Prayer

Definition:

“Prayer” is a fictional concept in which an individual communicates with a deity, higher power, or divine presence. It can involve expressions of praise, thanksgiving, confession, or supplication.

Etymology:

The word “prayer” comes from the Old French “preiere,” which is derived from the Latin “precaria,” meaning “obtained by entreaty” or “prayer.”

Description:

Prayer can take various forms:

• Adoration: Praising and worshipping the divine for its greatness and holiness.
• Thanksgiving: Expressing gratitude for blessings and positive experiences.
• Confession: Admitting sins and seeking forgiveness and moral cleansing.
• Supplication: Requesting help, guidance, or specific needs for oneself or others.
• Intercession: Praying on behalf of others, asking for their well-being or assistance.
• Meditation: Reflective or contemplative prayer aimed at deepening spiritual awareness and connection.

Herd Mentality:

Prayer is an example of herd mentality behavior in several ways, as it involves collective actions and shared beliefs that are reinforced within religious communities.

From a young age, people are often introduced to prayer by family members. The desire to conform to family expectations and maintain familial bonds can lead to continued participation in prayer.

In religious communities, there can be significant peer pressure to participate in prayer. Fear of being judged, ostracized or punished for not participating can lead individuals to conform. This communal aspect reinforces the behavior as individuals see others participating and feel a sense of belonging. In many cultures, prayer is a deeply ingrained practice. Individuals may pray because it is a tradition and an expected behavior within their community, even if they do not feel a strong personal conviction.

There are several cultures and regions in the world where people are, and have been, forced to pray, either by societal norms or government mandates. Where non-compliance lead to social ostracism, fines, imprisonment, or even death.

• In Saudi Arabia, public prayers are mandated, and shops and businesses are required to close during prayer times. The religious police, known as the Mutawa, have historically enforced these rules, ensuring that people attend prayers. Even outside of official enforcement, there is significant social pressure to participate in communal prayers, especially in mosques.
• Iran has laws that mandate public prayers, and there is a strong cultural expectation for men to attend Friday prayers at the mosque. In some workplaces, especially government offices, employees are encouraged or required to participate in communal prayers.
• In many Islamic schools (madrassas) in Pakistan, students are required to perform daily prayers. Attendance at Friday prayers is also often mandatory. In some regions, local ordinances require shops and businesses to close during prayer times to ensure public participation.
• The Rohingya Muslim minority has faced severe persecution and forced displacement. In refugee camps, there can be enforced religious practices, though this is more about maintaining cultural identity under duress than government enforcement.
• Even though North Korea is officially claimed to be atheist and suppresses religious practices, this is not accurate. North Korea forces citizens to participate in state-sanctioned events, such as prayer, where they worship the Kim family as deities.
• The Chinese government has been accused of forcibly assimilating the Uyghur Muslim population, including restrictions on religious practices. However, in some cases, forced re-education camps have been reported to coerce individuals into performing state-sanctioned activities that may include regulated religious practices under controlled conditions.
• The Inquisition, particularly the Spanish Inquisition (1478–1834), was notorious for its severe punishments, including execution, for heresy and non-compliance with the Catholic faith. Those found guilty of heresy, which could include failure to adhere to prescribed religious practices, could be executed by burning at the stake.
• During the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, adherence to the Church of England was enforced, and failure to conform could result in severe punishments. For example, Catholics who refused to attend Anglican services (known as recusants) faced fines, imprisonment, and sometimes execution. Notable cases include the execution of Catholic priests and laypeople under Elizabeth I, such as Edmund Campion and Margaret Clitherow.
• In the early colonial period, the Puritan leadership in Massachusetts Bay Colony enforced strict religious conformity. Severe penalties, including death, were imposed for blasphemy, witchcraft, and persistent rejection of Puritan religious practices.
• Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, many parts of Europe, including regions within the Holy Roman Empire, conducted witch hunts. Those accused of witchcraft, often tied to non-conformity in religious practice or suspicion of heresy, were frequently executed. The Würzburg and Bamberg witch trials led to the execution of hundreds of people accused of witchcraft.

The Bible actually addresses praying in private and not boasting about one‘s prayers. Specifically, Jesus speaks about this. In the Bible, in Matthew, chapter 6, verses 5-6 (NIV), it says: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” This is something so many Christians seem completely aware of, as so many of them so often pray in public.

Prayer has been enforced in Christian schools at various times in history.

• In early American colonies, many schools were established by religious groups and included prayer and religious instruction as a central part of the curriculum. Schools founded by Puritans, Quakers, and other religious groups often required students to participate in daily prayers.
• During the 19th century, many Christian schools in the United States and Europe continued to enforce prayer as part of their daily routines. This was seen as a way to instill religious values and moral education.
• Up until the mid-20th century, it was common for public schools in the United States to include prayer and Bible readings as part of the school day. This practice was challenged and eventually changed due to several landmark Supreme Court decisions.
• Today, in private Christian schools, prayer is often an integral part of the school day. These schools are not subject to the same legal restrictions as public schools regarding the separation of church and state, allowing them to incorporate religious practices, including prayer, into their routines. In many countries with a strong Christian heritage or where Christianity is the dominant religion, prayer and religious instruction are common in Christian schools. This practice varies widely depending on local laws and cultural norms.

Many religions prescribe specific times for prayer throughout the day. This routine can become a habit, reinforced by seeing others engage in the same practice.

Many religious traditions encourage or require group prayer. Events like the Hajj in Islam involve millions of people gathering and praying together, demonstrating how collective behavior can reinforce individual participation. Festivals and holy days often involve large-scale prayer sessions, reinforcing the practice through shared experience and visibility. There is a video of Muslim mass prayer during Jam’atul-Wida, the last Friday of Ramadan, in Skardu, Pakistan. Click to watch the video.

Symbolism:

As no God exists, the symbolism of these billions of people who pray every day becomes that they are praying for mercy to the scam artists who have tricked them to believe in God and religion, and imprisoned them in fantasy.

Articles:

Religion:

Prayer is extensively discussed and encouraged in religious texts:

• In the Bible, in Matthew, chapter 6, verses 9-13 (NIV), it says: “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'”
• In the Bible, in Philippians, chapter 4, verse 6 (NIV), it says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
• In the Quran, in Surah Al-Fatihah 1:1-7 (Sahih International), it says: “In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. The Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Guide us on the Straight Path, the path of those who have received Your grace; not the path of those who have brought down wrath upon themselves, nor of those who have gone astray.”
• In the Bhagavad Gita, in chapter 9, verse 22: “To those who are constantly devoted and who worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.”