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Serious question What’s the material difference between institutionalized forms of prayer vs magical incantations and occult rituals? Beyond supplication vs command attitudes? You’re still operating with a supernatural interventionist expectation right?
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This isn’t snark. Most of my family believes in prayer. My father has said daily prayers all his life (though mostly the meditative rather than supplicatory type). Praying for vague or specific good fortune is routine in India. For grades, cures for disease, etc.
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Hinduism is weird that way. There’s a range of prayers and hymns ranging from metaphysical contemplation and epic memory genres to very specific intentional wishing.
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It’s kinda hilarious that I can recite large chunks of many Sanskrit hymns (they tend to be long do memorizing complete ones is a feat) simply by virtue of having picked them up through repeatedly hearing them and barely understanding 10-25%.
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My older relatives are convinced it does me good anyway. Even uncomprehending listening and rote parroting ability picked up despite yourself.
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Replying to
Jesus in Matt 6:5: “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.”
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“But when you pray, go into your room & shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.”
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Replying to
Does "prayer" include "faith" by definition, in your opinion? Asking because I know some who privately pray even though maybe their faith wavers, and some who have faith but don't necessarily pray privately..