Visiting family - Prayers before meals

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask them to make it a short prayer so the food doesn't get cold.

"God is great, God is good. Lord we thank you for this food. Amen."

" Rub a dub! dub!"
"Thanks for the grub!"
" Yaaaaay God!"

My uncle, a retired Catholic priest, has been known to use this prayer before meals when other family members make a BIG DEAL out of having a priest at the dinner table.

He’s not a fan of performative prayer.

Saying grace at thanksgiving is performative?

Maybe op having anxiety over family saying grace is performative.

DP, no, that's not his point. PP referenced the vanity of the host; pride in having a priest at the meal makes the prayer performative.

Most Catholics aren't fans of performative prayer. I like this quote from Pope Francis: "The Lord tells us: the first task in life is this: prayer. But not the prayer of words like a parrot, but the prayer of the heart, gazing on the Lord, hearing the Lord, asking the Lord."

Prayer is too often turned into something other than prayer. In PP's Thanksgiving example, the host made a "BIG DEAL" over the priest giving grace, which tuned grace into an act of vanity. The priest countered that by offering a humble blessing. In a public place shared by others like a restaurant, a humble, silent prayer is just as good for the earnest believer; there is no need to hold a public prayer meeting at Burger King. The louder and more publicly disruptive you are, the more your prayer risks being something else: vanity, proselytizing, pretense, hypocrisy.

A prayer with family over a meal is an act of vanity?


Christians have a long tradition of pausing and thanking God before eating a meal. It’s so common that sometimes we can slide into and out of our prayer without much thought.

It’s humbling to say, “thank you.” To give thanks before eating is an act of expressing gratitude.

In the life of Jesus, we see him regularly stopping to thank God for providing food. He prays before the feeding of the 5,000 (Matt. 14:19). He prays before the Last Supper (Matt. 26:26–29).

Are you a Christian, pp?

DP. Of course Christians should pray. But Jesus also said this (Matthew 6:5):

International Version
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know the prayers said by my FIL. They mean a lot to him, which I appreciate.

What is awkward is that he looks at me as he says them…to see a sign that I agree or something. It’s very awkward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask them to make it a short prayer so the food doesn't get cold.

"God is great, God is good. Lord we thank you for this food. Amen."

" Rub a dub! dub!"
"Thanks for the grub!"
" Yaaaaay God!"

My uncle, a retired Catholic priest, has been known to use this prayer before meals when other family members make a BIG DEAL out of having a priest at the dinner table.

He’s not a fan of performative prayer.

Saying grace at thanksgiving is performative?

Maybe op having anxiety over family saying grace is performative.

DP, no, that's not his point. PP referenced the vanity of the host; pride in having a priest at the meal makes the prayer performative.

Most Catholics aren't fans of performative prayer. I like this quote from Pope Francis: "The Lord tells us: the first task in life is this: prayer. But not the prayer of words like a parrot, but the prayer of the heart, gazing on the Lord, hearing the Lord, asking the Lord."

Prayer is too often turned into something other than prayer. In PP's Thanksgiving example, the host made a "BIG DEAL" over the priest giving grace, which tuned grace into an act of vanity. The priest countered that by offering a humble blessing. In a public place shared by others like a restaurant, a humble, silent prayer is just as good for the earnest believer; there is no need to hold a public prayer meeting at Burger King. The louder and more publicly disruptive you are, the more your prayer risks being something else: vanity, proselytizing, pretense, hypocrisy.

A prayer with family over a meal is an act of vanity?


Christians have a long tradition of pausing and thanking God before eating a meal. It’s so common that sometimes we can slide into and out of our prayer without much thought.

It’s humbling to say, “thank you.” To give thanks before eating is an act of expressing gratitude.

In the life of Jesus, we see him regularly stopping to thank God for providing food. He prays before the feeding of the 5,000 (Matt. 14:19). He prays before the Last Supper (Matt. 26:26–29).

Are you a Christian, pp?

DP. Of course Christians should pray. But Jesus also said this (Matthew 6:5):

International Version
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

So this is another attempt by trolls to tell everyone praying in public is bad.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1164172.page

See this thread, entitled: Help Settle a debate about saying grace

same words typed word for word

now op has conveniently disappeared and has no future interaction

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask them to make it a short prayer so the food doesn't get cold.

"God is great, God is good. Lord we thank you for this food. Amen."

" Rub a dub! dub!"
"Thanks for the grub!"
" Yaaaaay God!"

My uncle, a retired Catholic priest, has been known to use this prayer before meals when other family members make a BIG DEAL out of having a priest at the dinner table.

He’s not a fan of performative prayer.

Saying grace at thanksgiving is performative?

Maybe op having anxiety over family saying grace is performative.

DP, no, that's not his point. PP referenced the vanity of the host; pride in having a priest at the meal makes the prayer performative.

Most Catholics aren't fans of performative prayer. I like this quote from Pope Francis: "The Lord tells us: the first task in life is this: prayer. But not the prayer of words like a parrot, but the prayer of the heart, gazing on the Lord, hearing the Lord, asking the Lord."

Prayer is too often turned into something other than prayer. In PP's Thanksgiving example, the host made a "BIG DEAL" over the priest giving grace, which tuned grace into an act of vanity. The priest countered that by offering a humble blessing. In a public place shared by others like a restaurant, a humble, silent prayer is just as good for the earnest believer; there is no need to hold a public prayer meeting at Burger King. The louder and more publicly disruptive you are, the more your prayer risks being something else: vanity, proselytizing, pretense, hypocrisy.

A prayer with family over a meal is an act of vanity?


Christians have a long tradition of pausing and thanking God before eating a meal. It’s so common that sometimes we can slide into and out of our prayer without much thought.

It’s humbling to say, “thank you.” To give thanks before eating is an act of expressing gratitude.

In the life of Jesus, we see him regularly stopping to thank God for providing food. He prays before the feeding of the 5,000 (Matt. 14:19). He prays before the Last Supper (Matt. 26:26–29).

Are you a Christian, pp?

DP. Of course Christians should pray. But Jesus also said this (Matthew 6:5):

International Version
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

troll alert 🚨

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask them to make it a short prayer so the food doesn't get cold.

"God is great, God is good. Lord we thank you for this food. Amen."

" Rub a dub! dub!"
"Thanks for the grub!"
" Yaaaaay God!"

My uncle, a retired Catholic priest, has been known to use this prayer before meals when other family members make a BIG DEAL out of having a priest at the dinner table.

He’s not a fan of performative prayer.

Saying grace at thanksgiving is performative?

Maybe op having anxiety over family saying grace is performative.

DP, no, that's not his point. PP referenced the vanity of the host; pride in having a priest at the meal makes the prayer performative.

Most Catholics aren't fans of performative prayer. I like this quote from Pope Francis: "The Lord tells us: the first task in life is this: prayer. But not the prayer of words like a parrot, but the prayer of the heart, gazing on the Lord, hearing the Lord, asking the Lord."

Prayer is too often turned into something other than prayer. In PP's Thanksgiving example, the host made a "BIG DEAL" over the priest giving grace, which tuned grace into an act of vanity. The priest countered that by offering a humble blessing. In a public place shared by others like a restaurant, a humble, silent prayer is just as good for the earnest believer; there is no need to hold a public prayer meeting at Burger King. The louder and more publicly disruptive you are, the more your prayer risks being something else: vanity, proselytizing, pretense, hypocrisy.

A prayer with family over a meal is an act of vanity?


Christians have a long tradition of pausing and thanking God before eating a meal. It’s so common that sometimes we can slide into and out of our prayer without much thought.

It’s humbling to say, “thank you.” To give thanks before eating is an act of expressing gratitude.

In the life of Jesus, we see him regularly stopping to thank God for providing food. He prays before the feeding of the 5,000 (Matt. 14:19). He prays before the Last Supper (Matt. 26:26–29).

Are you a Christian, pp?

DP. Of course Christians should pray. But Jesus also said this (Matthew 6:5):

International Version
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

troll alert 🚨

Uh, no. I’m Christian and I don’t know about that earlier post.

Are you arguing that Jesus never said what these quotes have him saying?

Also, the Matthew passage clearly refers to performative prayer in public. Jesus mentions shouting on street corners. If that’s not you, if your restaurant prayer is discreet and not performative, then you have no worries.

Nobody said you can’t pray outside your house and church. Nobody, especially not Jesus, said that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask them to make it a short prayer so the food doesn't get cold.

"God is great, God is good. Lord we thank you for this food. Amen."

" Rub a dub! dub!"
"Thanks for the grub!"
" Yaaaaay God!"

My uncle, a retired Catholic priest, has been known to use this prayer before meals when other family members make a BIG DEAL out of having a priest at the dinner table.

He’s not a fan of performative prayer.

Saying grace at thanksgiving is performative?

Maybe op having anxiety over family saying grace is performative.

DP, no, that's not his point. PP referenced the vanity of the host; pride in having a priest at the meal makes the prayer performative.

Most Catholics aren't fans of performative prayer. I like this quote from Pope Francis: "The Lord tells us: the first task in life is this: prayer. But not the prayer of words like a parrot, but the prayer of the heart, gazing on the Lord, hearing the Lord, asking the Lord."

Prayer is too often turned into something other than prayer. In PP's Thanksgiving example, the host made a "BIG DEAL" over the priest giving grace, which tuned grace into an act of vanity. The priest countered that by offering a humble blessing. In a public place shared by others like a restaurant, a humble, silent prayer is just as good for the earnest believer; there is no need to hold a public prayer meeting at Burger King. The louder and more publicly disruptive you are, the more your prayer risks being something else: vanity, proselytizing, pretense, hypocrisy.

A prayer with family over a meal is an act of vanity?


Christians have a long tradition of pausing and thanking God before eating a meal. It’s so common that sometimes we can slide into and out of our prayer without much thought.

It’s humbling to say, “thank you.” To give thanks before eating is an act of expressing gratitude.

In the life of Jesus, we see him regularly stopping to thank God for providing food. He prays before the feeding of the 5,000 (Matt. 14:19). He prays before the Last Supper (Matt. 26:26–29).

Are you a Christian, pp?

DP. Of course Christians should pray. But Jesus also said this (Matthew 6:5):

International Version
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

troll alert 🚨

More like you're a troll who wants to argue about scripture about prayers. The bible quote literally references how it can be "performative", why is that an issue for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask them to make it a short prayer so the food doesn't get cold.

"God is great, God is good. Lord we thank you for this food. Amen."

" Rub a dub! dub!"
"Thanks for the grub!"
" Yaaaaay God!"

My uncle, a retired Catholic priest, has been known to use this prayer before meals when other family members make a BIG DEAL out of having a priest at the dinner table.

He’s not a fan of performative prayer.

Saying grace at thanksgiving is performative?

Maybe op having anxiety over family saying grace is performative.

DP, no, that's not his point. PP referenced the vanity of the host; pride in having a priest at the meal makes the prayer performative.

Most Catholics aren't fans of performative prayer. I like this quote from Pope Francis: "The Lord tells us: the first task in life is this: prayer. But not the prayer of words like a parrot, but the prayer of the heart, gazing on the Lord, hearing the Lord, asking the Lord."

Prayer is too often turned into something other than prayer. In PP's Thanksgiving example, the host made a "BIG DEAL" over the priest giving grace, which tuned grace into an act of vanity. The priest countered that by offering a humble blessing. In a public place shared by others like a restaurant, a humble, silent prayer is just as good for the earnest believer; there is no need to hold a public prayer meeting at Burger King. The louder and more publicly disruptive you are, the more your prayer risks being something else: vanity, proselytizing, pretense, hypocrisy.

A prayer with family over a meal is an act of vanity?


Christians have a long tradition of pausing and thanking God before eating a meal. It’s so common that sometimes we can slide into and out of our prayer without much thought.

It’s humbling to say, “thank you.” To give thanks before eating is an act of expressing gratitude.

In the life of Jesus, we see him regularly stopping to thank God for providing food. He prays before the feeding of the 5,000 (Matt. 14:19). He prays before the Last Supper (Matt. 26:26–29).

Are you a Christian, pp?

DP. Of course Christians should pray. But Jesus also said this (Matthew 6:5):

International Version
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

troll alert 🚨

More like you're a troll who wants to argue about scripture about prayers. The bible quote literally references how it can be "performative", why is that an issue for you?

Why do you think you are the expert on how other people pray? You aren’t, at all. Mind your own business; you have no right to tell others how/when/why/where to pray.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask them to make it a short prayer so the food doesn't get cold.

"God is great, God is good. Lord we thank you for this food. Amen."

" Rub a dub! dub!"
"Thanks for the grub!"
" Yaaaaay God!"

My uncle, a retired Catholic priest, has been known to use this prayer before meals when other family members make a BIG DEAL out of having a priest at the dinner table.

He’s not a fan of performative prayer.

Saying grace at thanksgiving is performative?

Maybe op having anxiety over family saying grace is performative.

DP, no, that's not his point. PP referenced the vanity of the host; pride in having a priest at the meal makes the prayer performative.

Most Catholics aren't fans of performative prayer. I like this quote from Pope Francis: "The Lord tells us: the first task in life is this: prayer. But not the prayer of words like a parrot, but the prayer of the heart, gazing on the Lord, hearing the Lord, asking the Lord."

Prayer is too often turned into something other than prayer. In PP's Thanksgiving example, the host made a "BIG DEAL" over the priest giving grace, which tuned grace into an act of vanity. The priest countered that by offering a humble blessing. In a public place shared by others like a restaurant, a humble, silent prayer is just as good for the earnest believer; there is no need to hold a public prayer meeting at Burger King. The louder and more publicly disruptive you are, the more your prayer risks being something else: vanity, proselytizing, pretense, hypocrisy.

A prayer with family over a meal is an act of vanity?


Christians have a long tradition of pausing and thanking God before eating a meal. It’s so common that sometimes we can slide into and out of our prayer without much thought.

It’s humbling to say, “thank you.” To give thanks before eating is an act of expressing gratitude.

In the life of Jesus, we see him regularly stopping to thank God for providing food. He prays before the feeding of the 5,000 (Matt. 14:19). He prays before the Last Supper (Matt. 26:26–29).

Are you a Christian, pp?

DP. Of course Christians should pray. But Jesus also said this (Matthew 6:5):

International Version
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

troll alert 🚨

More like you're a troll who wants to argue about scripture about prayers. The bible quote literally references how it can be "performative", why is that an issue for you?

Why do you think you are the expert on how other people pray? You aren’t, at all. Mind your own business; you have no right to tell others how/when/why/where to pray.

But PP DOES have a right to have an opinion on it, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask them to make it a short prayer so the food doesn't get cold.

"God is great, God is good. Lord we thank you for this food. Amen."

" Rub a dub! dub!"
"Thanks for the grub!"
" Yaaaaay God!"

My uncle, a retired Catholic priest, has been known to use this prayer before meals when other family members make a BIG DEAL out of having a priest at the dinner table.

He’s not a fan of performative prayer.

Saying grace at thanksgiving is performative?

Maybe op having anxiety over family saying grace is performative.

DP, no, that's not his point. PP referenced the vanity of the host; pride in having a priest at the meal makes the prayer performative.

Most Catholics aren't fans of performative prayer. I like this quote from Pope Francis: "The Lord tells us: the first task in life is this: prayer. But not the prayer of words like a parrot, but the prayer of the heart, gazing on the Lord, hearing the Lord, asking the Lord."

Prayer is too often turned into something other than prayer. In PP's Thanksgiving example, the host made a "BIG DEAL" over the priest giving grace, which tuned grace into an act of vanity. The priest countered that by offering a humble blessing. In a public place shared by others like a restaurant, a humble, silent prayer is just as good for the earnest believer; there is no need to hold a public prayer meeting at Burger King. The louder and more publicly disruptive you are, the more your prayer risks being something else: vanity, proselytizing, pretense, hypocrisy.

A prayer with family over a meal is an act of vanity?


Christians have a long tradition of pausing and thanking God before eating a meal. It’s so common that sometimes we can slide into and out of our prayer without much thought.

It’s humbling to say, “thank you.” To give thanks before eating is an act of expressing gratitude.

In the life of Jesus, we see him regularly stopping to thank God for providing food. He prays before the feeding of the 5,000 (Matt. 14:19). He prays before the Last Supper (Matt. 26:26–29).

Are you a Christian, pp?

DP. Of course Christians should pray. But Jesus also said this (Matthew 6:5):

International Version
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

troll alert 🚨

More like you're a troll who wants to argue about scripture about prayers. The bible quote literally references how it can be "performative", why is that an issue for you?

Why do you think you are the expert on how other people pray? You aren’t, at all. Mind your own business; you have no right to tell others how/when/why/where to pray.

But PP DOES have a right to have an opinion on it, no?

What is the point and reason pp has an opinion on other people praying?

What is the reason pp has to judge other people for their religious beliefs?

What are your religious beliefs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask them to make it a short prayer so the food doesn't get cold.

"God is great, God is good. Lord we thank you for this food. Amen."

" Rub a dub! dub!"
"Thanks for the grub!"
" Yaaaaay God!"

My uncle, a retired Catholic priest, has been known to use this prayer before meals when other family members make a BIG DEAL out of having a priest at the dinner table.

He’s not a fan of performative prayer.

Saying grace at thanksgiving is performative?

Maybe op having anxiety over family saying grace is performative.

DP, no, that's not his point. PP referenced the vanity of the host; pride in having a priest at the meal makes the prayer performative.

Most Catholics aren't fans of performative prayer. I like this quote from Pope Francis: "The Lord tells us: the first task in life is this: prayer. But not the prayer of words like a parrot, but the prayer of the heart, gazing on the Lord, hearing the Lord, asking the Lord."

Prayer is too often turned into something other than prayer. In PP's Thanksgiving example, the host made a "BIG DEAL" over the priest giving grace, which tuned grace into an act of vanity. The priest countered that by offering a humble blessing. In a public place shared by others like a restaurant, a humble, silent prayer is just as good for the earnest believer; there is no need to hold a public prayer meeting at Burger King. The louder and more publicly disruptive you are, the more your prayer risks being something else: vanity, proselytizing, pretense, hypocrisy.

A prayer with family over a meal is an act of vanity?


Christians have a long tradition of pausing and thanking God before eating a meal. It’s so common that sometimes we can slide into and out of our prayer without much thought.

It’s humbling to say, “thank you.” To give thanks before eating is an act of expressing gratitude.

In the life of Jesus, we see him regularly stopping to thank God for providing food. He prays before the feeding of the 5,000 (Matt. 14:19). He prays before the Last Supper (Matt. 26:26–29).

Are you a Christian, pp?

DP. Of course Christians should pray. But Jesus also said this (Matthew 6:5):

International Version
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

troll alert 🚨

More like you're a troll who wants to argue about scripture about prayers. The bible quote literally references how it can be "performative", why is that an issue for you?

Why do you think you are the expert on how other people pray? You aren’t, at all. Mind your own business; you have no right to tell others how/when/why/where to pray.

But PP DOES have a right to have an opinion on it, no?

What is the point and reason pp has an opinion on other people praying?

What is the reason pp has to judge other people for their religious beliefs?

What are your religious beliefs?

Answer the question asked, and then you will get answers to yours.

Does PP have the right to have an opinion on it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask them to make it a short prayer so the food doesn't get cold.

"God is great, God is good. Lord we thank you for this food. Amen."

" Rub a dub! dub!"
"Thanks for the grub!"
" Yaaaaay God!"

My uncle, a retired Catholic priest, has been known to use this prayer before meals when other family members make a BIG DEAL out of having a priest at the dinner table.

He’s not a fan of performative prayer.

Saying grace at thanksgiving is performative?

Maybe op having anxiety over family saying grace is performative.

DP, no, that's not his point. PP referenced the vanity of the host; pride in having a priest at the meal makes the prayer performative.

Most Catholics aren't fans of performative prayer. I like this quote from Pope Francis: "The Lord tells us: the first task in life is this: prayer. But not the prayer of words like a parrot, but the prayer of the heart, gazing on the Lord, hearing the Lord, asking the Lord."

Prayer is too often turned into something other than prayer. In PP's Thanksgiving example, the host made a "BIG DEAL" over the priest giving grace, which tuned grace into an act of vanity. The priest countered that by offering a humble blessing. In a public place shared by others like a restaurant, a humble, silent prayer is just as good for the earnest believer; there is no need to hold a public prayer meeting at Burger King. The louder and more publicly disruptive you are, the more your prayer risks being something else: vanity, proselytizing, pretense, hypocrisy.

A prayer with family over a meal is an act of vanity?


Christians have a long tradition of pausing and thanking God before eating a meal. It’s so common that sometimes we can slide into and out of our prayer without much thought.

It’s humbling to say, “thank you.” To give thanks before eating is an act of expressing gratitude.

In the life of Jesus, we see him regularly stopping to thank God for providing food. He prays before the feeding of the 5,000 (Matt. 14:19). He prays before the Last Supper (Matt. 26:26–29).

Are you a Christian, pp?

DP. Of course Christians should pray. But Jesus also said this (Matthew 6:5):

International Version
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

troll alert 🚨

More like you're a troll who wants to argue about scripture about prayers. The bible quote literally references how it can be "performative", why is that an issue for you?

Why do you think you are the expert on how other people pray? You aren’t, at all. Mind your own business; you have no right to tell others how/when/why/where to pray.

But PP DOES have a right to have an opinion on it, no?

What is the point and reason pp has an opinion on other people praying?

What is the reason pp has to judge other people for their religious beliefs?

What are your religious beliefs?

Answer the question asked, and then you will get answers to yours.

Does PP have the right to have an opinion on it?

why does pp (who isn’t a Christian, probably) have such strong emotions and opinions about people practicing their religious beliefs? I thought atheism was just a disbelief in God, nothing more?

Why does pp care what others do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask them to make it a short prayer so the food doesn't get cold.

"God is great, God is good. Lord we thank you for this food. Amen."

" Rub a dub! dub!"
"Thanks for the grub!"
" Yaaaaay God!"

My uncle, a retired Catholic priest, has been known to use this prayer before meals when other family members make a BIG DEAL out of having a priest at the dinner table.

He’s not a fan of performative prayer.

Saying grace at thanksgiving is performative?

Maybe op having anxiety over family saying grace is performative.

DP, no, that's not his point. PP referenced the vanity of the host; pride in having a priest at the meal makes the prayer performative.

Most Catholics aren't fans of performative prayer. I like this quote from Pope Francis: "The Lord tells us: the first task in life is this: prayer. But not the prayer of words like a parrot, but the prayer of the heart, gazing on the Lord, hearing the Lord, asking the Lord."

Prayer is too often turned into something other than prayer. In PP's Thanksgiving example, the host made a "BIG DEAL" over the priest giving grace, which tuned grace into an act of vanity. The priest countered that by offering a humble blessing. In a public place shared by others like a restaurant, a humble, silent prayer is just as good for the earnest believer; there is no need to hold a public prayer meeting at Burger King. The louder and more publicly disruptive you are, the more your prayer risks being something else: vanity, proselytizing, pretense, hypocrisy.

A prayer with family over a meal is an act of vanity?


Christians have a long tradition of pausing and thanking God before eating a meal. It’s so common that sometimes we can slide into and out of our prayer without much thought.

It’s humbling to say, “thank you.” To give thanks before eating is an act of expressing gratitude.

In the life of Jesus, we see him regularly stopping to thank God for providing food. He prays before the feeding of the 5,000 (Matt. 14:19). He prays before the Last Supper (Matt. 26:26–29).

Are you a Christian, pp?

DP. Of course Christians should pray. But Jesus also said this (Matthew 6:5):

International Version
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

troll alert 🚨

More like you're a troll who wants to argue about scripture about prayers. The bible quote literally references how it can be "performative", why is that an issue for you?

Why do you think you are the expert on how other people pray? You aren’t, at all. Mind your own business; you have no right to tell others how/when/why/where to pray.

But PP DOES have a right to have an opinion on it, no?

What is the point and reason pp has an opinion on other people praying?

What is the reason pp has to judge other people for their religious beliefs?

What are your religious beliefs?

Answer the question asked, and then you will get answers to yours.

Does PP have the right to have an opinion on it?

why does pp (who isn’t a Christian, probably) have such strong emotions and opinions about people practicing their religious beliefs? I thought atheism was just a disbelief in God, nothing more?

Why does pp care what others do?

If you’re referring to the person who posted that Matthew passage on this thread, that’s me, and I’m Christian. (That’s how I know about that passage.)

I’ve also said very clearly that I don’t think it means that Christians can’t pray in public. Of course they can and should pray in public over meals etc. the problem is when it’s performative. Saying grace at the restaurant isn’t performative, and if you think that passage implies it is performative, that’s on you.

I’m starting to suspect the troll is the person who is so upset about the Matthew passage. And the troll isn’t Christian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pick your battles. They’re your in laws. You don’t live with them and probably don’t see them every week. Just think about something else while your head is bowed in “prayer.”

Don't bow. Look around. You may find that you're not the only one not praying

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Ask them to make it a short prayer so the food doesn't get cold.

"God is great, God is good. Lord we thank you for this food. Amen."

" Rub a dub! dub!"
"Thanks for the grub!"
" Yaaaaay God!"

My uncle, a retired Catholic priest, has been known to use this prayer before meals when other family members make a BIG DEAL out of having a priest at the dinner table.

He’s not a fan of performative prayer.

Saying grace at thanksgiving is performative?

Maybe op having anxiety over family saying grace is performative.

DP, no, that's not his point. PP referenced the vanity of the host; pride in having a priest at the meal makes the prayer performative.

Most Catholics aren't fans of performative prayer. I like this quote from Pope Francis: "The Lord tells us: the first task in life is this: prayer. But not the prayer of words like a parrot, but the prayer of the heart, gazing on the Lord, hearing the Lord, asking the Lord."

Prayer is too often turned into something other than prayer. In PP's Thanksgiving example, the host made a "BIG DEAL" over the priest giving grace, which tuned grace into an act of vanity. The priest countered that by offering a humble blessing. In a public place shared by others like a restaurant, a humble, silent prayer is just as good for the earnest believer; there is no need to hold a public prayer meeting at Burger King. The louder and more publicly disruptive you are, the more your prayer risks being something else: vanity, proselytizing, pretense, hypocrisy.

A prayer with family over a meal is an act of vanity?


Christians have a long tradition of pausing and thanking God before eating a meal. It’s so common that sometimes we can slide into and out of our prayer without much thought.

It’s humbling to say, “thank you.” To give thanks before eating is an act of expressing gratitude.

In the life of Jesus, we see him regularly stopping to thank God for providing food. He prays before the feeding of the 5,000 (Matt. 14:19). He prays before the Last Supper (Matt. 26:26–29).

Are you a Christian, pp?

DP. Of course Christians should pray. But Jesus also said this (Matthew 6:5):

International Version
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

troll alert 🚨

More like you're a troll who wants to argue about scripture about prayers. The bible quote literally references how it can be "performative", why is that an issue for you?

Why do you think you are the expert on how other people pray? You aren’t, at all. Mind your own business; you have no right to tell others how/when/why/where to pray.

But PP DOES have a right to have an opinion on it, no?

What is the point and reason pp has an opinion on other people praying?

What is the reason pp has to judge other people for their religious beliefs?

What are your religious beliefs?

Answer the question asked, and then you will get answers to yours.

Does PP have the right to have an opinion on it?

why does pp (who isn’t a Christian, probably) have such strong emotions and opinions about people practicing their religious beliefs? I thought atheism was just a disbelief in God, nothing more?

Why does pp care what others do?

Astoundingly, I guess I need to repeat:

Answer the question asked, and then you will get answers to yours.

Does PP have the right to have an opinion on it?

[Anonymous]

Do as the Mormons do and just hold your elbows. No biggie.