How does one pray without praying to a specific deity?

Question

How does one start and end such a prayer, for example? How may the body be positioned? Etc.

Answer 1

Praying specifically is a form of faith & not doubting. In James it is written to pray for wisdom without doubting. He who doubts (or is wishy washy) won't get anything from God.
But if we pray specifically (knowing our request & abiding in Gods Love & Word) then God gives wisdom liberally.

God has His Names in the Bible. Yahweh Elohim is Echad Yahweh. God the Father, Word & Holy Spirit. And there is no other Name by whome we may be Saved, than Jesus. So? Jesus. But then 'Jesus' has to be the Jesus of the Biblical Gospel.

Jesus said that the Father would have us Worship God in spirit & truth. Anywhere. In the mountain or in the valley. Worship actually means on our knees before God. We can worship God in our prayer closets.

But then we are to pray all the time and we can pray when walking, jumping, kneeling, working, 24/7. Because once born of God & cleansed by His blood, we can come boldly before the Throne of Grace in time of need. Like children to our Abba Father.

http://www.fathersloveletter.com .

And if you pray to just any deity, that is what you get... just any deity.

Answer 2

Prayer is personal, and the body, hands etc does not need to necessarily be positioned in a certain way. Who are you praying to if not to a certain deity though?

Answer 3

...and what would the point in such a prayer be for without a specific Deity you may as well just look in the mirror.

Answer 4

That's a good question. I deal with it sometimes, myself. I think the answer you got about focussing on the particular qualities or characteristics you're concerned with is a good answer in part. Personally, I believe that God is not only any particular one of the deities that people worship or have worshipped in the past. God is too far beyond us to be able to "know" who we're praying to. So, pick any "description" that appeals to you, or seems to fit the purpose of your prayer.

If you are needing comfort because of something bad that has happened, many find it comforting to think of a father, in whose lap they can sit and be reassured that He is strong and can take care of you: so pray to the Father. Perhaps if you are sick, the soothing touch of mother's hand on your brow will make you feel better: so pray to the Mother.

Maybe you're having financial difficulties: so pray to Fortuna, perhaps. Maybe you need a job: pray to Lu Hsing. Maybe you've got a business deal you're worried about: pray to Mercury (merchant god). Maybe you're needing to be able to forgive somebody: pray to Jesus.

Maybe faces and personalities don't help you at all: pray to the Universe....it's got all the answers.

Answer 5

What's the point if you don't know who it is you're praying to?

Or maybe you just want to cover all your based because you're just not sure which religion is the "right" one? And maybe if you keep things general enough, the "right" one will answer your prayers?

Why don't you pray for God to let you know which religion is true? That's probably the best place to start.

Answer 6

Instead of names, use characteristics. Even if it is not a named deity, you have to know who you want to address, and praying to. If you don't say a name, say "the creator of the world," "a deity that is real," "a deity that is good," etc.... Just say what you believe first, then ask for identity directly. Ask who God really is, if God exists.

Answer 7

The only point of praying is that you know who you're praying to so that you expect a specific response from a specific deity. PRAYER UNDIRECTED IS PRAYER UNDETECTED.

Answer 8

you can pray without words, laying on the ground and looking in to the sky at night is the best position, you only need to breath and look, not thinking words that is praying.

Answer 9

In the words of the ultimate pop-wisdom of the almighty Yoda;

There is no try, only do.

(which is a little weird, considering he normally says things backwards).

Answer 10

Salah is the name for the obligatory prayers which are performed five times a day, and are a direct link between the worshipper and God with no earthly intermediaries. A prayer takes a few minutes to perform.

What no Priests?
There is no hierarchical authority in Islam, and no priests, so the prayers are led by a learned person (Imam) who knows the Qur'an, chosen by the congregation. These five prayers contain verses from the Qur'an, and are said in Arabic, the language of the Revelation, but personal supplication can be offered in one's own language.

An Audience with God
Each prayer is practically an audience with God. Facing in the direction of the Kaaba (the first mosque ever, built by patriarch Abraham and his son Ismail for the worship of the One God, at the site which long later became the city of Makkah in Arabia), the prayer is opened by saying "Allah Akbar", ie. God is Greater (than all else), and practically you are turning your back to all the universe and are addressing God. One of the constant readings during prayer is the Opening Chapter of the Quran that reads "Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. The Compassionate, the Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment. You only do we worship and to You only we cry for help. Guide us to the straight path. The path of those on whom You have bestowed Your grace, those whose lot is not wrath, and who go not astray." (1:1-7) Bowing down and prostrating oneself (to God) interjecting "Glory to my Lord the Great", "Glory to my Lord the Highest", "Allah listens to those who thank Him" and what fills one's heart by way of supplication, the prayer is concluded in the sitting position by reiterating the affirmation of the faith, the Shahada, and seeking God's peace and blessings on Mohammad and Abraham and their people and followers.

When and where
Prayers are said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall, and thus determine the rhythm of the entire day. Although it is preferable to worship together in a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories and universities. Visitors to the Muslim world are struck by the centrality of prayers in daily life. Performing daily prayers is an act of communication between humans and God. The prayers are considered a duty for all Muslims,and on these occasions preparations in ritual purity are required.

Ritual prayer and worship
Ritual prayer (Salah) is a distinct entity from worship in its wider sense, that is communicating your feelings to God at any time in any place and asking for His guidance, help and forgiveness, an ingredient of life which is highly commendable whether in Islam or other religions. Salah takes a special form and content, where both body and soul are harmoniously involved.
In prayer, every muscle of the body joins the soul and the mind in the worship and glory of Allah. Prayer is an act of worship. It is a matchless and unprecedented formula of intellectual meditation and spiritual devotion, of moral elevation and physical exercise, all combined.

Congregational prayer and Mosques
Although salah can be performed alone, it is meritorious to perform it with another or with a group. The word mosque comes from the Arabic masjid, meaning "place of prostration." Although it is permissible to pray at home, at work, or even outdoors, it is recommended that Muslims perform salah in a mosque.

Who is it applicable to?
Offering of prayers is obligatory upon every Muslim male and female who is sane, mature and in the case of women free from menstruation and confinement due to child birth.

How is it performed?
Requirements of prayer: performing of ablution (Wudu), purity of the whole body, clothes and ground used for prayer, dressing properly and having the intention and facing the Qiblah (the direction of the Ka'bah at Mecca). Only around the Kaaba mosque in Makkah do Muslims stand in circles for their prayers (quite an impressive scene). All the world over they are in straight lines, leaving no gaps, and facing Makkah.

Remebering the Creator
Praying to the Creator on a daily basis is the best way to cultivate in a man a sound personality and to actualize his aspiration. Allah does not need man's prayer because He is free of all needs. Prayer is for our immeasurable benefit, and the blessings are beyond imagination.
In addition to the prescribed prayer, a Muslim expresses gratitude to God and appreciation of His favours and asks for His mercy all the time. Especially at times of, for example, childbirth, marriage, going to or rising from bed, leaving and returning to his home, starting a journey or entering a city, riding or driving, before or after eating or drinking, harvesting, visiting graveyards and at time of distress and sickness.

Friday Prayers
The noon congregational prayer of Friday afternoon is mandated to be a collective and must be said in a Mosque, and is preceded by a sermon (Khutba). The Imam (prayer leader) is not a priest nor need be the same person every time, but considerations of scholarship and knowledge of the Quran and the religion are exercised in choosing him (doctors, teachers, business people and others as well as religion scholars are commonly featured in bearing this responsibility).

Conclusion
Prayer, obligatory and spontaneous, is an immense spiritual treasure to be tapped. It inspires peace, purity and tranquility and instills companionship with God. It amazingly reduces the hustle and bustle of life to tame proportions. By their spacing to five times a day, including its beginning, prayers tend to maintain a therapeutic level and practically leave no room for mischievous thought or deed.