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

alfaniner · 8th June 2003, 12:01 PM

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?

8th June 2003, 12:07 PM

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 · 8th June 2003, 12:18 PM

I wish that praying had a real effect.

~~ Paul

triadboy · 8th June 2003, 12:27 PM

Wishers are completely relaxed.

Prayers clinch their buttcheeks and eyes tightly.

ebola · 8th June 2003, 12:27 PM

Paul,

I pray that your wish comes true.

Eric

Hazelip · 8th June 2003, 12:32 PM

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 · 8th June 2003, 12:54 PM

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.

8th June 2003, 03:09 PM

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.

8th June 2003, 04:35 PM

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 · 8th June 2003, 06:03 PM

Quote:

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.

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 · 8th June 2003, 06:13 PM

Quote:

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 · 9th June 2003, 05:29 AM

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 · 9th June 2003, 06:18 AM

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 · 9th June 2003, 01:55 PM

Quote:

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.

Ladyhawk · 9th June 2003, 03:41 PM

A wish = hope
A prayer = desperation

ceo_esq · 10th June 2003, 03:09 AM

Quote:

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.

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

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 · 10th June 2003, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ceo_esq

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

Now that sounds like a typical Christian fundamentalist response!

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 · 10th June 2003, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ceo_esq

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

Tricky · 11th June 2003, 05:46 AM

Quote:

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 · 11th June 2003, 05:53 AM

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...

8th June 2003, 12:01 PM	#1
alfaniner Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Sorth Dakonsin Posts: 11,383	What's the difference between "wishing" and "praying"? 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?

8th June 2003, 12:07 PM	#2
evildave Guest Posts: n/a	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.
evildave Guest Posts: n/a

8th June 2003, 12:18 PM	#3
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Nap, interrupted. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: a little toolshed Posts: 18,592	I wish that praying had a real effect. ~~ Paul
	__________________ Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. ---Susan Ertz RIP Mr. Skinny

8th June 2003, 12:27 PM	#5
ebola Thinker Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: SoNH Posts: 146	Paul, I pray that your wish comes true. Eric
	__________________ For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it. - Thomas Jefferson (1820)

8th June 2003, 12:32 PM	#6
Hazelip Critical Thinker Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 497	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.
Hazelip Critical Thinker Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 497	__________________ Boring blog: http://www.Hazelip.com/

8th June 2003, 12:27 PM	#4
triadboy Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 2,556	Wishers are completely relaxed. Prayers clinch their buttcheeks and eyes tightly.

8th June 2003, 12:54 PM	#7
uneasy Muse Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 504	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.
uneasy Muse Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 504	__________________ Mud, Mud, glorious mud Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood!

8th June 2003, 03:09 PM	#8
evildave Guest Posts: n/a	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.
evildave Guest Posts: n/a

8th June 2003, 04:35 PM	#9
LaserCool Guest Posts: n/a	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.
LaserCool Guest Posts: n/a

8th June 2003, 06:03 PM	#10
EdipisReks Custom Title Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The 'Nati Posts: 1,952	Quote: 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. 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.
	__________________ "Candy to rot your teeth. Bible to rot your brain." --EvilDave (7-24-2003) "I read the Book Of Mormon once. Wasn't it about Uma Thurman, um, thrumming a Theremin?" --epepke (9-22-2004)

8th June 2003, 06:13 PM	#11
uneasy Muse Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 504	Quote: 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.
uneasy Muse Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 504	__________________ Mud, Mud, glorious mud Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood!

9th June 2003, 05:29 AM	#12
Gregor Critical Thinker Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 355	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.
Gregor Critical Thinker Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 355	__________________ "Just because ignorance is organized and given a name doesn't change the fact that it's make-believe." Lord Kenneth

9th June 2003, 06:18 AM	#13
thaiboxerken Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 20,963	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.
	__________________ All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power & profit - Thomas Paine

9th June 2003, 01:55 PM	#14
Ruby Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,043	Re: What's the difference between "wishing" and "praying"? Quote: 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.
Ruby Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,043

9th June 2003, 03:41 PM	#15
Ladyhawk Muse Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Somewhere over the rainbow Posts: 848	A wish = hope A prayer = desperation

10th June 2003, 03:09 AM	#16
ceo_esq Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 4,940	Re: Re: What's the difference between "wishing" and "praying"? Quote: 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. Maybe your prayers were answered, and the answer was "No." 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).
ceo_esq Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 4,940

10th June 2003, 01:05 PM	#17
Ruby Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,043	Re: Re: Re: What's the difference between "wishing" and "praying"? Quote: Originally posted by ceo_esq Maybe your prayers were answered, and the answer was "No." Now that sounds like a typical Christian fundamentalist response! 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 Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,043

10th June 2003, 01:07 PM	#18
Ruby Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,043	Re: Re: Re: What's the difference between "wishing" and "praying"? Quote: Originally posted by ceo_esq Sorry for my last post! I guess I was venting a bit!!
Ruby Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,043

11th June 2003, 05:46 AM	#19
Tricky Briefly immortal Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Group W bench Posts: 42,359	Quote: 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).

11th June 2003, 05:53 AM	#20
BillyTK Master Poster Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 2,625	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...
BillyTK Master Poster Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 2,625	__________________ Part-timer.