What's the difference between "wishing" and "praying"?

[alfaniner]

I thought about this the other day when I saw someone toss a coin into a fountain. Is there any difference between the act of wishing and the act of praying?

Wishing is usually done on a whim, such as above when tossing a coin down a well or into a fountain, or upon a star. The wisher usually realizes that it's a frivolous gesture, and depending on the wish, the outcome is as likely to occur as not.

Praying is usually done for things more intense, such as the health of a loved one, or for a new job, or a raise. However, the outcome is probably just as likely as that of a wish, i.e., it may happen or it may not. Sometimes people may wish for the same things, but they are not likely to put too much stock into wishing's effect as to the outcome.

Sometimes wishes come true, sometimes prayers are "answered." Why then is prayer fulfillment attributed to some mystical force, and wish fulfillment is not?

[evildave]

Well, there are certainly many people who pray on a whim, too.

"Dear God, let my sports team win!"


Perhaps both could be described as a habit people are drilled by their social environment to adopt.

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

I wish that praying had a real effect.

~~ Paul

[triadboy]

Wishers are completely relaxed.

Prayers clinch their buttcheeks and eyes tightly.

[ebola]

Paul,

I pray that your wish comes true.

Eric

[Hazelip]

The toss of a coin, the plucking of flower petals, the lighting of a candle, the kissing of an idol's (virgin Mary idolatry in the Catholic church is funny) feet, etc.

It's all the same. Stupid and ineffectual.

[uneasy]

I can give you my perspective from back when I used to wish and pray. I would separate the two. I would pray for things I thought God might care about, mostly other people. I would wish for things that were just for me and could really do without. Over the years, I slowly made more wishes than prayers, until one day all I did was wish.

I still like to wish.

I wish Winona Ryder would show up on my doorstep and say she saw me in Pittsburgh in 92 and has been looking for me ever since. Wishing is fun. Some of you should try it.

[evildave]

Sure an active fantasy life is nice, and all, but if you're going to fantasize about something, you might set your sites higher than Winona Ryder.

http://i.imdb.com/Photos/Events/1443/2002MTVMov_Caulf_483983_400.jpg

[LaserCool]

Wishing is just hoping for happenstance. Praying is wishing with the expectation that "someone" can hear you and, if moved by your plea, make your wishes come true.

[EdipisReks]

Originally posted by evildave
Sure an active fantasy life is nice, and all, but if you're going to fantasize about something, you might set your sites higher than Winona Ryder.

http://i.imdb.com/Photos/Events/1443/2002MTVMov_Caulf_483983_400.jpg

you only say that because Winona Ryder was touched by the evil one, as that picture shows. i pray that she is cleaned of the touch of Satan Sandler.

[uneasy]

Originally posted by evildave
Sure an active fantasy life is nice, and all, but if you're going to fantasize about something, you might set your sites higher than Winona Ryder.


I forgot to mention that any negative comment about Winona will bring great wishes of disaster upon your head.

[Gregor]

Praying is just wishing - focused.


It's like the difference between shining a flash light in the dark and pointing a laser in the dark.


However, since there is nothing for either light source to reflect upon, neither optical device produces results.

[thaiboxerken]

People make wishes knowing that it really changes nothing.

Theists pray actually thinking that it has the power to invoke change.

Prayers are like spells.

Wishes are hope.

[Ruby]

Originally posted by alfaniner
I thought about this the other day when I saw someone toss a coin into a fountain. Is there any difference between the act of wishing and the act of praying?

Wishing is usually done on a whim, such as above when tossing a coin down a well or into a fountain, or upon a star. The wisher usually realizes that it's a frivolous gesture, and depending on the wish, the outcome is as likely to occur as not.

Praying is usually done for things more intense, such as the health of a loved one, or for a new job, or a raise. However, the outcome is probably just as likely as that of a wish, i.e., it may happen or it may not. Sometimes people may wish for the same things, but they are not likely to put too much stock into wishing's effect as to the outcome.

Sometimes wishes come true, sometimes prayers are "answered." Why then is prayer fulfillment attributed to some mystical force, and wish fulfillment is not?

Not all prayers are about asking for something. Many Christians use prayer to *talk* to God.

However, as far as praying for things to happen or not happen goes, I'd say the outcome has about the same chance of a wish being answered. I might be wrong, but I've had a lot of prayers unanswered. If that changes, I'll let you know.:eek:

[Ladyhawk]

A wish = hope
A prayer = desperation
;)

[ceo_esq]

Originally posted by Ruby
Not all prayers are about asking for something. Many Christians use prayer to *talk* to God.

However, as far as praying for things to happen or not happen goes, I'd say the outcome has about the same chance of a wish being answered. I might be wrong, but I've had a lot of prayers unanswered. If that changes, I'll let you know.:eek:

Maybe your prayers were answered, and the answer was "No." :D

Seriously, though, you raise a good point. Not all prayers are specific petitions. In a number of religions, prayers are frequently used by believers as expressions of thanksgiving, praise, repentance and so forth.

In a general way, prayer is just a focused application of thoughts/feelings to divine or transcendental matters - a form of meditation. So I suppose some might say that, like meditation or philosophical/aesthetic contemplation, the act of prayer itself can have beneficial effects for the practitioner, regardless of whether the prayer is "answered" (or even answerable).

[Ruby]

Originally posted by ceo_esq


Maybe your prayers were answered, and the answer was "No." :D

Now that sounds like a typical Christian fundamentalist response!:D

The things I prayed for that were not answered had to do with healing. I sought all sorts of prayer for a long time for a terribly painful irritable bowel condition, and never was healed. I watched a dear friend find the man of her dreams and get married. She really believed that God had put them together. It was a fairytale marriage. She married a truly awesome man. He died of cancer SIX months after they were married. He did not even know when they married that he was so desperately ill. He had so much prayer before he died, and someone even "prophesied" that he would be healed. He got so sick so fast and then was gone. It was awful!!!!

I had severe post-partum depression after my second child was born. I could hardly get out of bed...and sometimes did not. This depression lasted three years!!! It only ended when I got pg with my last son (who is none months now.) The pregnancy shifted my hormones and released me from my depression. While I was depressed, I had all sorts of prayer. I used to lay in bed begging God to heal me or to let me die. He granted neither request!!

:(

[Ruby]

Originally posted by ceo_esq




Sorry for my last post! I guess I was venting a bit!!:rolleyes:

[Tricky]

Originally posted by thaiboxerken
People make wishes knowing that it really changes nothing.

Theists pray actually thinking that it has the power to invoke change.

Prayers are like spells.

Wishes are hope.
I think this nails it. Prayers are spells. They are attempts to communicate with the supernatural. I say this with some authority, since my wife is a Pagan.

There are virtually no differences between their rituals and Christians' prayers. They may or may not require ceremony. They may be personal or done in groups. They may be done to make a specific request, ask for guidance, or simply to request protection for people and the Earth in general.

The only thing that makes them a spell instead of a wish is the assumption that their wishes are heard by a God/Goddess (who may or may not act on them).

[BillyTK]

Back when I was a practising catholic I used to go to confession, and the priest used to give me my penance and tell me to pray to god for forgiveness. And you know what? God answered my prayers everytime...