Kelly Cooke: Phenomenology of Prayer 12/6

Phenomenology of Prayer

Kelly Cooke

Within chapter one of the book 'The Phenomenology of Prayer' by Bruce Benson and Norman Wirzba, an outline for prayer is offered. The five elements of prayer discussed are praise, thanksgiving, confession, petition (for self), and intercession (for others). Often, during prayer, the element of praise is often forgotten or avoided. While praise and thanksgiving appear to be similar in nature, one thing sets them apart. Thanksgiving is thanks for the things god has granted us, but praise is thanking god for existing and believing that he is great. Most of us are comfortable with thanksgiving because we do it in our daily lives when we thank people for doing or saying things. Praise is more uncomfortable because we don't often partake in it. They don't discuss this in the section, but I think that while thanksgiving is important it should be below praise. When we fall into a pattern of thanksgiving only we can begin to see people for what they can offer us and not as people. This form of objectifying hinders emotional/ spiritual journey on pilgrimage and can do the same thing in prayer.

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