Does "there is time and place" apply to prayers as well?

[Anonymous]

I hope this is the right forum to ask this question. As a christian, we are told that there is a time and place for everything. Does that also apply to prayers? If you had a close relative who knelt with their arms raised up, anywhere including your front yard, would that bother you? If It would, how would you address it without being offensive especially if there were cultural differences?

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it would bother me, because what you describe is ostentatious and for show. A person can pray without drawing attention.

I wouldn’t address it, though, unless asked my opinion.

[Anonymous]

So, I am Protestant, part of a tradition that embraces a whole continuum of styles of prayer that can look very different. So, I'd say that it's always the right time and place to pray, but not always the right time and place to pray in a style that draws attention to you, such as falling to your knees and waving your arms about. For example, silently asking Jesus for his grace during the SAT? Go for it. Any kind of prayer that makes noise? Nope, not fair to the people around you.

If your close relative is part of a religion that believes that only prayers said out loud are heard by god, or that certain styles of prayer (e.g. Muslim prayer with a rug and facing Mecca) are required at certain specific times, then I wouldn't judge that.

Having said that, I'm not sure what you could do to stop it. I think you could say that your own preference is to pray in ways that don't draw attention to yourself, and therefore you won't be joining in if it happens, but I don't think you can't actually say "Don't pray outloud and raise your arms on my lawn." to an adult.

[Anonymous]

Personally I would not tell someone how and when to pray.

[Anonymous]

It depends why the relative is praying like this. Jesus condemned “the hypocrites praying loudly on the corner so everybody can see them praying.” But if it’s sincere, if that’s how the spirit is moving then, that’s totally different.

[Anonymous]

Saying a prayer silently to yourself is perfectly acceptable, anytime and any place.

Otherwise, on your knees, out loud, or hands up is just for show-- regardless of religion. Prayers are not meant for disturbing those around you.

[Anonymous]

I think people who are TRULY religious know how to do it without attracting a ton of attention to themselves.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the insight and I agree I can not tell a grown up what to do. The relative is not a show off by any chance but she is too religious and sometimes interprets the bible literally. I think she also lacks self awareness. She listens to a minister on the radio and does exactly as the preacher asks the listener to do.

[Anonymous]

So Muslim prayer is showy and loud?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So Muslim prayer is showy and loud?

When they start blocking traffic by praying in the middle of a street-- yes, it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So Muslim prayer is showy and loud?

When they start blocking traffic by praying in the middle of a street-- yes, it is.

Oh and when they blare the call of prayer over loud (so yes loud) speakers for an entire neighborhood to hear. Yes, it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope this is the right forum to ask this question. As a christian, we are told that there is a time and place for everything. Does that also apply to prayers? If you had a close relative who knelt with their arms raised up, anywhere including your front yard, would that bother you? If It would, how would you address it without being offensive especially if there were cultural differences?

Thank you.

Didn't Jesus say to "Pray without ceasing?" Kind of hard to go around with hands in the air "without ceasing."

I personally don't think kneeling and raising arms makes prayer more effective--but, it is not what I think. it is what the person praying thinks. To each his own.

[Anonymous]

I saw a Muslim praying at IAD airport, at the area after the security check and before you board trains to take you to a terminal. Clearly, we should allow ALL religions to be practiced equally and that means either "appropriate place and time" for all or freedom to do it whenever/wherever for all.