I am not one to pray. I will think good thoughts and hope for the best for others, but I am not really a prayer. I won't ever say a person shouldn't pray, cause for some people -like for you- it's helpful, but I just ask that people not ask me to do it.
::squishes::
I sent you pretty on yourtubne this morn via my LJ
I saw! I have to wait until I get home but I can't wait!
I think some people assume that when I say I'm praying that it means I have an in with God and can do better or whatever, but honestly someone who is truly praying for the right reasons don't even consider that mess. IT's just a conversation for the most part, putting it out there and vocalizing your wishes.
I, too, sometimes say that I'll be thinking of the person and hope for the best because I'm not sure if they like it when they're being prayed for. I mean, I usually don't pray, but sometimes I do! I pray when something is going terribly wrong with my family and I'm just now realizing how strange that is of me, lol. :)
When I'm in public, I don't prance around with gay pride because I'm intimidated by others! If I walk into a gay club (GIRL, YOU KNOW I'LL BE THERE), I'll probably be really comfortable, but idk!!
If only Babylon were real! I'll fly to Toronto and see if it really is real. Or maybe they have one in Pittsburgh!? But then again, they would have filmed it there instead. Ahh, girl!
Like Debbie said, "your parents aren't ready to see you as a grown, gay man who likes to suck cock and take it up the ass" and Michael's like, "Ma, do you have to be so graphic?!"
I usually let people know that I'm thinking positive thoughts on their behalf, but if I think they won't mind I say that I'm praying for them. I happen to come from a family that goes from very religious (my Catholic mom who prays everyday) to athiest (my youngest brother). I happen to fall in the somewhere in the middle.
I will say though, that I am religious enough that if someone were to say a prayer on my behalf that I would take it as a gift from both God and the person saying the prayer. And, whether it be a prayer or a gentle thought, I would certainly accept it as a blessing!
Exactly! I don't know who the first person was to be offended or who passed it on but it's so irksome to me. I know that not everyone has good intentions, but at the very least this is someone speaking good things about you to a creator they believe in. How can you go wrong?
It really annoys me when I hear that, and Jacob's rant was awesome for all the right reasons. Perhaps it's because I've heard it way too much in another context and thus associate "I'll be praying for you" with "I'll be praying that you see the light and convert to my religion lest you be thrown into eternal damnation, tee hee".
And part of it is the inherent oddness. I mean, should I be thanking them for praying to a god I don't believe in about my dilemma? "Yeah, I hope my imaginary friend helps me out with my issues too." Will they say that god made things work out if they end up being okay?
I understand the sentiment and appreciate it, but I think something that's amusing and ironic given other conversations we've had applies here - there's a lot of folks that have suffered from religious bigotry too, and you're exercising your dominant religious privilege when you say something like "I'll be praying for you".
Yeah, but isn't the insistence that I not just as damaging? I mean, I've never known anyone to be truly hurt by a declaration of prayer. While a lot of wrong people have done things in the name of religion, prayer itself -if you don't believe in it- is the most harmless thing anyone can do for you
( ... )
Yeah, but isn't the insistence that I not just as damaging?
Dominant religious privilege. Can you imagine how much shit I would take from you if I said that to you with a different term? They aren't the same thing, but they are in the same ballpark.
I mean, I've never known anyone to be truly hurt by a declaration of prayer. Did you read my comment? "I'll be praying that your parents don't go to hell for who they are" is a good example of how a declaration of prayer can really hurt when you're 9.
If you don't believe in it or think it's stupid, then what does it matter if a) you think they're trying to convert you with phrasology, or b) they think it was because of them that you're getting better?
Because it's disrespectful of your beliefs for starters, and it's bothersome to be continually attempted to be converted by your friends. It's manipulative and annoying.
On another level, when someone cares about you sees you going through a struggle that they can do absolutely nothing about, sometimes the only thing to do is pray.
( ... )
Dominant religious privilege. Can you imagine how much shit I would take from you if I said that to you with a different term?
I don't know that you could. I mean, if you were saying it because you actually believed in it I don't see why it's such a big deal. I've had people say the "good thoughts" to me, I've had people say they would changt for me (I don't think chants are used in that way though, she was pretty new and I didn't research any further). But unless it's sacraficing goats or something I don't know what an offensive equivalent would be.
I get that if you don't believe in it it can be annoying. I've had LDS and Jehova's Witnesses offer to pray for me which I just take a grain of salt with mostly. But I've never had anyone do something on my behalf that I found offensive.
Did you read my comment? "I'll be praying that your parents don't go to hell for who they are" is a good example of how a declaration of prayer can really hurt when you're 9. Ahh yes, I read your comment, but you left out the 9 yr old thing. I
( ... )
See, for me prayer is a way to take the love I want to throw into a situation, give it to God, and hopefully have it amplified and increased by having given it up. (If that makes sense). It's not about converting someone or making them think like me--it's about taking the goodwill I feel towards someone, or my hope that things will work out for them, and embiggening it.
What I pray for myself most often is strength--that God's will be done, and that I will be strong enough to deal with whatever that means.
What I pray for myself most often is strength--that God's will be done, and that I will be strong enough to deal with whatever that means
Oh goodness yes! Especially that last part. It's funny, I heard a sermon where a man talked about how he prayed for patience but God obviously wasn't listening because all that kept happening were trials that tested his patience! He didn't need his patience tested, he needed more to get through those trials! And the audience laughed, but it was really indicative of the difference in what we expect from God and what He gives us.
And definitely with the letting it go. I think the act of humbling yourself and realizing that sometimes there are things bigger than you can be really therapeutic. My problem is letting go completely, heh.
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::squishes::
I sent you pretty on yourtubne this morn via my LJ
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I think some people assume that when I say I'm praying that it means I have an in with God and can do better or whatever, but honestly someone who is truly praying for the right reasons don't even consider that mess. IT's just a conversation for the most part, putting it out there and vocalizing your wishes.
To me anyhow, heh.
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When I'm in public, I don't prance around with gay pride because I'm intimidated by others! If I walk into a gay club (GIRL, YOU KNOW I'LL BE THERE), I'll probably be really comfortable, but idk!!
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Besides you're still a baby gay, you have plenty of time to prance!
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Like Debbie said, "your parents aren't ready to see you as a grown, gay man who likes to suck cock and take it up the ass" and Michael's like, "Ma, do you have to be so graphic?!"
"What!? I'm trying to make a point!" rofl
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I will say though, that I am religious enough that if someone were to say a prayer on my behalf that I would take it as a gift from both God and the person saying the prayer. And, whether it be a prayer or a gentle thought, I would certainly accept it as a blessing!
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Ah well, keep on praying girl!
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And part of it is the inherent oddness. I mean, should I be thanking them for praying to a god I don't believe in about my dilemma? "Yeah, I hope my imaginary friend helps me out with my issues too." Will they say that god made things work out if they end up being okay?
I understand the sentiment and appreciate it, but I think something that's amusing and ironic given other conversations we've had applies here - there's a lot of folks that have suffered from religious bigotry too, and you're exercising your dominant religious privilege when you say something like "I'll be praying for you".
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Dominant religious privilege. Can you imagine how much shit I would take from you if I said that to you with a different term? They aren't the same thing, but they are in the same ballpark.
I mean, I've never known anyone to be truly hurt by a declaration of prayer. Did you read my comment? "I'll be praying that your parents don't go to hell for who they are" is a good example of how a declaration of prayer can really hurt when you're 9.
If you don't believe in it or think it's stupid, then what does it matter if a) you think they're trying to convert you with phrasology, or b) they think it was because of them that you're getting better?
Because it's disrespectful of your beliefs for starters, and it's bothersome to be continually attempted to be converted by your friends. It's manipulative and annoying.
On another level, when someone cares about you sees you going through a struggle that they can do absolutely nothing about, sometimes the only thing to do is pray. ( ... )
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I don't know that you could. I mean, if you were saying it because you actually believed in it I don't see why it's such a big deal. I've had people say the "good thoughts" to me, I've had people say they would changt for me (I don't think chants are used in that way though, she was pretty new and I didn't research any further). But unless it's sacraficing goats or something I don't know what an offensive equivalent would be.
I get that if you don't believe in it it can be annoying. I've had LDS and Jehova's Witnesses offer to pray for me which I just take a grain of salt with mostly. But I've never had anyone do something on my behalf that I found offensive.
Did you read my comment? "I'll be praying that your parents don't go to hell for who they are" is a good example of how a declaration of prayer can really hurt when you're 9. Ahh yes, I read your comment, but you left out the 9 yr old thing. I ( ... )
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What I pray for myself most often is strength--that God's will be done, and that I will be strong enough to deal with whatever that means.
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Oh goodness yes! Especially that last part. It's funny, I heard a sermon where a man talked about how he prayed for patience but God obviously wasn't listening because all that kept happening were trials that tested his patience! He didn't need his patience tested, he needed more to get through those trials! And the audience laughed, but it was really indicative of the difference in what we expect from God and what He gives us.
And definitely with the letting it go. I think the act of humbling yourself and realizing that sometimes there are things bigger than you can be really therapeutic. My problem is letting go completely, heh.
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