOP THEM!

So stand up for what you believe in, and find others who will do the same, and no one can keep you from spreading the word!

Answer 6

Praying silently IS just as effective as praying verbally, but kids in school might not have time for that. There's that little matter of schoolwork and lessons.


EDIT: We are talking about CHILDREN. Many children do not have the attention span to listen to the teacher's lecture on Native Americans or long division and pray at the same time. Besides, if one is going to pray they should pray wholeheartedly, not while their attention is divided.

Answer 7

When you say it I feel an affinity towards you. I respect your feelings. I feel you're on the same wave lengths with me. 'Far from the maddening crowd' I also like to share the tranquility and the deep peace of Nature. Noise is a curse and Silence a Boon. Oh ! the serenity and the Spirituality of Silence !!

Answer 8

Yes. You're exactly rite. I, for one, pray before every test/ quiz etc. What the ACLU and other groups that are against prayer in schools are not against those who pray, but supporting those who don't. They don't want to make anyone feel awkward, so they ban anything that only some of the group believes/accepts.

using this logic, you wouldn't think teh schools could teach homosexuality or evolution, but I guess they don't think about that...

Answer 9

One would think that praying silently in private is just as effective as big ostentatious displays of "faith." I sometimes wonder if the big displays are people trying to convince themselves there is a god in spite of much evidence to the contrary.

I have no issue with the moment of silence thing--if someone wants to pray, fine; if someone wants to meditate, fine; if someone wants to mentally go over a to-do list, fine--what I have an issue with is people who would force others to take part in prayers that are not part of their religion.

Answer 10

i think silent prayers are more meaningfull, at least for me. i feel that I am more personal and humble to do it in my private time on my own.