Dew -- you have waded into a very sensitive subject here. Well done! π
I was born a Catholic, which is steeped in ritual and obedience. I liked the former and railed against the latter at every turn. As a result I left early - never to return.
We are all part of the universe and we are all connected, in the same way that a wave is part of the ocean.
A prayer is a dialogue - with whoever you wish to speak with. No limitations, no restrictions, no fixed results.
Man launches a rocket, builds bullet trains and figures out how to stuff cheese into a can and as a result, gets really chuffed with itself.
And yet, we're just scratching the surface on what this universe is all about. So much more to do. Any doubts of that - please just look around us.
I enjoyed this! Cheers.