Should I pray as a person who isn’t in an organized religion but believes in God?

[RyanEC]

I don’t follow any church or religion because I feel they are often time correct and often use fear to control people.
But I do choose to believe in a higher power.

I have heard people say that prayer makes them feel in a similar way to meditation.

If you are Christian (or Muslim or Jew) do you believe it would be worth it for someone like me to pray? Or would I not be heard?

[jennifer_bloom]

I believe prayer helps. I’ve been a Christian for over 20 years and I view the church as often a drain of time because I can worship God at home silently and music and people and collective lecturing is unnecessary and most collaborative churches contain theological errors in their teachings.

[RyanEC]

How do you feel the Christian doctrine that only people who believe in Jesus and follow the Christian religion go to heaven while everyone else goes to hell no matter how good of a person they were?

That thought really rubs me the wrong way and is the main reason I don’t think I could follow a organized church because I feel this is used to control people.

[jennifer_bloom]

I disagree with that, when Jesus said nobody comes to the father except through him, I believe he was referring to the love and justice that he taught, and not to the name of Jesus. So anybody who believes in love and justice can go to heaven, whether Muslim or Jewish or any other Faith.

[RyanEC]

I like your view of this.

[AviatorTom]

God would hear you but you have to remember that God is very busy... lots of people are praying to Him for things, and He has to prioritize those prayers to get anything done. So, He'll check to see if you contributed to any religion and if not, your prayer goes to the bottom of His to-do list.

[bean2k21]

[Agape93]

Sure. You don't need anyone's permission to pray to whatever you want

[Staximus]

There's only one person that hears you pray and that's you, so do it for yourself if it helps

[Andres77]

Don’t pray to religion. Pray to GOD

[landingout2]

GOD christ pray to him