Prayer is a complicated coping mechanism. However, fortunately we can summarize it up to other similar psychological phenomena. Prayer is basically the same mechanism we use to cope with either uncontrollable circumstances or personal flaws, and need for companionship. When the human brain is faced with uncontrollable circumstance, it will attempt to cope. The human mind has evolved to make sense of things outside of chaos. Prayer is a simple means to cope with this uncertainty. When the mind can rationalize that the situation is in control in some way shape or from. It will allow the mind to emotionally cope with the consequences.
Concerning personal flaws, it is a means that the mind can overcome personal traits. So in the perception of the individual he or she can overcome said flaws, which otherwise in their point of view seem insurmountable. Basically prayer enables them to feel that they have something greater than their problem and allows them to mentally overcome. Again it is a simple mechanism to cope with something otherwise would emotionally harm the body. Finally, dealing with need for companionship, the idea that a being that is perfect and knows you more than anyone else is very comforting. Not to mention the feeling that that person is always there to talk to. This gives security to the person emotions and enable them to vent on the fly. The evidence of this is rather simple, notice how “god” is always what the person needs? God according to theists knows their thoughts, personality and struggles. However, you know another person that knows these things? The person themselves, I theorize that prayer when it comes to companionship need is the same mechanism a person uses then they talk with themselves to either make a decision or self-reflect on a personal or external decision or conflict.
I am in no way shape or form a psychologist, I merely speaking from 23 years of being immersed in the church and personal research or my father’s instruction. I am pretty sure it goes deeper than what I state above and I am sure I missed other explanations. However, based on my own observations it seems prayer follows closely to those points I presented above.
Concerning personal flaws, it is a means that the mind can overcome personal traits. So in the perception of the individual he or she can overcome said flaws, which otherwise in their point of view seem insurmountable. Basically prayer enables them to feel that they have something greater than their problem and allows them to mentally overcome. Again it is a simple mechanism to cope with something otherwise would emotionally harm the body. Finally, dealing with need for companionship, the idea that a being that is perfect and knows you more than anyone else is very comforting. Not to mention the feeling that that person is always there to talk to. This gives security to the person emotions and enable them to vent on the fly. The evidence of this is rather simple, notice how “god” is always what the person needs? God according to theists knows their thoughts, personality and struggles. However, you know another person that knows these things? The person themselves, I theorize that prayer when it comes to companionship need is the same mechanism a person uses then they talk with themselves to either make a decision or self-reflect on a personal or external decision or conflict.
I am in no way shape or form a psychologist, I merely speaking from 23 years of being immersed in the church and personal research or my father’s instruction. I am pretty sure it goes deeper than what I state above and I am sure I missed other explanations. However, based on my own observations it seems prayer follows closely to those points I presented above.
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I would be a televangelist....but I have too much of a soul.
