Phenomenology #2

In chapter 4 of The Phenomenology of Prayer James Mensch discusses the nature of prayer, and how it seems to be misused. When starting the year I was a little embarrassed to admit I was not exactly clear on what prayer truly was. As a child I attended services under multiple different Christian denominations, but this class made me realize I was not sure what the true purpose of prayer was. “It couldn’t be just asking for things?” Mensh addresses this in what he calls an “earthly economy”. The idea of prayer being rooted in one's desires from moment to moment. He uses the example of prayer in competition, like that of sports, which always confused me. Wasn’t communication with God reserved for topics a little more important? This chapter proved to be very clerifing in terms of understanding what prayer can look like. The use of kenosis as “providing space for the sacred” was a unique concept, and I can happily say sufficiently answer my embarrassing question.

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