When I was young, my mother told me of a group of people who offered prayer services for donations. I have lately become curious as to how other christians / catholics / etc. feel about this sort of thing. Does asking for donations to say prayers for those you do not know break any sort of moral ground? What if it helps the person or group get closer to god themselves?
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CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.
Pay to pray?
- Thread starter RyLord
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mshupe1959
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I don't know if it breaks any "moral ground" but I would be highly suspicous of someone "requesting" money or donations for prayers. How could that sort of thing help someone get closer to God? If you want to get closer, go to Him yourself. Thats what we are supposed to do anyway.
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Well, for example my mother ran into these people while on vacation. They were at a local tourist site set up selling necklaces and bibles. Among their wares they also gave prayer services for priced donations. Now it's very easy to pray for anyone but perhaps requests for donations were meant to help filter those who really could use the prayer services and compensate for the time spent praying instead of working?
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MoonlessNight
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I certainly don't think that there is anything wrong with praying for certain requests. Many orders of monks do this. It is also similar to requesting a special intention for a mass. At the same time parishes and monastaries often do need donations to continue functioning. So in theory there is nothing wrong with the arragement.
Things to become a bit suspect when prayers are essentially bought. It's better for the two aspects to remain essentially seperate; i.e. allow people to request prayers and also request donations, but don't demand x amount of dollars for a prayer.
Things to become a bit suspect when prayers are essentially bought. It's better for the two aspects to remain essentially seperate; i.e. allow people to request prayers and also request donations, but don't demand x amount of dollars for a prayer.
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Charging people for the use of a prayer room is basically renting out a ritual space, which I don't have a problem with.
I do have a problem with trying to buy one's way into the good books of whatever higher power you believe in, though.
I do have a problem with trying to buy one's way into the good books of whatever higher power you believe in, though.
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