Prayers

Do you think you need to believe in God to pray?

Sometimes, I want to pray for something, but because I'm agnostic, I kinda feel awkward.

In Zelazny's Creatures of Light and Darkness, there's this agnostic prayer :

Insofar as I may be heard by anything, which may or may not care what I say, I ask, if it matters, that you be forgiven for anything you may have done or failed to do which requires forgiveness. Conversely, if not forgiveness but something else may be required to insure any possible benefit for which you may be eligible after the destruction of your body, I ask that this, whatever it may be, be granted or withheld, as the case may be, in such a manner as to insure your receiving said benefit. I ask this in my capacity as your elected intermediary between yourself and that which may not be yourself, but which may have an interest in the matter of your receiving as much as it is possible for you to receive of this thing, and which may in some way be influenced by this ceremony. Amen.

which I think is awesome. First because it's hilarious, second because "yay, agnostic prayer". The idea hat yes, you can express something religiously without renuncing what being agnostic means, and you can do beautifully. Which is odd, I don't think many people see agnosticism as a commitment. I mean, even atheism is more of a pronounciation of faith (in the non existence of God) than agnosticism. But, if I call myself an agnostic that's because for me it's the position I can hold which is the most honnest with myself. And that honnesty, of sincerity is something important for me.

So there's prayers as rituals. As parts in ceremonies in formalized religions. I never have any problems with those, because I see themas a commitment to a community, to its forms and culture. And judaism as a cultural identity, and belonging to the jewish community is something that's important for me.
Or if I'm there as a guest to a religious ceremony which I don't belong to, I see that as a simple form of respect and politeness to my hosts.
So I don't think you need to believe in G*d for those prayers.

There's the time when it's an expression of caring and wishing well someone. Well, usually I just write/thing "sending positive thoughts to you" or "I hope things are going to improve for you". Sometimes I don't really put it into words. But some people would say "I pray for your wel being". So, is that a prayer?

There's when you look around you, and the world is beautiful, and people are many, diverse, rich, and they all feel and act, and you're overwhelmed with it and you just want to say "thank you, thank you". I don't think I need to believe in God to be grateful to be alive and to live in the world. Because that expression is its own goal, you know? And I don't really always put it into words either, but it does feel like a religious feeling in a way.

Then... that's what I was getting earlier. I wanted a prayer to say "help me not being arrogant, self righteous and patronizing, and not thinking I know better than others." It could be anything of course; about selfishness, or courage, or to escape self loathing and despair. Anything about moral strength or wisdom. It's more of a resolution or a vow you make to oneself, so you don't really need to believe that something out there will help you with that, because it's really about the fact that expressing this resolution helps you holding it, right? Putting it into forms is helpful, is meaningful.

Any thoughts?

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