[net.religion.jewish] A non-sectarian prayer; a problem.

robison@eosp1.UUCP (Tobias D. Robison) (03/29/84)

References:

I'm opening a new topic of discussion here in a genuine search for
enlightenment.  If I have not managed quite the polite, dispassionate
tone I intended, please accept my apologies in advance.

The suggested non-sectarian prayer was:

>> "For what we are about to recieve, may we be truly grateful."
-- 
>>Stephen C. Woods (VA Wadsworth Med Ctr./UCLA Dept. of Neurology)

My question, to those of you who practice various religions:
Do you find this prayer satisfying, or would you strongly prefer
an appropriate prayer prescribed by your religion?
I will give a Jewish point of view, treating this as a prayer to be said
before eating food in general.

The prayer fails, among other things:

	- To acknowledge, or to praise G-d as the source of food.
	- To be in a distinctive prayer form based upon the type of food
	  (a tradititional Jew MUST be aware of the general type
	  of food he is eating.)
	- To acknowledge that, in eating food, one is obeying G-d's
	  commandments.
	- To quote any portions of scripture that demonstrate that
	  commandments are being obeyed.
	- To relate the eating of food to other aspects of the human
	  condition, and to other aspects of religious practice.
	- To contain any variable sections relating to the time of day,
	  or the time of year, as if these were irrelevant to the
	  eating of food.

I wonder if this prayer seems quite foreign to me because it is
not Jewish, or if it seems quite foreign to many people because virtually
all aspect of religion has been removed from it.

In contrast -- Judaism prescribes a diversity of short prayers to precede
eating in various situations, and relatively long prayers that follow
eating.  The simplest, most generic Jewish prayer preceding eating
might be translated:  Blessed be the Lord, G-d of the Universe,
at whose word everything has come into existence.

Please comment.				- Toby Robison
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scw@cepu.UUCP (04/06/84)

I'm sorry that my somewhat :-) comment and suggested 'prayer' has been taken
seriously.  It was \not/ ment to be taken seriously.
<scw>
-- 
Stephen C. Woods (VA Wadsworth Med Ctr./UCLA Dept. of Neurology)
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