Q&A: Your Attitude Toward Prayer
Your Attitude Toward Prayer
Question
According to your approach regarding prayer, does that mean that our forefathers from all generations, communities, and streams, who prayed with deep devotion and set God before them, “inherited lies, vanity, and things of no benefit”? Has not even one of them awakened to the fact that their prayers were in vain?
Answer
Not from all generations. There were generations in which prayers were answered more, and there was greater divine involvement in the world. Religious inertia is apparently very strong. I discuss things on their own merits, and this is my conclusion. If that raises questions about others, one can try to look for answers, but that does not pertain to the position itself. I do not rely on ad hominem arguments.
Discussion on Answer
No. I cannot rule out His involvement entirely, and therefore at present the reasoning I have offered is not sufficient to cancel the blessings in the Amidah prayer.
Thank you. Is there an issue of taking His name in vain in the blessings of petition? Does everyone who recites a blessing carry some potential for desecration of God’s name?