So I'm going to talk about Mormons again. I know, I already did one blog where I ranted about Mormon missionaries, but this time I want to examine a specific aspect of the Mormon religion vs. my own Catholic upbringing.I always thought that prayers (Our Father, Hail Mary, etc) where pretty standard in Christian religions. I mean, think of rosaries and little kids reciting their prayers at night. I know that I memorized all my prayers before I even knew what they meant! So when I went to Germany and hung out with my Mormon friends, imagine my surprise at dinner when the prayers were made up on the spot. Sometimes they'd even ask me to say a prayer for them, and I'll admit I was a bit nervous coming up with my own words. Why couldn't I just say the Our Father and be done with it?
So after one of the group prayers, I went over to my friend, Sister Driebergen, and asked her if she ever said the Hail Mary or Our Father. She laughed and said, "Don't you think God gets bored hearing the same prayers over and over again? Isn't it better to speak from the heart with your own words and be candid?" And you know, I found that a very good point. Reciting well-known prayers over and over again doesn't do much for the soul in my opinion. You just say them and then it's done. That's what the Mormons believe, and I never heard one utter the Our Father...of course, there is a flip-side to all of this, and that's the fact that in every prayer it's a given to mention Joseph Smith. Nevertheless, each prayer was different and everyone offers their own thanks and thoughts to the group.
In class today, as we were talking about the generic-flavor of the psalms, I couldn't help but compare it to my Mormon experience. Sure, the Mormons read from written works (The Book of Mormon and the Bible are both staples), but there's nothing generic about their prayers. You can't apply every prayer to every situation, because they vary from person to person, day to day. It's a significant difference that I really respect, even though I'm not Mormon (or very religious in general).
Also, I think I should mention that even though I use the word prayer to describe the Mormons giving thanks, it's not the same as how one normally thinks of praying (or at least how I grew up praying). They don't fold their hands into 'prayer hands', and often times they just cross their arms or put one hand over the other, heads bowed. I don't think that's any worse than anything else, though...it's just another difference.
Mormon/LDS prayer:
another fascinating post. On the issue of posture, I find it interesting that traditions differentiate themselves on the basis of prayer posture. IN Islam Shias and Sunnis have slight differences in posture that separate them. Posture is a form of symbol.. it points to a difference. I suspect that the Mormons, coming late in Christian history and then missionizing so heavily, have developed subtle ways of countering the symbol system of traditional churches.. but the missionaries won't be aware of this.
ReplyDeleteAlso on the idea of generic vs. individual prayer.. I would just say that from my own upbringing I have seen how individual expressions come to sound pretty much the same after a while. And it is also interesting how so many of the songs call for a "new song" to be sung.. indicating that a new expression to God is desirable.. but then they become scripture and your can't make a new song anymore!!
This is indeed an interesting post. The idea that God 'gets bored' with the normal prayers that are repeated is a striking one.
ReplyDeleteAlso, on another note. Sam mentioned this in class but we never really talked about it. What s the difference between praying for things and wishing for things? "I ask You God to make me rich" verses "I wish upon a star that I might be rich" what is the difference between the two other than the obvious that is one is to God the other to a star?