I vaguely remember, as a kid, older people would sometimes pray with open, upwards palms extended forward from the elbow. Catholic school said something like it was acceptable, but school and peer pressure made me feel like anything other than flat, clasped hands were illegal. No woven finger fistballs, either. But this is anecdotal from 30 years ago in one particular region.
Comment on Why is it that clasped hands tends to be the norm for praying? 🙏
Balthazar@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
Under Christianity, I think children were instructed to hold their hands together in order to discourage fidgeting. I’m not aware of any Biblical reason to clasp hands. In fact, I think in the Old Testament hands were often raised in prayer.
XeroxCool@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
Flax_vert@feddit.uk 4 weeks ago
I, personally am pretty inconsistent with how I do it, lol
Flax_vert@feddit.uk 4 weeks ago
This is why I was told to close my eyes, to do away with distractions. But my neurodivergent brain would just get distracted by unrelated thoughts, so staring at a stained glass window does nicely for me.