Heck no.

No, you shouldn't be forced to do anything. Prayer is a personal thing left up to the individual, depending on their personal beliefs.

To what end? What would be the point? What need would any god have for insincere worship?

Absolutely not! For two main reasons; firstly that people should be free to make their own religious decisions and secondly because many people (myself included) think that it is a waste of time, and could be dangerous! There was a case in the US recently where the relative of a deceased hospital patient tried to sue the doctor for failing to pray for his patient. Now firstly it is the doctors right not to pray, and secondly I'd rather have my doctor thinking about possible cures than praying. I think the death rates would increase if doctors where forced to spend time praying!

I don't think you can force people to pray. You can force them to kneel down, you can force them to say the words that you tell them to. But that isn't prayer, that is mumbo jumbo. Unless it comes from the heart, it cannot be prayer.

No, never should anyone be forced by another person to pray. Prayer is a wonderful gift from God. It is not a tool to be used by one person to dominate another person with, or to make someone feel uncomfortable in a social setting. At Matthew 6:5, 6, Jesus taught us: "When you pray, you must not be as the hypocrites; because they like to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the broad ways to be visible to men. . . . You, however, when you pray, go into your private room and, after shutting your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; then your Father who looks on in secret will repay you." These words teach us that prayer should not be offered in a showy, ostentatious way so as to impress someone. At Psalm 62:8, we are encouraged to go to God in prayer, but it is our choice if we wish to do so. "Trust in him at all times, O people. Before him pour out YOUR heart. God is a refuge for us." Here is a link to a good article about prayer" http://www.watchtower.org/e/20020908a/article_01.htm

No, but they should be allowed to pray.

I don't think anyone should be forced to pray. Likewise, I don't think anyone should be forced to *not* pray.

uuumm, unless you want to live in a fascist state, HELL NO!

Certainly not. Then it wouldn't originate authentically from the person praying, it would be forced, and therefore wouldn't "count".

No. That would be the equivalent of forcing them to lie if they are just praying to please you.

no. a prayer is a sign of faith, and if that person is forced to show something, then that doesn't constitute real faith because faith is supposed to be personal.

Are you kidding?? not a chance!! do u thing people should be forced to pray?!

No..Forcing people to pray is the same as forcing someone to believe the way you do.People would be faking it. Belief is not something that can be forced upon someone.

...and the point of forced prayer would be what, exactly?

Not at all. There would be no point in it.

No need for force. People pray continuously. They just don't acknowledge it as prayer. They usually label the activity as "thought".

Nothing should be forced.

what good would that do?

Hell no! Prayers should come from the heart. And if you do believe in God, you know that He knows very well if your prayers are insincere.

no and the reason why is ...if you forced people a good percentage would only pay lip service to it and that is as useless as 'tits on a bull'

Forced pray means nothing. If you believe in prayer then you know that only prayers that come from the heart mean anything. Of what benefit would anyone gain by forcing them?

no, not at all. you couldnt make me pray

Why?

Where is prayer forced? It would be pointless.

Sounds like a wetdream of a Christian conservative.

Only in religious fundamentalist regions where a theocracy dictates the law of the land.

A forced prayer is like a forced apology, it means nothing unless it comes from the heart. Do you think God needs to listen to prayers that aren't sincere?

hell no, id like to see anyone try that

No, because prayer is not saying the words you parents or teachers have taught you. Praying is talking to God, and that takes will and devotion of heart (for instance, you just say honest words to God and you are still praying).

Prayers that are not given willingly mean nothing.

no i don't think u should if u feel like u don't need to pray nor have a reason then no but y not pray that's not hard to do i mean pray but u shouldn't have to be forced do it on ur own PRAY

Theres no possible way to "force" someone to pray. Prayer is when we take time out of our day to speak with our Heavenly Father and acknowledge his great sacrafise. Prayer is a heart-felt desire. You cant be forced to prayer. A paryer without your heart in it is a waste of your time. Jesus knows when prayers come from your heart, and when they come from your mouth.

NO... but do you think people should be forced NOT to pray????

Doesn't forcing someone to pray defeat the whole purpose. You have to have faith to begin with. Faith isn't something you can force on someone, you either have it or you don't.

Nope because if they don't mean it it's just words, and (more importantly) it is a breach of freedom of choice and so is therefore morally wrong...

No. If you were forced to pray and didn't "feel it" or have true belief and faith in prayer then you're just muttering words that have no meaning.

no. God doesn't force you to pray, so a human has absolutely no power to enforce that upon you either.

Not forced. They should be given an opportunity to. You can almost trace the decline in America to the time when prayer was outlawed. If you REALLY want to be rebellious, be a Christian. It's way far from being mainstream. Anti-establishment in the extreme! Especially in school. Even more so in college.

no

That's kind of like trying to force someone to love you. It can't be done. Prayer is more than just saying some words. It is direct communion with God. If you don't worship God you would just be speaking meaningless words.

I hpe not, it would be time for me to pack up and move on to somewhere else.

Would good would that do? If its forced, what affect does it have other than frustration and resentment.

Never....

Sure! And kill anyone who refuses

No, It comes from the heart when you feel a need for yourself or for someone else. Usually compassion for another usually untions me to pray.

I think the very thought is rather silly. "You! Talk to God! Yes! You! Do it! Now!" It'd be as ridiculous as making a law that I have to go talk to someone every day. Moreso if I didn't believe that person to exist. Yay for talking to empty rooms! If I were being forced to pray at school each morning, I'd refuse... then pray at home, when my conversation would be much more authentic. Or I'd run away to Fiji. BTW - I am duly impressed by the number of believers who spoke up on this. Kudos. :)

No, for God gave mankind free will from the get go, meaning that true worship is voluntary. Sad to say, paradise had to be lost in order for mankind to truly find God.

Hell no.

They can try to force me but I will just be lip syncing.

At gunpoint?! ;-)

Why force anything that can have an adverse effect on other people? A long-awaited medical study actually questions the power of prayer: Patients who knew they were being prayed for had a higher rate of post-operative complications like abnormal heart rhythms, perhaps because of the expectations the prayers created, the researchers suggested. At least 10 studies of the effects of prayer have been carried out in the last six years, with mixed results. The new study was intended to overcome flaws in the earlier investigations. source: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/health/31pray.html

Only if I can force you to talk to my invisible friend, Magic Bob. Same difference!

How the heck do you force someone to pray?

Only if they wan't to be in violation of the Human rights act

No prayer is a relationship with God. And it is a relationship. You cant force that. I pray when I am feeling anothers hurt or need. I pray when I need advice , I pray when I want to related to God. Prayer is talking to God. It takes a person having that relationship to pray.

In America, NO. But there are some countries in the world that base their laws on religion, and they may force prayer. It may not be "right" but thats why I love being an American.

No. Being forced to pray would a a violation of the freedom of religion. + Freedom of Religion + The entire world agreed to include freedom of religion in the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights. See Article 2: http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html The citizens of the United States think this freedom is just as important as the freedoms of speech or the press. All are part of the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html Even the Catholic Church seeks and supports the freedom of religion for all human beings. In the Vatican II document, Declaration on Religious Freedom, Dignitatis Humanae (Human Dignity), the Church states: The human person has a right to religious freedom. This freedom means that all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power, in such wise that no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs, whether privately or publicly, whether alone or in association with others, within due limits. For the entire document, see: http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651207_dignitatis-humanae_en.html + Prayer + Prayer is the elevation of the mind and heart to God: + In praise of his glory + In petition for some desired good + In thanksgiving for a good received + In intercession for others before God Through prayer the Christian experiences a communion with God through Christ in the Church. "For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy." (St. Thérèse of Lisieux) "Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God." (St. John Damascene) But when we pray, do we speak from the height of our pride and will, or "out of the depths" of a humble and contrite heart? (Psalm 130:1) He who humbles himself will be exalted; humility is the foundation of prayer. Only when we humbly acknowledge that "we do not know how to pray as we ought," are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer. For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, part four: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt4sect1.shtml Some basic Catholic prayers can be found at: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/index.htm http://www.churchyear.net/basicprayers.html Daily prayer site: http://www.sacredspace.ie/ With love in Christ.

If the Religious Right has its way, we'll be forced to do much more than pray

no

Definitely not ! Praying is a very personal thing helping people to undergo difficulties and problems. It helps relax the spiritual body of man. It should never be done by force for it looses all its beneficial abilities.

No prayer is a personal thing and we pray when the Holy Spirit touches my heart to pray. Prayers are not answered unless they come from a pure heart.

I think God loves prayers that come from heart, without any force.

No,But I believe Prayer comes from a unction from the Lord.The Holy Spirit puts maybe a thought etc. on our minds and hearts to pray for others needs. Its not a job to do it comes naturally and I love to do it when he calls.

Absolutely not!!!!!!!!!

ppl shouldnt be forced to do anything

What would be the point?

it is impossible to 'FORCE" someone to pray, to laugh,, to love...etc. get my point? going through the motions is not the real thing, therefore, it is just going through the motions.

The person who asked this question, is an IDIOT.

Nope! Praying is an individual choice and if forced, it wouldn't mean the same anyway.

Not everyone prays the same way, so who would decide which is the way that is to be enforced and how would it be enforced? And to answer the question truly, it's not possible. A prayer/spell/wish/hope/etc. is an intention. You can make people say whatever they want, but if the intention isn't there, then they're just words. It's like trying to force someone to think.

People should not be forced to pray. Prayer is a loving response to the presence and action of a loving God. Force has no part in this relationship.

no forcing people = rebelious attitude twards the forcer look at the hitler era, forcing is bad