Changes

==91:4. ETHICAL PRAYING==

==91:4. ETHICAL PRAYING==

91:4.1 No prayer can be ethical when the petitioner seeks for selfish advantage over his fellows. Selfish and materialistic praying is incompatible with the ethical religions which are predicated on unselfish and divine love. All such unethical praying reverts to the primitive levels of pseudo magic and is unworthy of advancing civilizations and enlightened religions. Selfish praying transgresses the spirit of all ethics founded on loving justice.

91:4.1 No [[prayer]] can be [[ethical]] when the petitioner seeks for selfish advantage over his fellows. Selfish and [[materialistic]] praying is incompatible with the [[ethical]] [[religions]] which are predicated on [[unselfish]] and [[divine]] [[love]]. All such unethical praying reverts to the [[primitive]] levels of pseudo [[magic]] and is unworthy of advancing [[civilizations]] and [[enlightened]] [[religions]]. Selfish praying transgresses the [[spirit]] of all [[ethics]] founded on loving [[justice]].

91:4.2 Prayer must never be so prostituted as to become a substitute for action. All ethical prayer is a stimulus to action and a guide to the progressive striving for idealistic goals of superself-attainment.

91:4.2 [[Prayer]] must never be so [[prostituted]] as to become a substitute for [[action]]. All ethical [[prayer]] is a [[stimulus]] to [[action]] and a guide to the [[progressive]] striving for idealistic goals of superself-[[attainment]].

91:4.3 In all your praying be fair; do not expect God to show partiality, to love you more than his other children, your friends, neighbors, even enemies. But the prayer of the natural or evolved religions is not at first ethical, as it is in the later revealed religions. All praying, whether individual or communal, may be either egoistic or altruistic. That is, the prayer may be centered upon the self or upon others. When the prayer seeks nothing for the one who prays nor anything for his fellows, then such attitudes of the soul tend to the levels of true worship. Egoistic prayers involve confessions and petitions and often consist in requests for material favors. Prayer is somewhat more ethical when it deals with forgiveness and seeks wisdom for enhanced self-control.

91:4.3 In all your praying be [[fair]]; do not expect [[God]] to show partiality, to [[love]] you more than his other [[children]], your [[friends]], [[neighbors]], even enemies. But the [[prayer]] of the [[natural]] or [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_92#92:3._THE_NATURE_OF_EVOLUTIONARY_RELIGION evolved religions] is not at first [[ethical]], as it is in the later [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_92#92:6._THE_COMPOSITE_RELIGIONS revealed religions]. All praying, whether [[individual]] or [[communal]], may be either [[egoistic]] or [[altruistic]]. That is, the [[prayer]] may be [[centered]] upon the [[self]] or upon [[others]]. When the [[prayer]] seeks nothing for the one who prays nor anything for his fellows, then such [[attitudes]] of the [[soul]] tend to the levels of true [[worship]]. [[Egoistic]] prayers involve [[confessions]] and [[petitions]] and often consist in requests for [[material]] [[favors]]. [[Prayer]] is somewhat more [[ethical]] when it deals with [[forgiveness]] and seeks [[wisdom]] for enhanced [[self-control]].

91:4.4 While the nonselfish type of prayer is strengthening and comforting, materialistic praying is destined to bring disappointment and disillusionment as advancing scientific discoveries demonstrate that man lives in a physical universe of law and order. The childhood of an individual or a race is characterized by primitive, selfish, and materialistic praying. And, to a certain extent, all such petitions are efficacious in that they unvaryingly lead to those efforts and exertions which are contributory to achieving the answers to such prayers. The real prayer of faith always contributes to the augmentation of the technique of living, even if such petitions are not worthy of spiritual recognition. But the spiritually advanced person should exercise great caution in attempting to discourage the primitive or immature mind regarding such prayers.

91:4.4 While the nonselfish type of [[prayer]] is strengthening and comforting, [[materialistic]] praying is destined to bring disappointment and [[disillusionment]] as advancing [[scientific]] [[discoveries]] [[demonstrate]] that man lives in a [[physical]] [[universe]] of [[law]] and order. The [[childhood]] of an [[individual]] or a [[race]] is characterized by [[primitive]], selfish, and [[materialistic]] praying. And, to a certain extent, all such petitions are efficacious in that they unvaryingly lead to those efforts and exertions which are contributory to achieving the answers to such prayers. The real [[prayer]] of [[faith]] always contributes to the augmentation of the [[technique]] of living, even if such [[petitions]] are not [[worthy]] of [[spiritual]] [[recognition]]. But the spiritually advanced [[person]] should [[exercise]] great caution in attempting to discourage the [[primitive]] or immature [[mind]] regarding such prayers.

91:4.5 Remember, even if prayer does not change God, it very often effects great and lasting changes in the one who prays in faith and confident expectation. Prayer has been the ancestor of much peace of mind, cheerfulness, calmness, courage, self-mastery, and fair-mindedness in the men and women of the evolving races.

91:4.5 Remember, even if [[prayer]] does not [[change]] [[God]], it very often [[effects]] great and lasting [[changes]] in the one who prays in [[faith]] and [[confident]] [[expectation]]. [[Prayer]] has been the [[ancestor]] of much [[peace]] of [[mind]], cheerfulness, calmness, [[courage]], [[self-mastery]], and fair-mindedness in the men and women of the evolving races.

==91:5. SOCIAL REPERCUSSIONS OF PRAYER==

==91:5. SOCIAL REPERCUSSIONS OF PRAYER==