Reply #43: Perhaps a distinction is being made between... [View All]

[Silent3]

...intercessory prayer and the word "prayer" used to refer to something more like private meditation, which is only meant and expected to have a purely internal effect on the state of mind of the person praying?

If you think some Sky Daddy is going to intervene in earthly affairs on your behalf when you pray, I'd call that superstition. If you think a Sky Daddy is listening, even while holding no hope for divine intervention, that's still superstitious, but to a lesser degree. If you expect neither, then calling what you're doing "prayer" is a bit of a stretch for something I'd prefer to call meditation.