Question: Why don’t liberals believe in the power of prayer?
Answer: I certainly believe in prayer. It is part of my daily life.
Liberal theologian and retired Episcopal bishop John S. Spong wrote, “Prayer is being present, sharing love, opening life to transcendence. It is not necessarily words addressed heavenward… Perhaps we human beings are more psychically connected than we have ever imagined. Perhaps positive thoughts and the release of the energy of concern [do] flow on networks we do not understand, affecting the life of another… All I know is that it is natural to reach out, to love, and to care for others, and inevitably we feel compelled to give verbal expressions to those aspects of our lives.” Sounds like a ringing endorsement of prayer from a well-known progressive Christian.
Spong has also said that for him learning to live fully is indistinguishable from prayer. A life filled with hope, love, compassion, and kindness is a life of prayer. Those deep (and perhaps divine) emotions can be expressed in verbal poetry, in actions, in rituals, or in silent visualizations but the life of love is a prayerful life and such a life is bound to make a difference in our world.
In my own experience, prayer has proven to focus my consciousness, calm my anxieties, and increase my awareness of opportunities. In prayer I recognize my unity with the spirit of life, I affirm Good (for myself or others), I express gratitude for the joys of life, and I release the prayer to the perfection of divine right action. The results are often amazing. I am a liberal Christian who does believe in prayer. That is the only witness I can give.
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