Parents Forced Me to Pray at Such a Young Age! The 2 Hidden Purposes Blindsided Me
My unreligious journey to unravel the purpose of praying. Turned out it wasn’t about praying.
Did you grow up in a religious family? Were you forced to pray even though you did not understand fully as a kid what the purpose of it was?
In many families, parents recount tales of God without much critical discussion or explanation, leaving little room for questioning. So, when kids start asking questions, they often get shut down. This can lead to individuals growing up blindly adhering to religious doctrines without understanding.
And because of that lack of understanding, some folks end up using religion for their personal gain, like trying to look pure or gain influence in society or politics.
For instance, I used to live in a country where the majority was Muslim. When this one Christian was trying to run for governor, there was so much backlash and arguments over the internet. The majority wouldn’t vote for him because of his religion.
“As demonstrated, religion can be effectively used as a weapon by authority figures to increase their political power and legitimacy. Due to religion’s strong historical link to ethnic and other important social identities all over the world, but especially in the Balkan States and in Syria, political leaders can successfully use aspects of religion to galvanize their supporters while dividing and weakening the opposition.
In doing so, they garner support for their political agendas and for their own status as a leader. Religious symbolism, representation, and even doctrine are strategically employed, leading to the devastating conflict” — Fordham University Thesis.
Teenage Experience in a Christian School & Scepticism — My Journey to the Purpose
I went to a Christian high school. My mind started developing critical thinking as a young teenager. I started questioning religious things taught by my parents.
When I asked my parents about it, they didn’t give me logical answers, I was left with doubts and confusion. As I faced problems during my teenage years without any help from God, I retreated to anger and resentment towards whatever higher power was supposed to be up there.
Can you imagine feeling that kind of hate every day for someone who isn’t even physical? Anyway, in school, if you were active in religious things like going to church or playing instruments for the Mass, people saw you as someone with higher status. As a result, many teenagers bragged about how close they were to God — bragged about speaking the “Holy Spirit language” or feeling God’s touch.
What was funny in Christianity is how these teenagers trying to recruit others to their church started looking like they were running some sales pitch Multilevel Marketing — a pyramid scheme. It happens in adulthood as well.
“Oh I come from this Church, you should join us. We have X thousand members. Join us, we’re better than that guy’s church.”
My parents told me to pray to strengthen my faith instead, but since I never understood the purpose so I ended up abandoning it. This highlights the importance of clarity in explaining the purpose behind religious practices. Avoiding questions only adds to confusion, as people truly need to understand the purpose.
So, What’s the Purpose? Why We Got Tangled in the Drama That Could’ve Been Avoided?
Religion is only a tool to connect you with the divine source. People connect with the divine energy in various ways, and I found my connection through energies and spirituality. Others find it through different avenues. The key is not to insist that there’s only one way to connect. Each person has their own path to clarity and what helps them later on in life.
In my mid-twenties, I finally understood the purpose of praying. It is to practise gratitude every single time you get. “Praying” before eating, sleeping, and waking up — they are habits and routines for gratitude and when you ask in prayer, it is the same as reminding yourself of your objective in life.
Sorry, Mom and Dad, but I connect with my higher self through a different understanding. While Christianity gave me comfort in times of desperation, I also feel a great fear of abandoning it due to the fear of hell.
Even though I don’t believe in hell, I am still aware of the concept because it was instilled in me for years. Hopefully, parents won’t have to compel their children to follow something they don’t believe in. It’s crucial to help them understand rather than instil fear.
If my parents had logically explained to me why I had to pray every day, I wouldn’t have been so against it. I would have still practised the prayer in the form of gratitude and reorienting myself every day towards my goal.
Afterword
- The purpose of “praying” is to practise gratitude and reorient yourself towards your goal every day.
- People need to understand the purpose behind anything.
- Dodging the questions will have a 180-degree effect.
- Some people use religion for personal gain as teenagers or adults because they grew up without a clear understanding of it.
- Knowing the purpose behind prayers can help individuals stay committed to their gratitude and goals, maintaining their focus.
To sum it up, everyone’s journey with faith is different and personal. From questioning childhood teachings to finding our way in spiritual connections, we all walk on unique paths.
Forcing one belief system onto others can cause confusion and frustration. Instead, we should create an environment of openness and understanding, allowing individuals to explore their beliefs freely.
Ultimately, the goal is to help people find genuine connections to their spirituality without pressure or fear, leading to a deeper understanding of themselves and the world.
Remember, every day is a chance for gratitude.
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Thank you for reading :)
Resource:
https://research.library.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1105&context=international_senior