Christians Prayers Vs Muslim Prayers Options

[juan]

truth-finder Oct 7 2010, 09:12 PM
How do you feel if you miss one of your 5 daily prayers? Are you still joyful, or afraid and guilty? I am not saying that prayer is a bad thing. In fact prayer is one of the things I enjoy most in my loving relationship with God. I have learned a lot of mystery of the Kingdom of God during my prayer. Prayer is one of the times when my heavenly joy, thanks and freedom overflow in my heart. Sometimes I just skip it if I do not feel like it or I do not have time. No problem. Do you think I feel guilty for skipping it from time to time? Not at all! The infinitely gracious God is not angry or offended by the missing of prayer of His tiny creature. We were born to be loved by God as the focus of His love, not an object of punishment.

Now let us look at Muslims. Their leaders obligated prayer so that they "must" pray only at certain times a day, and only to certain direction, and only in certain ways. It becomes a mandatory requirement to avoid the punishment of hell fire from their God. Here is a fundamental difference between Muslims and Christians regarding prayer. To Muslims prayer is their duty. If they miss it, they are guilty and afraid of the punishment. But to us it is our joy, not duty. If we miss it, there is no problem. We are still joyful because of God’s everlasting love for us that was shown most explicitly through the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ on the cross. Instead of being picky and impatient, our God is very gracious and patient that He is not angry or offended by missing of our prayer from time to time. Even if we forget our prayer for the whole month, our God is still not angry or offended, but instead grieved and starts to miss us. Of course we start to miss Him too. Now do you see the difference between Muslims and Christians regarding prayer life?

I'm on the fence in this, so sway my vote. Debate it out and prove your points. Have at it .. Always remember the rules

[msazad]

What are you on the fence about, Juan?

Someone called themself truth-finder and implied that Allah is "picky and impatient" according to Islam because the Qur'an is more specific about when one should pray than what is found among Christians or their books. I think that was disrespectful and uncalled for.
I'm not a Muslim but I think it's obvious that the times for prayer serve as a test and a demonstration of submission as well as a reminder and a discipline. Some who have no god also constrain themselves with times for prayer or meditation. So there is no ground to assume a discipline reflects badly on any god or religion.

Clearly, Islam and Christianity are different religions with different teachings regarding prayer. Prayers seem more important in Islam.
Clearly, most believers do not conform to truth-finder's sterotypes. Especially among Christians, there are important differences and most of them to do speak as truth-finder does. Many Christians believe that one should worship a three or more times each day (sometimes seven, the exact number depending on one's church and station).
And clearly, the book of the Christians does not teach what truth-finder professes. One can argue and disagree about the notion of "punishment". But there are commandments and conditions, and quite strenuous ones! It is not taught that the way is easy or available to all.

Perhaps the best-known Christian teaching regarding prayer aside from the words is that is it a private matter one should not boast about and that those who pray in public (such as in church) to demonstrate their virtue to others are hypocrites. Remember that when you see politicians pray on TV or talk about their prayers!

[juan]

Truth finder posted this in another thread. A debate started to form so I moved it to another thread for the debating part. The fence is just me playing a third party. For a Christian will defend their view as will a Muslim theirs.

So I wanted them in a debate form to show a non participant their sides of what they consider to be true.

[msazad]

You're a bit late then... by about 8 months by the looks of it. This "truth-finder" hasn't visited the forum for a while is it not? I don't think there's anyone around who will defend truth-finder position.

At best we could debate the stereotypes people have about Christians and Muslims. I looked at the other thread and I think tebou has the wrong idea about Christianity for instance. But I don't think we have enough Christians around (I'm an unbeliever) to make that a very productive discussion.
Possibly a thread comparing the views about God's mercy in different religions and sects might lead somewhere. But I don't see much point in a debate.

This post has been edited by msazad: Jun 5 2011, 11:40 AM

[jameelah_k.21]

I was christian & while I enjoy the time spent with God I was not as commited as I felt I should've been, however being muslim gives me that push it requires me 2 put Allah 1st & give him the time he so rightfully deserves. So if I miss salah I am disappointed n myself because I'm cheating the both of us because throu him I can do all things & without him I can do nothing so if I miss showing gratitude then my day isn't rite

[jameelah_k.21]

I was christian & while I enjoy the time spent with God I was not as commited as I felt I should've been, however being muslim gives me that push it requires me 2 put Allah 1st & give him the time he so rightfully deserves. So if I miss salah I am disappointed n myself because I'm cheating the both of us because throu him I can do all things & without him I can do nothing so if I miss showing gratitude then my day isn't rite