Scientific prayer?

[Puck]

I understand the contention here, but what all of you are failing to recognize is that prayer has been nothing but 'positive affirmations' all along. It has simply been mislabeled or, alternately labeled, because of a lack of understanding of what is actually going on psychologically when one prays. To cite the definition of prayer does absolutely nothing for me since the definition in itself is rooted in that very misunderstanding. If I 'pray to god' to give me more confidence in life so that I can take more risks and undertake new endeavors, isn't that the same as looking in the mirror and telling myself, or affirming, that I already have this confidence and, thereby, believing that I do? Again, all prayer is is a positive affirmation just directed incorrectly. The same psychological process, however, is taking place with both.

Someone tell me how meditation is different than what we call prayer other than it being directed outside of yourself? Again, the same psychological process is taking place and your faith is being motivated, which is also a function of the human brain.