Manly Poses For Praying

[debrand]

I have a pet peeve. Yes, it is probably silly. It annoys me to see Christian men take the position of only one knee on the ground to pray(Tebow style) It looks like the person is posing for show not being humble. It looks very melodramatic.

I can't imagine Jesus in the garden Tebowing. I just can't. He probably got down on both knees or prostrated himself.

The entire point of kneeling is to show that you are submissive and humble to a higher power. One knee poses look like the person is kneeling to draw attention to the fact that they are manly Christian men.(cue the song, We're men, we're men in tights)

During a mass, everyone kneels(both knees on the floor). Muslims actually prostrate themselves during their prayers.

What is up with the one knee pose? Are some men that afraid to show vulnerability and submission to their own god?

[Artemis]

I suppose it's sort of 'I'm down one one knee to show I'm submitting to God, but only on one knee to remind my wife (who kneels on both knees) that I'm still her headship.

A sort of halfway house between being human and being divine, you might say.

ETA I mean, they're GOOD at manly poses!

[debrand]

I suppose it's sort of 'I'm down one one knee to show I'm submitting to God, but only on one knee to remind my wife (who kneels on both knees) that I'm still her headship.

A sort of halfway house between being human and being divine, you might say.

ETA I mean, they're GOOD at manly poses!

That made me laugh but I wonder if it isn't partly true. Real men just can't be fully submissive to anyone, even god.

[Kitchen Princess]

The only time I've ever seen it (besides in sports) is when the person kneeling is up on the platform, and doesn't have anything to lean against. Most of those guys couldn't kneel like the Muslims do, because of their big bellies or bad knees.

[debrand]

The only time I've ever seen it (besides in sports) is when the person kneeling is up on the platform, and doesn't have anything to lean against. Most of those guys couldn't kneel like the Muslims do, because of their big bellies or bad knees.

Although most people stand during public prayers, I've seen some Baptist men drop to just one knee during prayer.

In one church I attended, we broke into groups to pray. One man always dropped to his knee. His prayers were the loo....ongest and most boring.

[deelaem]

If you keep one knee up, then it's much easier to see your manly junk-bulge. Because it's important to constantly remind the world of what a manly man you are. But you're not insecure or anything.

[debrand]

If you keep one knee up, then it's much easier to see your manly junk-bulge. Because it's important to constantly remind the world of what a manly man you are. But you're not insecure or anything.

Yes, because having a penis the bestest, most wonderful thing in the whole world. If they kneel on both knees someone might mistake them for a lesser female creature. :lol:

[kunoichi66]

I have a pet peeve. Yes, it is probably silly. It annoys me to see Christian men take the position of only one knee on the ground to pray(Tebow style) It looks like the person is posing for show not being humble. It looks very melodramatic.

I can't imagine Jesus in the garden Tebowing. I just can't. He probably got down on both knees or prostrated himself.

The entire point of kneeling is to show that you are submissive and humble to a higher power. One knee poses look like the person is kneeling to draw attention to the fact that they are manly Christian men.(cue the song, We're men, we're men in tights)

During a mass, everyone kneels(both knees on the floor). Muslims actually prostrate themselves during their prayers.

What is up with the one knee pose? Are some men that afraid to show vulnerability and submission to their own god?

Interesting fact: during the Heian Era (medieval times, more or less) in Japan, kneeling on one knee was considered a very manly posture.

[debrand]

Interesting fact: during the Heian Era (medieval times, more or less) in Japan, kneeling on one knee was considered a very manly posture.

That was interesting. I wonder why bending just one knee is considered manly in two cultures?

[SpeshulTaterTot]

My dad only gets on one knee during mass, but for him it's not about being manly. He has an old knee injury and wouldn't be able to get back up if he went down on both knees.

Considering Tebow is a pro-athlete, I believe he doesn't have the same reason as my dad.

[fundifugee]

That was interesting. I wonder why bending just one knee is considered manly in two cultures?

Also the position usually assumed for being knighted.

Although, hmm, wonder what Elton John did when being knighted?

[fluttershies]

Also the position usually assumed for being knighted.

Although, hmm, wonder what Elton John did when being knighted?

.....Get on one knee, because he's a man and therefore as manly as any other man?

Gay =/= not manly.

[wtfrenchtoast]

I know a lot of athletes are taught to 'take a knee' for certain situations. We did that in basketball when someone got hurt and had to leave the court. I've never seen anyone go down on just one knee to pray with the exception of Tebow. That seems really weird to me to do it in church or just to pray regularly.

Off topic, but my friend posted something on FB the other day: "So we know what Tebowing is. What's Manning-ing?" "Playing good football" :lol:

[fluttershies]

Being on one knee is probably more comfortable, but then the only time I kneel to pray is at the communion rail in church, which has a padded kneeling cushion. If I was kneeling on a hard surface I think I would probably be on one knee because my knees are not great.

[Sunnichick31]

I still don't get why the world is obsessed with Tebow. But then again, I dont follow sports.

[fundifugee]

.....Get on one knee, because he's a man and therefore as manly as any other man?

Gay =/= not manly.

Yes, obviously, but I am enjoying the thought of the likes of Tebow and PP figuring out that their manly poses are shared by other [it could be argued] MANLIER men, who they actively hate.

[Lostie]

I still don't get why the world is obsessed with Tebow. But then again, I dont follow sports.

I'm completely with you on this one Sunni. I just don't get the big deal.

[Nothing2CHere]

My first thought the first time I saw Tebow in his prayer pose was, "Why is he genuflecting? I thought we only did that in the Catholic church?"

For anyone not familiar with the practice, it's what you're supposed to do before you slide into your pew in a Roman Catholic church, you lower one knee, bend a little at the waist, and bless yourself. At least, that's what my family taught me to do.

[Kitty]

I know a lot of athletes are taught to 'take a knee' for certain situations. We did that in basketball when someone got hurt and had to leave the court. I've never seen anyone go down on just one knee to pray with the exception of Tebow. That seems really weird to me to do it in church or just to pray regularly.

Off topic, but my friend posted something on FB the other day: "So we know what Tebowing is. What's Manning-ing?" "Playing good football" :lol:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hp ... 1742_n.jpg

I don't follow sports either, but I got a giggle out of that one. My impression has always been that Tebow does it for the attention.

[kunoichi66]

That was interesting. I wonder why bending just one knee is considered manly in two cultures?

I'm not sure. Maybe it is as simple as Artemis suggested, and they want to show that even in submission to God, they are still better than women?

I'm getting more and more convinced that these 'Christian' men think they are better than God himself.

[MamaJunebug]

Why I Love FJ, Part 32:

47 years ago my confirmation-class pastor described a man who had led the closing prayer of some class or group by resting one foot on the chair (the man had been standing previously, according to Pastor) and folding his hands and resting one elbow on his elevated, bended knee, and bowing his head as he spoke the prater.

Pastor said that to pray in such a posture was indignities and insulting to God.

For 47 years, for the life if me, when I've thought about Pastor's criticism I've never understood why he had such a problem w the guy's position. Well now, thanks to my fellow/sister FJians,

I get it! . It's about exposin' the 'nadal area. See there? Guys can be immodest, too!

:roll:

[gravelmonkey]

I heard in Catholic school that genuflecting came about during the middle ages, when knights would kneel before a king. But in all the armor, knights couldn't kneel properly on two knees, so they would kneel on one instead, for stability purposes.

(Hi, btw. Long-time lurker. I'm tired of not participating and I finally came up with a good username.)

[Boogalou]

My first thought the first time I saw Tebow in his prayer pose was, "Why is he genuflecting? I thought we only did that in the Catholic church?"

For anyone not familiar with the practice, it's what you're supposed to do before you slide into your pew in a Roman Catholic church, you lower one knee, bend a little at the waist, and bless yourself. At least, that's what my family taught me to do.

We used to do that for mass in school getting in and out of the pew. I am pretty sure that is what you are supposed to do, but I don't know for sure. The older we got the less we would bend and the faster we would cross ourselves until it just got to the point where everyone would just walk into the pews normally :evil:. I think you are also supposed to do that when you go past the tabernacle, but again I am not really sure. I did not always pay the closest attention in mass.

[Witsec7]

We used to do that for mass in school getting in and out of the pew. I am pretty sure that is what you are supposed to do, but I don't know for sure. The older we got the less we would bend and the faster we would cross ourselves until it just got to the point where everyone would just walk into the pews normally :evil:. I think you are also supposed to do that when you go past the tabernacle, but again I am not really sure. I did not always pay the closest attention in mass.

The nuns taught us to bless with holy H2O and genuflect upon entering the church. Upon entering the pew, we were taught to genuflect and cross again.

Years later an ex priest told me that the genuflection was only required if consecrated hosts were present.

[Kaylee]

I've done the whole on one knee thing just because it's easier to get up from, then I decided to save my knees at least at home and brought one of those little kneeler pillows from a Catholic guy who sells them. I never really thought of it as manly, but it doesn't really work in any but the longest skirts or dresses. As for the guys now, I'd say a lot of them may be copying Tebow, but I've never given it much thought or really looked to see who was praying how or if all the women were on two knees while the men were on one.