Just watch the television channels. You will see some churches where people simply call out the name of "Jesus" repeatedly, with tears rolling down their faces.

Some will pray in their own words, out loud, all at the same time, causing nothing but confusion. Other churches may do it in a more subdued manner, all reciting the same words at the same time.

In Tibet, the people attach written prayers to prayer wheels and spin them. It makes noise, alerting the one being prayed to that prayers are being made and to pay attention.

The Jews, rocking back and forth, pray at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, reading the prayers out of their prayer book. They often write down their requests and put the small pieces of paper in the cracks between the rocks of the wall.

Which of these are right? Are all of them? Or none of them? How and when should prayer be done? As a daily ritual, at prescribed times, with specific words already laid out? Any time you choose? Should it be done as part of a group or alone? Why do people pray?