Atheist Prayer To Self

[mymistake]

I don't know where to put this and it feels kind of weird.  I would like some feedback on it and I welcome all opinions.  I promise to not criticize.

 

For a while now I have believed that spirituality is a natural development of the human mind but recently I've been praying to "God" with the intention that "God" is me.  In these prayers I only ask for things that are within my own power - for example "God give me the strength to face (insert name of annoying relative)".  I'm not asking for anything I couldn't do myself.  It just really feels weird but for one reason or another it's giving me a better handle on my emotions and motivation.  So overall the results are more positive than negative but I hope it becomes a lot less negative.  I also feel a bit dishonest about it because in my exclusively Christian environment they are bound to get the wrong idea if I talk to myself like that out loud.  (Not that I am happy with my life long habit of talking to myself that stems from Christian prayer.)  I'm really not good at this sort of thing.  Thoughts?

 

 

 

[raoul]

MM, part of your very first sentence is the answer when you write:

spirituality is a natural development of the human mind

 

I believe most if not all of us have spirituality of some kind but just NOT the xtian cult bible definition of it which is actually the opposite of true spirituality. I've probably said this far too many times already but the folks over here have shown the true essence of spirituality at times in hundreds of notes written.

[Deva]

I really think prayer is a natural thing. I believe we all have amazing inner resources we can tap into when the situation calls for it.  "Prayer" is one of the ways of doing it. Although it seems we are giving it to a "higher power" that power is really ourselves.

[HymenaeusAlexander]

I've heard this approach recommended to an atheist who wanted to go through AA, but didn't know what to do about all the "higher power" crap. IIRC it was on Robert M Price's Bible Geek podcast. He basically told the guy to think of his potential future self that was free of alcohol addiction as being his "higher power". I thought that was pretty cool and I've tried praying to myself during stressful situations on occasion a few times. It seemed to help, but I'm not really in the habit of it. It makes sense, though. Every other time I prayed I was just praying to myself anyway.

[Antlerman]

I don't know where to put this and it feels kind of weird.  I would like some feedback on it and I welcome all opinions.  I promise to not criticize.

 

For a while now I have believed that spirituality is a natural development of the human mind but recently I've been praying to "God" with the intention that "God" is me.  In these prayers I only ask for things that are within my own power - for example "God give me the strength to face (insert name of annoying relative)".  I'm not asking for anything I couldn't do myself.  It just really feels weird but for one reason or another it's giving me a better handle on my emotions and motivation.  So overall the results are more positive than negative but I hope it becomes a lot less negative.  I also feel a bit dishonest about it because in my exclusively Christian environment they are bound to get the wrong idea if I talk to myself like that out loud.  (Not that I am happy with my life long habit of talking to myself that stems from Christian prayer.)  I'm really not good at this sort of thing.  Thoughts?

I think there is something valuable to envisioning and speaking to God, without it needing to be that imagine of the volcano deity in the Bible. It's helpful to understand the three faces of spiritual experience, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person. 2nd person, the Holy Other, has great value on a number of levels.

"Spirit in second person is an extremely important dimension because it is spirituality in its relational form, its intersubjective form. When Martin Buber spoke about the I-Thou relationship, he was talking about God in second person. Awakening to this face of Spirit means being in dialogue with God, in direct communication with Goddess, face-to-face with the Creator of everything that’s arising moment to moment. It’s Spirit in a form that can be communicated with. I don’t necessarily mean the little old white-bearded man sitting in a chair in Heaven. But second person means a Being with intelligence."

Read the rest of it here: http://www.enlightennext.org/magazine/j45/guru-pandit.asp?page=2

[Denyoz]

I don't know where to put this and it feels kind of weird.  I would like some feedback on it and I welcome all opinions.  I promise to not criticize.

 

For a while now I have believed that spirituality is a natural development of the human mind but recently I've been praying to "God" with the intention that "God" is me.  In these prayers I only ask for things that are within my own power - for example "God give me the strength to face (insert name of annoying relative)".  I'm not asking for anything I couldn't do myself.  It just really feels weird but for one reason or another it's giving me a better handle on my emotions and motivation.  So overall the results are more positive than negative but I hope it becomes a lot less negative.  I also feel a bit dishonest about it because in my exclusively Christian environment they are bound to get the wrong idea if I talk to myself like that out loud.  (Not that I am happy with my life long habit of talking to myself that stems from Christian prayer.)  I'm really not good at this sort of thing.  Thoughts?

 

mymistake, what a great idea for a post!  Why didn't I think of that myself?     Why didn't I notice this post earlier?  This is exactly where I'm at spiritually right now.  Wanting to communicate with "god / higher self / spirit guides", but knowing deep down that those are just different versions of myself, feeling kind of weird that I should be talking to myself, but feeling lonely and unempowered if I don't.  I'm stuck in this dilemma and don't know where to go with this, trying to put spiritual shit together.  Although this thread is short, I'm already finding helpful hints.  So thank you for posting!

 

 

I really think prayer is a natural thing. I believe we all have amazing inner resources we can tap into when the situation calls for it.  "Prayer" is one of the ways of doing it. Although it seems we are giving it to a "higher power" that power is really ourselves.

 

Thank you Deva for your comment, I feel less stupid and alone already. 

 

 

I've heard this approach recommended to an atheist who wanted to go through AA, but didn't know what to do about all the "higher power" crap. IIRC it was on Robert M Price's Bible Geek podcast. He basically told the guy to think of his potential future self that was free of alcohol addiction as being his "higher power". I thought that was pretty cool and I've tried praying to myself during stressful situations on occasion a few times. It seemed to help, but I'm not really in the habit of it. It makes sense, though. Every other time I prayed I was just praying to myself anyway.

 

Yeah, this is pretty cool MymenaeusAlexander!  Being a fan of time-travel, I can easily visualize this as a real possibility.  My future-self, yes!  My spiritually evolved self, who has overcome my present-day issues, coming back to guide me.  Yay, a new neuron connection was just created in my brain.  A new path is opening, thank you man!

 

 

I think there is something valuable to envisioning and speaking to God, without it needing to be that imagine of the volcano deity in the Bible. It's helpful to understand the three faces of spiritual experience, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person. 2nd person, the Holy Other, has great value on a number of levels.

"Spirit in second person is an extremely important dimension because it is spirituality in its relational form, its intersubjective form. When Martin Buber spoke about the I-Thou relationship, he was talking about God in second person. Awakening to this face of Spirit means being in dialogue with God, in direct communication with Goddess, face-to-face with the Creator of everything that’s arising moment to moment. It’s Spirit in a form that can be communicated with. I don’t necessarily mean the little old white-bearded man sitting in a chair in Heaven. But second person means a Being with intelligence."

 

Wow, Antlerman, this is the spiritual cherry on top of my metaphysical sundae!  Where do you get all this wisdom?  Makes so much sense to me.  Thank you (again).

 

This thread made my day.  Woo!      Oops, un-woo.

[ilovemybrain]

I talk to myself too when I'm hurting and need help. And like others have mentioned, I also sometimes look to my "future self" to reassure me that it will be ok, and I'll get through my tough times. I know myself better than anyone, and I love myself, so I try to be helpful and encouraging when I'm down, because I'm ALWAYS right there when I need me. I let myself rage or cry or worry or whatever, then help myself think through what needs to be done, what to focus on, and what to let go of for now. Whatever I would have said in prayer, I can say to myself. I thank myself for all I have done so far to take care of myself, (such as breaking free of xianity). I ask for strength, and then I promise myself strength, because I know it's down in there somewhere. Don't care how stupid it sounds to anyone else. It totally works for me. 

[user_0168486295]

I don't know where to put this and it feels kind of weird.  I would like some feedback on it and I welcome all opinions.  I promise to not criticize.

 

For a while now I have believed that spirituality is a natural development of the human mind but recently I've been praying to "God" with the intention that "God" is me.  In these prayers I only ask for things that are within my own power - for example "God give me the strength to face (insert name of annoying relative)".  I'm not asking for anything I couldn't do myself.  It just really feels weird but for one reason or another it's giving me a better handle on my emotions and motivation.  So overall the results are more positive than negative but I hope it becomes a lot less negative.  I also feel a bit dishonest about it because in my exclusively Christian environment they are bound to get the wrong idea if I talk to myself like that out loud.  (Not that I am happy with my life long habit of talking to myself that stems from Christian prayer.)  I'm really not good at this sort of thing.  Thoughts?

 

I pray to my daughters.  I know they can't hear me, but it helps me forgive myself for things I've done wrong against them.  Of course, I actually ask them to forgive me, too.  But in the meantime, my prayer to them strengthens me and gives me courage.  I also pray to my younger self.  Inside of me is a little three year old abused boy who is scared and finds benefit from being comforted by prayer.  It is, as you mentioned, prayer to myself, and it is very powerful and healing.  I think people will ultimately translate it as a "god-shaped void" but I say, let them think what they want!  They have no power over me!