Gourt > Science > Social Sciences > Psychology > Psychology and Religion > Religious Experience > Prayer (1)
Prayer is an active effort to communicate with a deity or spirit, including a monotheist God, Saints, gods within a pantheon, or others; either to offer praise, to make a request, or simply to express one's thoughts and emotions. The words of the prayer may either be a set hymn or incantation, or a spontaneous utterance in the devotee's own words.
Forms of prayer
The great spiritual traditions offer a veritable treasure trove of devotional acts. There are morning and evening prayers, graces said over meals, and reverent physical gestures. Christians bow their heads and fold their hands. Native Americans dance. Sufis whirl. Hindus chant. Orthodox Jews sway their bodies back and forth. Quakers keep silent.
Among these methodologies are a variety of approaches to understanding prayer:
- The belief that the finite can actually communicate with the infinite;
- The belief that the infinite is interested in communicating with the finite;
- The belief that the prayer is listened to and may or may not get a response;
- The belief that prayer is intended to inculcate certain attitudes in the one who prays, rather than to influence the recipient;
- The belief that prayer is intended to train a person to focus on the recipient through philosophy and intellectual contemplation;
- The belief that prayer is intended to enable a person to gain a direct experience of the recipient;
- The belief that prayer is intended to affect the very fabric of reality itself;
- The belief that the recipient expects or appreciates prayer
Alternative Health
Skeptical Inquiry :: Science in Society
Prayer :: Christianity
Prayer :: Islam
@SoDmV obviously what i would do is die, but not before i got off one last prayer
KEYMANE (Michael Key) Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:28:11 -0000
@SoDmV obviously what i would do is die, but not before i got off one last prayer
RT @beauTIFFul: RT @RoyalEve: RT @JaaZerW: Ya'll say a prayer for my homegirl Stef. She's havin her baby right now! Safe delivery!
YEPNAYDEA (naydea davis) Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:27:37 -0000
RT @beauTIFFul: RT @RoyalEve: RT @JaaZerW: Ya'll say a prayer for my homegirl Stef. She's havin her baby right now! Safe delivery!
Family Prayer and Praise (for Christmas Morning) -- http://bit.ly/8zeTOX
SpiritualRenova (Spiritual Renovation) Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:27:
I Tessman - Is there scientific evidence that intercessory prayer speeds medical recovery? A Debate. Published at the CSICOP-site with other critical articles.
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Medicine, and Intentionality - Article by Wayne B. Jonas, Cindy C. Crawford (2003). Alternative Therapies, 9, 56-61.[PDF]
BBC News: Does Prayer Work? - Review of evidence for answered prayer for world peace and health.
Meta Description: [ The world's religions got together a month ago to pray for peace. Has the planet seen any impact - and is there any evidence that praying works anyway? ]
Boundary Institute - A nonprofit scientific research organization dedicated to research of anomalous phenomena related to consciousness (which might contribute to explain intercessory prayer).
Discovery Channel Canada: The Power of Prayer? - Four video stories hosted by Jay Ingram investigating remote prayer. Includes interview with Duke University's Dr. Mitchell Krucoff.
Distant Healing Project - Mini-site from the Institute of Noetic Sciences, including summary of distant healing research, full text research and review articles, videos of interviews with researchers, bibliography, and FAQ.
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International Center for the Integration of Health and Spirituality - Complete documentation of a three day conference (2003) covering all aspects in the field.
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John Templeton Foundation Prayer Study Archive - Collection of scientific research articles and media articles exploring the power of intercessory prayer on health.
Medical Bureau at Lourdes - Description of the process for recognition of miraculous cures. Includes list of the recognized cures at Lourdes, and details of the International Medical Association of Lourdes (AMIL) Bulletin.
Meta Description: [ lourdes france, le Site officiel des sanctuaires. l'histoire et l'actualite. les apparitions de la vierge marie a bernadette soubirous. ]
Newsweek: Faith and Healing - The cover story discusses shortly the main issues in investigating faith and health.
Meta Description: [ Can religion improve health? While the debate rages in journals and medical schools, more patients ask for doctors’ prayers ]
Obgyn.net: Prayer May Influence In Vitro Fertilization Success - Review of Lobo et al's (2001) double blind study into the effects of intercessory prayer on IVF success.
Meta Description: [ OBGYN.net Headline News page, daily womens health news ]
Prayer Studies - Collection of skeptical articles on the power of prayer in medical healing by Gary Posner (up to 2002).
Meta Description: [ Skeptical articles on the power of prayer in medical healing ]
Problems with Prayer and Faith Healing - Collected critiques of prayer on the website of Guide to Atheism Agnosticism.
Meta Description: [ Critiques of prayer - does it work? what's the point? ]
Psychology of Prayer - Notes and bibliographic references for D. Andrew Kille's lecture on prayer, a part of the Pastoral Ministries Program at Santa Clara University.
Samueli Institute - A non-profit, non-affiliated organization conducting and supporting research on the biology of healing and the therapeutic relationship.
Meta Description: [ The Samueli Institute is a non-profit, non-affiliated organization conducting and supporting research on the biology of healing and the therapeutic relationship, and its application to promote health, treat and prevent disease. ]
Scientific Research on Prayer - Debra Williams' review of research attempting to prove the power of prayer.
The Miracle-Leg - The ultimative answer to a prayer, but: This is the kind of thing that I wouldn't believe, even if it were true!
TIME: Investigating the Power of Prayer - Critical comment by Leon Jaroff against national funding of prayer studies.
Meta Description: [ A San Francisco researcher looks into whether prayer can heal even if the person doesn't know he's being prayed for ]
Transcendent and Spiritual Experiences of Scientists - Web-site with collected accounts from scientists about their transcendent, transpersonal, mystical, paranormal, or psychic experiences, here: Healing on Distance.
Meta Description: [ The most recent submissions in the collected accounts from scientists
about their transcendent, transpersonal, mystical, paranormal, or psychic experiences. Current
edition of the TASTE journal. ]
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