People prayed to/for both the Saddam and Ford's coffins? Religious input please?

[Nimrod2005]

Why do people pray over the dead?

Are they praying that they go to heaven? But, by then isn't it too late?

Or they pray to God to spare them from hell?

Or do they pray to wish them a nice trip to wherever?

And, isn't it against religion to pray for and or at something other than God?

It just all feels wrong to me...Why would you pray on/to a dead body?

[SteppingRazor]

1. No one's praying "to" a dead body...

praying "over" a dead body would probably be more accurate.

And, yeah, they're usually praying for forgiveness of the departed's sins and whatnot, and no, it's not too late by most religions' standards.

[Left Is Write]

2. You pray FOR the deceased, not TO the deceased.

The prayer is generally for the soul of the deceased and possibly for comfort to the loved ones.

[Kerrytravelers]

3. As was said above, people pray for the dead, not to the dead.

I'm Catholic. We often pray for the souls of those who have departed.

[knitter4democracy]

4. In our church, we pray for mercy.

Since God is outside of time and space, we can pray for mercy for a departed soul. We also do special remembrance services at one month, six months, one year, five years, and ten years after a death. Those are more for the loved ones left here, though.

[madeline_con]

5. Some pray for strength to deal with their loss.

It's hard to lose a father, mother, husband, brother or other person who was dearly loved.

[uppityperson]

6. Indeed it is and we do.

[valerief]

7. People pray for coffins? Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb. nt