The Phenomenology of Prayer 2
"Prayer and Incarnation: A Homiletical Reflection"
This article offers the idea that our attachment to things on earth: loved ones, pets, ambitions, status, etc., are the objectively related to petitionary prayer. By praying for these things, McCullough claims that worshippers become detached from "the void" (210). She elaborates that rather than living with the hope that God will resolve our concerns, we should "live into the world incarnationally in faith" (211). The argument that McCullough is attempting to tackle deals with two main subjects: Prayer in relation to "earthly" subjects and Prayer in relation to "the void" or heavenly subjects. Demonstrating these two types of prayer exposes the underlying ignorance that people tend to have when it comes to understanding prayer. Since we live in a country that has no single religious identity, prayer is subjective to individual interpretation. While prayer in empty space may seem to be a ridiculous concept to many, the drastic difference that McCullough highlights between those dedicated to this type of prayer and those praying for their concerns emphasizes the fact that the phenomenology of prayer has been largely transformed over time. Even though McCullough uses negative connotations to describe 'earthly' prayer, her argument brings up the question of how willing are worshippers to dedicate their prayer to "the void" rather than sharing their personal concerns?
This article offers the idea that our attachment to things on earth: loved ones, pets, ambitions, status, etc., are the objectively related to petitionary prayer. By praying for these things, McCullough claims that worshippers become detached from "the void" (210). She elaborates that rather than living with the hope that God will resolve our concerns, we should "live into the world incarnationally in faith" (211). The argument that McCullough is attempting to tackle deals with two main subjects: Prayer in relation to "earthly" subjects and Prayer in relation to "the void" or heavenly subjects. Demonstrating these two types of prayer exposes the underlying ignorance that people tend to have when it comes to understanding prayer. Since we live in a country that has no single religious identity, prayer is subjective to individual interpretation. While prayer in empty space may seem to be a ridiculous concept to many, the drastic difference that McCullough highlights between those dedicated to this type of prayer and those praying for their concerns emphasizes the fact that the phenomenology of prayer has been largely transformed over time. Even though McCullough uses negative connotations to describe 'earthly' prayer, her argument brings up the question of how willing are worshippers to dedicate their prayer to "the void" rather than sharing their personal concerns?
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