Kelly Cooke: Phenomenology of Prayer 12/6

Phenomenology of Prayer

Kelly Cooke

I found the discussion of what prayer is and can mean within the book 'Phenomenology of Prayer' by Bruce Benson and Norman Wirzba to be interesting. Specifically in chapter fourteen, titled "how (not) to find God in all things." The act and intentions of praying is brought into question during this chapter. Is prayer to serve a higher power or to make one feel better about themselves. A discussion of ego results from the question of whether prayer is self-indulgence. This ego can be incredibly harmful to the spiritual self that is often expressed through prayer. That is why the act of kenosis or self-emptying plays an incredibly important part of prayer. In my opinion one cannot approach the higher power they pray to without first decentering themselves for that power. 

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