Should I look down during a prayer? Close my eyes?

[Anonymous]

I'm not that religious but can accept the notion of a God and that God hears prayers.

I don't go to church much except for special occasions in my kid's Catholic school (we're not Catholic, but we're cool with the school).

Anyway, the custom in church is to bow your head during prayer. And close your eyes. Is this important? Is it any less of a prayer if I look straight ahead? I can do it for the sake of not being an ass but I'm just curious.

[Anonymous]

I lift up my arms and look upward...pray how the spirit moves you to pray

[Anonymous]

It may be polite and respectful to bow your head but I don't think you need to close your eyes.

[Anonymous]

I'm an atheist, but I bow my head to be respectful. Eyes stay open though.

[Anonymous]

Within the bounds of civil behavior, you can do what feels right to you in public/group prayer. Do whatever you like privately.

[Anonymous]

Neither. If you don't have a reason for doing it aside from appearing respectful then there is no need. No one who would hold you accountable needs to be be kowtowed to.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I"ll go with the atheist. Bow, eyes open.

[Anonymous]

As a non-Catholic affiliated with a Catholic school, I think it's important to show respect for their tradition. The way I look at it, the Catholic church is heavily subsidizing my child's education. The trade off is that they get to share their beliefs and traditions. That's the deal.

Do I think that God hears me if I pray in a different position? Yes, because that's what my religion teaches, but I also think that he hears me with my head bowed and my eyes closed, so that's what I do. If I'm asked to do something that I actually don't believe in (for me, as a protestant, this would be saying a prayer to a Saint such as the "Hail Mary" rather than directly to God), then I show respect by bowing my head, but I say something else in my head, or simply wait for it to be over.

[Anonymous]

When I was religious, I would bow my head and close my eyes when called to prayer.

Now that I'm longer religious, I don't do those things and am surprised to see the number of people like me who do not have their heads down or eyes closed -- sometimes including the person who called for the prayer!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lift up my arms and look upward...pray how the spirit moves you to pray

And revel in the attention you get -- at least from those who have their eyes open.

[Anonymous]

I lose my balance if I close my eyes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lift up my arms and look upward...pray how the spirit moves you to pray

And revel in the attention you get -- at least from those who have their eyes open.

So devoted! Wonder why this hasn't become popular among the selfie generation clamoring for attention, any kind of attention. I could see how this could become the next ice bucket thing.

[Anonymous]

I close my eyes and bow so I am not as distracted.

[Anonymous]

Well, you're not going to offend the people closing their eyes who can't see you.
I often close my eyes while praying simply because it closes off many distractions and helps me concentrate. I bow my head in reverence to God.

As long as people aren't distracting, I don't mind what they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I"ll go with the atheist. Bow, eyes open.

Good idea. Always keep an eye open to watch the kids.