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 men. I tell you the truth, 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. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
If the gods listened to the prayers of men, all humankind would quickly perish since they constantly pray for many evils to befall one another.
— Epicurus
Can’t do it. Can’t force myself to watch it. I’m feeling queasy from a headache and backache, so I just can’t take the risk.
Why couldn’t kids just pray in the morning before they even go to school? Would that not cover the whole school day? Do prayers need to be recharged every so often like batteries? Does God forget what you asked for and need to be reminded? Why couldn’t they just take a moment in between classes or during lunch to lower their heads and mumble a few words? There’s dozens of ways that kids could have a private moment between themselves and their imaginary friend if they wanted to, but there’s only one way they can do it while forcing others to watch or participate, otherwise we wouldn’t even be having this argument.
Of course, I shouldn’t say “kids”, because as a former kid who had to sit through a dozen years of daily silent moments with other kids, I can safely say that no one gave a bouncing fuck about contemplating anything – it was just one more stupid rule to be contemptuously followed in a day full of them. No, this kind of stupidity can only come from parents who have no idea what their little god-fearing darlings get up to when out from under their watchful Puritan gaze. It’s a stereotype as trite and worn-out as Republicans in the closet, but in my experience, it was always the ministers’ sons who would smoke or drink whatever was handed to them, and it was always the bible-thumpers’ daughters who were the most eager human mattresses. Amazing how these people just simply never learn.