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JAINISM AND WORLD PROBLEMS
Even Christianity is, really, opposed to prayer, as can be seen from the Biblical views concerning the various things men usually pray for. This may be studied conveniently with the aid of the following tabulated statement :
228
1 Wealth
WHAT MEN PRAY FOR.
2 Health
3 Marriage
4 Concerning relations
5
6
Fine clothes
Food *
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS AS TO THAT
Go sell off all ye possess, give it away in charity and come and follow me.
Jain Education International
He who shall save his life shall lose it. If a man come after 'me' and hate not his life he is not worthy of me. Blessed are the Eunuchs who have made themselves so for the kingdom of heaven.
He who hateth not his father and mother etc., etc., is not worthy.
Follow the example of the lilies of the valley who spin not,
nor weave.
The sparrows till not, nor cultivate and are fed. The workman is worthy of his meat. Woe unto you if you are full, for you shall hunger. Blessed are you if you hunger now, for you shall be filled.
This is quite sufficient to show that prayer is not a thing that is really countenanced by Christianity.
*The Lord's Prayer does seem to suggest praying for one's daily bread, but then how many people there are who have actual need for such a prayer? In reality, that prayer is a hint for cultivating the spirit of detachment from one's possessions, as explained in the KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
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