Conversation

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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