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THE QUESTION
Do You Pray?
Against the backdrop of the annual National Prayer Breakfast being held this week, we consider: ‘What is prayer? Do you pray? If so to whom and for what?’
Posted by
Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham on January 31, 2007 6:31 AM
FROM THE PANEL
Prayers of Contemplative Gratitude
Much of my prayer is gratitude and wonderment--gratitude for a fantastic sunset, a beautiful day, an amazing flower, a moving piece of music.
Posted by Julia Neuberger, on February 11, 2007 5:41 PM
A Day at the Prayer Breakfast
In that moment I saw what I wish the people trapped on both sides of the culture wars could see: That there is a time and place for talking about God in an earnest, personal, heartfelt way.
Posted by Lisa Miller, on February 6, 2007 4:43 PM
Prayer Is Part of American Identity
Since the beginning of this republic many an American has looked up to the heavens and sang praises to the Almighty. This pattern of expressing joy and gratitude will not disappear from this land.
Posted by Sulayman Nyang, on February 6, 2007 3:30 PM
Can Prayer Bring Us Together?
Though from different faiths, we recognized the purity of each other’s intention.
Posted by Eboo Patel, on February 6, 2007 11:24 AM
God Does Answer Prayers
Thirty-four years ago in the midst of the Watergate crisis, I prayed in a flood of tears for God to take me as I was. He did. From that moment on nothing has been the same.
Posted by Charles "Chuck" Colson, on February 6, 2007 10:32 AM
Prayer Can Be the Most Revolutionary of Acts
In the apartheid era, Archbishop Desmond Tutu's prayers constantly affirmed God’s power over the claims of the South African state, and that was a threat to their power.
Posted by Jim Wallis, on February 6, 2007 9:10 AM
Prayer Breakfast? Old Boys Club For Sure
The endpoint of prayer is to find that Stillpoint within. From that point flows peace, nourishment and a remembrance of our potential as human beings.
Posted by Lauren Artress, on February 6, 2007 8:19 AM
Prayer For Me Is Being Open to What Is Holy
Most of the prayers I hear people talking about sounds to me like adult letters to Santa Claus.
Posted by John Shelby Spong, on February 5, 2007 5:30 PM
Prayer as Honest Conversation
My best prayer is singing the old hymns, especially when driving to work in the morning. I'll suddenly turn off NPR and start belting out: How Great Thou Art.
Posted by Richard Mouw, on February 5, 2007 2:02 PM
Prayer Helps Us Chip Away Our Egotism
Prayer is really for us; it teaches us to thank, praise, and beg pardon wholeheartedly, without holding anything back.I
Posted by Karen Armstrong, on February 5, 2007 10:07 AM
Only Humans Pray
I would say that those who don’t pray have not achieved the fullness of their humanity.
Posted by Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo, on February 5, 2007 9:10 AM
Prayer, Above All, Is Listening
God is as close to us as breath and being conscious of one’s every breath is the beginning of prayer.
Posted by William Tully, on February 5, 2007 8:38 AM
On Prayer at Brigid
Prayer is what mediates between our human minds and that which we cannot envision or even imagine.
Posted by Starhawk, on February 3, 2007 1:13 PM
Prayer: A Life-Changing Experience
"Casting burdens on the Lord” is a liberating experience.
Posted by Michael Otterson, on February 3, 2007 12:35 PM
Prayer is the Soul's Response To God's Movement
It is my hope that through prayer I will be equipped to see God’s presence in the world.
Posted by Mark S. Sisk, on February 3, 2007 11:30 AM
Prayer Transforms Us
Praying for family, friends, and “the world” is a natural expression of caring. For me, it would be unnatural not do this.
Posted by Marcus Borg, on February 2, 2007 10:07 AM
To WHOM It May Concern
For many, prayer simply comes down to acknowledging that we are not in control of our lives, and hoping against hope that somebody else is
Posted by Wendy Doniger, on February 2, 2007 9:05 AM
Different Kinds of Prayer
The Psalms are prayers that unite awe at God's transcendence and a sense that God wants to be intimately in touch with his human creatures.
Posted by Nicholas T. Wright, on February 2, 2007 8:15 AM
Prayer Is Conversation
Praying with a community helps us be mindful of the needs of others.
Posted by Martin Marty, on February 2, 2007 7:39 AM
I Pray To A Personal, Yet Mysterious God
Prayer is the flame that rises occasionally and consciously from the bed of embers that is my faith.
Posted by William J. Byron, on February 1, 2007 10:54 AM
Prayer As Begging, Thanking, or Simply Saying 'Hello'
The central idea of prayer is to express, in words or in thoughts, that I want to make contact with God.
Posted by Adin Steinsaltz, on February 1, 2007 9:43 AM
Prayer Is A Life Lived in Union With God
Jesus, in Mark's gospel, spends little time stopping to pray--he is already in a permanent state of prayer through that love-relationship with God.
Posted by John Dominic Crossan, on February 1, 2007 8:29 AM
Pray Unceasingly
Prayer to me is a way to be more permeable to the presence of God.
Posted by Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, on January 31, 2007 10:03 AM
Who Prays and Who Pays?
The National Prayer Breakfast is sponsored by a mysterious organization in Arlington, Va. called the Fellowship Foundation, an international nonpartisan Christian outreach group.
Posted by Susan Jacoby, on January 31, 2007 9:43 AM
Our Culture Has Trivialized Prayer
The ultimate objective of prayer is to be at one with God and to think as He thinks.
Posted by Cal Thomas, on January 31, 2007 8:11 AM
My Way of Prayer
I do not like to be denied. What child does?
Posted by Gardner Calvin Taylor, on January 31, 2007 7:11 AM
FEATURED COMMENTS
Saji Johnson: Prayer is power.Through prayer I cast my burden upon Jesus.I referesh spirtualy.Prayer is the Hot Line between me and God.God answers to my ...
candide: Prayer is talking to yourself. No one is listening....
EMM: For me prayer comes in different forms.
Over the years I have come to see prayer primarily as an ongoing relationship or conversation with...
