This is a sort of follow up to "Jesus- Ignored, Forgotten & Unemployed at WTS" posted by metatron.
It strikes me, that since I have re-appraised many of my religious views that my prayers have changed significantly. And whilst I am still an active JW, I have wondered whether my family has noticed, though they have not said anything so far.
JW’s prayers are not only very stereotyped (despite what Jesus admonition about not using the same words, or by extension the same thoughts, over and over again) but also extremely introverted towards the Watchtower society.
For example, a typical congregation prayer will include the following thoughts;
1. bless our congregation
2. bless our elders
3. bless our pioneers
4. bless the fd&s that they may give us the right food at the proper time
5. bless the witnessing work in our territory and world wide
6. (if your are lucky) bless less fortunate brothers
What you never get in either family or congregation prayers, and therefore I guess also in personal prayers from the average JW, are thoughts like these;
1. grant everyone in the world regardless of race, colour or religion, at least the absolute bare necessities for each day – they are all your children and Jesus loves them
2. bless the poor of world with hope and a glimpse of you Lord even if it is through non-Christian religions, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists.
3. bless the victims and families of Sept 11th , give them the hope and courage to carry on (tricky one this for the average JW congregation prayer – if I got up and expressed my true feelings publicly in prayer, I would be in big trouble; after all events like these are to be expected in the ‘last days’)
4. bless all those in Africa and Asia who are dying of Aids - Jesus would have been there to hold their hands (another tricky one – typical JW view “surely people’s life styles mean they contact Aids”, forgetting about the totally innocent victims such as children and wives, or even the fact poverty and promiscuity such as in Africa seem to go hand in hand).
5. bless the victims of physical violence and sexual abuse
6. help the perpetrators of family violence and sexual abuse to break the circle of abuse – abusers almost invariably where abused as youngsters themselves
7. help us to imitate Jesus in being totally non-judgmental of the shortcomings of others
8. bless the efforts of aid workers in Africa and Asia
9. bless people on both sides in the middle east, both Jews and Palestinians – they people, families, communities just like we are – as we would suffer, they are suffering today.
10. bless those who work for peace in the world, whether they be politicians, UN organizations or the man in the street – surely anything that relieves suffering must be good
.