Do you believe that the rituals of other faiths have power? - Page 3

[kama'aina mama]

Probably ritual was too precise a word to use in the OP. Any religious/spiritual practice. Prayer, spells, divining, dowsing, fasting, rituals, and whatever else people do from a spiritual stance to alter things on either the spiritual or physical plane.

[tracymom]

I guess being sort of a peace lovin' gal I guess my thoughts are that since I think nearly everybody's "right," then it would follow that their rituals or practices would also have power regardless of my own belief or practice.

I visited a local shop that markets to witches and wiccans, with lovely soaps, incense, candles and books etc. and in just examining some of the ritual objects (cauldrons, candle holders, and the like) and thinking about their uses I was impressed with the level of power I sensed they could evoke with the right handling and belief. Not MY power, just a sense of somebody else's, if that makes any sense at all. Like not being Catholic and visiting a shrine or a cathedral and getting a sense of people worshiping there in a faith and ritual that doesn't belong to you, but is real to them.

[Momma Aimee]

I can pray for others -- but that doesn't give me power over them (no voodoo).

I believe Jewish or Muslum pray is as "powerful" as mine.

Each is an out pouring of the soul.

Aimee

[NorthernLight]

No. If you are a "not adherent/believer", then it is just theatre.

[Meiri]

I think ritual/prayer/whatever has power for the person(s) doing it. They have power within that particular belief system, but not over anyone who is not of that religion.

When I visit the Buddhist temple in Niagara Falls, Canada, I can feel the power of the place, but it's not a power Over me sensation. It's more like what Tracymom described. You can sense it, but it's not yours.