 | | | Why clasp hands and bow head in prayer
Asked Dec 31, 2007, 05:17 PM
—
17 Answers Why do Christians bow their head and clasp their hands in prayer?
Is their anything Biblical and if so what is the scripture?
I believe it is tradition. But where did it get its start?
Thread Summary |
17 Answers
 | Expert | |
Dec 31, 2007, 05:24 PM
| | |
The legend of it is that it came from colonia America as a way of avoiding fidgeting during long prayers . In the early church they seldom folded them but had them turned palm upwards to catch the blessings of God. | | |  | Jobs & Parenting Expert | |
Dec 31, 2007, 05:31 PM
| | |
Bowing one's head is an ancient Asian action that shows respect, deference to one higher in authority, and humility. Clasping one's hands keeps them still and keeps them from doing other stuff, is a form of adoration. | | |  | Full Member | |
Dec 31, 2007, 10:18 PM
| | | I think it's just tradition. But we bow our heads and fold our hands so that we can concentrate on talking to God. And so we are not focused on the things around us. You really don't have to do that to pray though. I don't. | | |  | Full Member | |
Dec 31, 2007, 11:31 PM
| | | Bowing is humbling. You lay yourself at the feet of the LORD and at His mercy. | | |  | - | |
Jan 4, 2008, 08:16 AM
| | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by gibson997 Why do Christians bow their head and clasp their hands in prayer?
Is their anything Biblical and if so what is the scripture?
I believe it is tradition. But where did it get its start? | Not all Christians bow their heads in prayer. Some pray with arms lifted, hands waving, even dancing about. Prayer posture is not dictated in the Bible. The bowed head goes back to the days of 'divine' monarchy, when kings demanded an act of submission (or servitude) from their 'serfs'. Early Christians followed the Jewish practice of 'davening' ...swaying back and forth while praying, until reverence for the Eucharist and the "King of Kings" led to kneeling and head bowing. Interesting side note: kneeling was an integral part of Jewish ritual at the Temple in Jerusalem..but when Christians began to kneel in worship, Jewish rabbis prohibted it in Jewish worship. Attend a synagogue today and you will find standing and sitting....but NO kneeling. | | | | New Member | |
Jan 5, 2008, 08:22 PM
| | | It is showing submission to the one you are praying to. | | |  | Uber Member | |
Jan 5, 2008, 08:32 PM
| | | Most of the answers received so far are really good. I just want to add that in my own personal opinion. I do not think it matters what position we are in while praying. I think the thoughts and feelings and prayer are more important to God then the actually position we are in.
Like others have said in different ways it is a way of showing your loyalty to God. In the physical sense. | | | | Expert | |
Jan 7, 2008, 04:22 PM
| | |
I personally do it more often with hands upwards and head looking up.
But then I have oftened wondered as in the NT Paul speaks about women praying with their heads covered, I wonder why women don't still do it today often any longer | | |  | Junior Member | |
Jan 7, 2008, 06:05 PM
| | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Wondergirl Bowing one's head is an ancient Asian action that shows respect, deference to one higher in authority, and humility. Clasping one's hands keeps them still and keeps them from doing other stuff, is a form of adoration. | I think all ancient human cultures showed respect etc. This way. | | |
| Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | Add your answer here.
Check out some similar questions!
Christian prayer [ 12 Answers ]
Isn't it true that christians will accept almost any event as an answer to a prayer ? After all, they have three ideas about prayer : (1) Yes, (2), No, & (3), Not yet. A 4th idea that I've heard many times is (4), Here's your answer according to my will. It seems to me to say that God says yes, no,...
The Prayer [ 1 Answers ]
Some years ago I watched an Estonian or Latvain choir on TV singing a piece the music called The Prayer . The programme was about the great tradition of choral music in these countries. Can anyone shed any light on this piece
Prayer... [ 10 Answers ]
I know this may seem like a weird question, but how do I get God to hear me and help me?
Prayer doesn't help my situation. Can you? [ 16 Answers ]
My husband and I keep ending up in dire financial straits. In previous posts, I questioned whether this was luck, past relatives getting revenge, etc. And, with your help, began to really pay closer attention to what goes on between my husband and I.
Quite simply, our economic mishaps seem to...
Prayer [ 15 Answers ]
Is it possible to be spiritual and/or religious and never pray? By that I mean praying in the traditional sense... Either using your own words to speak to G-d or words in a prayer book.
Why I ask is because prayer has always seemed pretty foreign and weird to me. I am quite a non-religious...
View more Christianity questions Search
|
