Korean Job Discussion Forums

[traxxe]

So I went to Myeongsan church. I'm probably butchering the name but I have not seen it in English yet. It is a very large (they tell me the largest presbyterian church in SK) and a very lovely church.

I was walking down the road, saw the church... my first thought was Catholic but it turned out to be a Presby place instead. I went to a Presby college (private) so I thought I would try the English service.

At the service it seemed a little off, my friend with me thought so too. There were many Koreans in the English service but the opening prayers turned me off to the Church.

One of the things prayed for was, "Enlarge my territory." I paused, listend and sure as can be they were praying (everyday for six months apparently) for personal wealth and gain. The pastor went on to exclaim how God was listening and gave the English service a new office.

Perhaps it is me but I think praying for personal gain, especially financial, land... or otherwise. Is just wrong. It is very against the 'meek shall inherit the earth' philosphical change introduced with Christianity. I was a bit offended and figured this was in line with a blending of Christianity with local values.

That said, I'm not a Christian but I like to attend churches of all sorts and of different faiths as well. Lately, I've seen a lot of praying for self gain though. I will pray I can do well on my test, etc. This just offends me. I have a personal policy never to pray for myself. I will always pray for others and if I have no one who is need to pray for then I pray for those in general need.

Maybe this is because I'm not very spiritual. (It's probably odd that I pray to begin with, I don't direct it at God or anything) I have a hard time with using religion to justify personal gain. Any religion... any reason...

What do you guys think? Is it okay to pray for your own gain?

[RACETRAITOR]

What other reason is there to pray for? I guess maybe it could be considered more decent to pray for others and expect them to pray for you, but it's all about personal gain and boosting your people.

But when they start talking about going to Afghanistan, that's when it's time to run.

[Demophobe]

[Jizzo T. Clown]

I think is perfectly acceptable to pray for the motivation / strength to increase your happiness. When you start saying "Please let me earn enough to buy the new Samsung DLP," you're missing the point. "Please allow me to live a happy and productive life by doing what I love, and help me to realize that each day is a chance to work towards my goals," is more like it, IMHO.

[Hollywoodaction]

Funny, I was brought up a Catholic. We were thought to pray for our parents' good health, world peace, sick children, etc. Praying for our own personal gain was not encouraged. Never did the priest ever mention something like that in his sermon.

[OiGirl]

My church has hasked me to change the way I dress, as I'm too conservative. Apparently, short shorts with knee-high stilletto-heel boots are more appropriate.

Just a little off.

[Hollywoodaction]

[Demophobe]

There is nothing wrong with praying for what you need, whatever that may be.

As for the OP, they are offended by certain prayers, yet aren't of any faith. They pray, but don't believe in God. They go to church, yet don't wish to believe. They go into a church with a judgmental mind.

That's more than a little off.

[Demophobe]

[swetepete]

The Buddhists here do something similar with the lantern festivals. They make a donation to their temple and get the privilege of putting up a lantern (beautiful things, those lanterns) in the temple courtyard; or, if they pay enough, in the temple itself. Inside the lanterns is a script, with their wish-list on it. It's the same sort of stuff the Christians typically pray for: good exam scores for their kids, a promotion, successful business ventures, a good result on the soccer pitch. Indeed, the same things people pray to Santa for.

Ditto the Shintoists, and ditto the other animist Asian religions. It's all about asking for things to go well for you here on this earth.

Christianity proper, on the other hand, seems to be (in its original form) more fixated on the afterlife. That is to say, it's a death cult: or, to use a more charitable description, a religion devoted to rejecting baseness, and aiming for a higher plane of existence.

Like Buddhism claims to be.

Happily, I'm an Epicurian, today, so it's all just kinda weird and interesting to me, and not particularly surprising or offensive.

[Hollywoodaction]

[swetepete]

Really? No, I never asked. All my stats are heresay. How much is it? 40 000 amithabha buddha sutras? A hair shirt for five years? Blow a hectare of priest ween? Do tell!

[Ryst Helmut]

[hubba bubba]

prayer is too complicated.

[SuperHero]