Subject: Is praying to created beings scriptural? |
Bible Note: Hey, hey, Emmaus, we're playing in my court now when we talk about English usage, since I majored in the stuff, and it's still one of my favorite topics. :-) But, come, come my dear Emmaus, I happen to know that you are much too intelligent to have allowed to escape your notice the clear meaning of what I was talking about when I used the word "pray" in the context of my post. One would be dull indeed (and you are by no means dull) to parse the word "pray" as I used it to mean anything other than "to address God ... with adoration, confession, supplication or thanksgiving." (Webster's Collegiate). The etymology of the English word "pray" goes back to the Latin precari which means "request." Sherlock Holmes was fond of using "pray" in the sense of "to request, beg or implore" something of another person, as for example, "Pray continue with your narrative." But in current English usage, especially in American English, the word is rarely used in this sense anymore. Almost always when "pray" or "prayer" is used, it refers to addressing God or in some cases, a god, but almost never to a human being. --Hank |