In your opinion, how many people pray?

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egretps

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This might be an unknowable, but I’m asking anyway because of recent events and personal interest.

In your estimation, and I’ve seen the Pew survey that stated 55% of people pray, how many people really pray. Imperfectly is okay, but what I mean is unselfish prayers. The person can pray for themselves, family and friends, but not for ‘bad’ or ‘harm’ for someone else, or "prosperity gospel’ cadillacs instead of needed reliable transportation.

Also, when people say, “I’ll pray for you” I often feel that’s akin many times to ‘bless your heart’ or ‘have a nice day’. Not necessarily any real follow through. How sincere do you estimate that phrase really is?

Do you think that quite possible, we are living in a poverty level of prayer today? Or is the praying to God, even imperfectly but sincerely, abundant?

You could state your best guess in the general population you find yourself, such as work , school, and family. Or your best guess in the world at large. But please let me know which.

There is a huge hole in our heart that only God can fill, so I used to think nearly everyone prayed, until I saw the above survey. And was shocked, and I then thought some who answered might just be giving a Sunday school response, '‘of course’ such as habitual possibly insincere grace before meals or mindless attendance at church.
Thank you for your response!🙂
 
Studies don’t reflect as much of any country’s population as they’d like us to think. No one asked me if I prayed for others–aren’t I a citizen of the USA, too? 😛 I never go by “studies” or polls to determine who has faith and who doesn’t or who prays and who doesn’t. People confronted might lie or they may think that if they don’t pray formal prayers they aren’t praying, etc. There are a lot of flaws in such studies, so I wouldn’t put much stock in them.

Worldwide I’d say that billions pray every day–not all are Christian prayers, but if they ask in sincerity of heart, God hears such prayers.

Whenever I tell someone I’ll pray for them I mean it and I do it. I’m sure there are people who don’t follow through, but even if they send up a simple, “Lord help this person,” that is prayer. We don’t need to say a lot of words or spend huge amounts of time on our knees for prayer to be effective. All that is required is that we ask in accord with God’s will.
 
I think it is higher TBH. I know a lot of people who would say they don’t pray. but occasionally toss out a prayer by accident…
 
I’d say it’s likely lower. Many people say they pray, but they don’t actually do so. It’s like polling those who claim they go to church. The numbers almost always end up inflated when compared to actual attendances.
 
It depends who is measuring and defining prayer. I say the bar is very low on what constitutes as prayer, so more people than that probably pray, even by accident or with little understanding of the God they’re praying to.
 
Padres1969 said:
I’d say it’s likely lower. Many people say they pray, but they don’t actually do so. It’s like polling those who claim they go to church. The numbers almost always end up inflated when compared to actual attendances.
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I’m leaning that way too. Although I am surrounded by people in my life who sincerely pray in different churches/traditions and my own family members will call me up sincerely requesting prayer for various situations, knowing I actually will. Vice Versa.

Although I’m seeing the world around me at large looking a little pitiful. 😦

Granted HERE at CAF we’ve got prayer warriors and probably many many people who do pray and without actually telling anyone. Many prayer requests have multiple times the people reading them without actually posting that they will pray for the OP. I’d bet a huge number of the ‘readers’ actually pray. Probably the same at many different denominations. I’ve seen “Intercessory ministries” listed at some Evangelical churches.

Not that this is part of my original question but I don’t worry if prayer actually ‘works’, it works on the pray-er as much as for the outcome. In my own life that I have seen answers to prayer that I couldn’t have imagined myself.
 
FghtinIrshNvrDi said:
It depends who is measuring and defining prayer. I say the bar is very low on what constitutes as prayer, so more people than that probably pray, even by accident or with little understanding of the God they’re praying to.
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I was asking about prayer that is sincere and good intentioned. Not, “God would you mind smiting that lady that cut me off in traffic?” Not trying to use the Almighty as Santa. I do think that the Lord meets us even in a low bar prayer, but I was interested in people who really take it to heart and in simplicity of faith asking God to help within his perfect will. Basically the Lord’s Prayer in writing and or in action. Praying for loved ones and people they don’t even know.
 
egretps said:
I’m leaning that way too. Although I am surrounded by people in my life who sincerely pray in different churches/traditions and my own family members will call me up sincerely requesting prayer for various situations, knowing I actually will. Vice Versa.

Although I’m seeing the world around me at large looking a little pitiful. 😦

Granted HERE at CAF we’ve got prayer warriors and probably many many people who do pray and without actually telling anyone. Many prayer requests have multiple times the people reading them without actually posting that they will pray for the OP. I’d bet a huge number of the ‘readers’ actually pray. Probably the same at many different denominations. I’ve seen “Intercessory ministries” listed at some Evangelical churches.

Not that this is part of my original question but I don’t worry if prayer actually ‘works’, it works on the pray-er as much as for the outcome. In my own life that I have seen answers to prayer that I couldn’t have imagined myself.
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Yeah being on CAF or other religious boards does tend to skew ones view. As does regularly attending church.

I can honestly say among my friends, family and acquaintances outside of my church or CAF, I can count the number of folks other than myself who regularly pray on one hand.
 
egretps said:
I was asking about prayer that is sincere and good intentioned. Not, “God would you mind smiting that lady that cut me off in traffic?” Not trying to use the Almighty as Santa. I do think that the Lord meets us even in a low bar prayer, but I was interested in people who really take it to heart and in simplicity of faith asking God to help within his perfect will. Basically the Lord’s Prayer in writing and or in action. Praying for loved ones and people they don’t even know.
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I understand what you mean, and on that definition you’re probably right. But with the lower bar I’d accept as counting as a prayer, I’d say more. That’s all I’m saying.
 
Depends. How many of them have a car that is breaking down? They tend to petition God during that time…and cursing him after it breaks down.
 
I do not know. I’d rather not know. It may encourage or discourage my walk in my faith.
 
PelagiathePenit said:
I do not know. I’d rather not know. It may encourage or discourage my walk in my faith.
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Good point. But I don’t think it encourages me either way. I thought this would be interesting because of the state of the world today, which makes me think we’re leaning light. I remembered Lepanto was won because people prayed and prayed the rosary!
 
egretps said:
Good point. But I don’t think it encourages me either way. I thought this would be interesting because of the state of the world today, which makes me think we’re leaning light. I remembered Lepanto was won because people prayed and prayed the rosary!
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Christian Europe was fighting for her very existence at that time. Now the West is largely apostate, so I wouldn’t expect many to pray in that way now. This doesn’t mean that no one prays, but I do think the number of people who do is far less than in ages past.

Ancient Israel often abandoned prayer to the true God in favor of idols. Much of the Christian world has done the same. It’s no reason to be discouraged, though, for those who might see it that way. Human beings are fickle creatures, but God is still God. He tests each generation to see if they will turn to him. But there will come a time when almost no one will acknowledge him. Jesus spoke of this as he carried his cross (Lk. 23:28-31). It is not for us to worry about how many are faithful, but it is ours to be faithful even if the whole world is not.
 
Della said:
Ancient Israel often abandoned prayer to the true God in favor of idols. Much of the Christian world has done the same. … Jesus spoke of this as he carried his cross (Lk. 23:28-31). It is not for us to worry about how many are faithful, but it is ours to be faithful even if the whole world is not.
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Thank you Della, I’m encouraged by your reply.:signofcross: I guess I should get praying some more.

God Bless you all, thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut.
 
A Catholic nun once told the class that Atheists claim to not believe in God, but the first words out of their months when experiencing a tragedy is often times “Oh, my God,” which is a simple prayer.
 
Robert Sock I love what your Nun told you and I have always noticed that myself.

I think a lot more people pray than admitted. Even those that deny God when faced against a wall will pray,
 
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