Religious fanatics will swear by the power of prayer and its ability to influence your everyday life directly. They say it’ll heal your ailments and solve all your problems. While not everyone is religious or believes this to be true, experts believe there may be a correlation between the act and good mental health.
Prayer to Overcome Covid
In 2020, Carol Kochin from Florida turned to the power of prayer when her immunocompromised husband tested positive for Covid-19. “I think that it probably encouraged me,” Carol said. “It calmed me at moments. … I think it centered me back again and reminded me that I was not in charge.”
Facilitating Video Prayer
During his hospital stay, AdventHealth, a faith-based healthcare provider, set up virtual visits for Carol and her husband, and the pair continued to engage in prayer regularly. He eventually recovered and returned home, crediting his faith and the power of prayer to his recovery.
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Turning to Prayer in Uncertain Times
Interestingly, over 55% of the population reported using prayer to wish away the Pandemic. “People often turn to prayer in situations where they experience intense negative feelings, such as anger, grief, or fear,” said Brad Bushman, a professor of communication at The Ohio State University. “All of these things are common during a pandemic. People also pray when they feel like something is out of their control, and they need help from a ‘higher power.’”
How Did People Feel
Furthermore, many reported turning to prayer despite rarely praying or not associating with organized religion altogether. Either way, this spike in faith-based practices poses some interesting questions. For instance, did people feel a sense of relief or calm when they turned to prayer? Did they feel lighter or more hopeful? While prayer is not easy to study per se, experts have been able to study the impacts of prayer on mental health.
An Expert Weighs In
Kevin Masters is a professor of clinical health psychology at the University of Colorado, Denver. He explains that “skepticism” is common among scientists.
“Science is about testing observable relationships, processes, and mechanisms,” he said. “But almost by definition, prayer, as operationalized in these studies, invokes involvement of God or a higher being, something outside the boundaries of natural phenomenon, which science cannot really study.”
Surveying the Public
One of the ways scientists have been able to study the correlation between prayer and mental health was to survey participants about their “quality of life.” Meanwhile, researchers looked at groups of people who’d knowingly and unknowingly been prayed for “at a distance.”
“These studies were meant to be truly a test of prayer by eliminating any natural explanations (e.g., psychological support) that could account for significant differences between groups,” Masters said.
Numerous Studies and New Information
But these studies have only touched the surface. Rather, studying the power of prayer is growing, presenting further evidence. For instance, Baylor University conducted a study on people who pray to a “loving and protective God and found they were less likely to suffer from anxiety-related disorders.
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The University of Oregon Conducts Prayer Study
Meanwhile, the University of Oregon conducted a study comparing the effects of religion and spirituality. While each belief system yielded different results, both aspects showed considerable benefit. Those who describe themselves as religious had healthier habits, overall, with fewer partaking in unhealthy habits like smoking or alcohol consumption. Conversely, spirituality is a key component in emotional regulation and understanding.
Columbia Does a Similar Study
Additionally, Columbia University conducted a similar study and found that people who participated in spiritual practices like meditation had a healthier and “thicker” brain cortex, leading experts to deduce these activities may play a role in preventing depression or anxiety.
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A Small Percentage Conflicts
In contrast, experts note that in some cases the exact opposite may happen. Many report that unanswered prayers leave them feeling unheard and alone, causing insecurity and disbelief in the power of prayer. Moreover, some report feelings of anxiety or rejection.
Spiritual Vs. Religious
Most people know that spirituality and religion have some considerable overlap but aren’t exactly the same. Here are some key differences.
Spiritual is:
- Personal
- Experiencing Internal Divinity
- Informal
- Teaches love and freedom
Religion is:
- Community Oriented
- Focuses on Obeying God
- Devotion to a specific higher power, God.
- Duality-oriented (right and wrong).
- Formal
In Conclusion
Although spirituality and religion may cause some to feel anxious or rejected, many people have harnessed the power of prayer or meditation to shift their reality. For instance, while these acts may not necessarily be life-changing, rewiring the brain with a few minutes of positivity and hope every day can create more feelings of abundance, happiness, and gratitude, Or create a more positive outlook on everyday life and tackling challenges.
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