Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD, Psychology and Culture

Prayers and thoughts have taken a hit lately.  In the wake of mass shootings in the US, I see more and more social media posts decrying the use of "prayers and thoughts" as if it were a meaningless phrase that substitutes for inaction. Is there any evidence that prayer is helpful?   That's hard to say unless you define what you mean by helpful. Clearly, whatever prayers have been offered, shooters continue to kill and injure many in the US and elsewhere.  Believers in the effectiveness of prayer won't stop praying. People do report feeling better after praying. And believers who are the recipient of such messages often take comfort in knowing they are supported in prayer. For one thing, it's a reminder they are not alone. Does prayer lead to inaction?   Maybe. A study by Tyler Greenway, Sarah Schnitker, and Abigail Shepherd examined the relationship between praying and generosity. Here's a quote from their summary ( 2017 ). Christian partici...

Alzheimer's took his mind long before his body leaving his wife and children with years of distress instead of a time to mourn his loss. When he stopped breathing, words of comfort arrived online and in cards. "Our prayers and thoughts are with you," they wrote. They meant it too. Loving people care. Some send flowers. Others call. From time to time people post calls to action online. They appear frustrated by "prayers and thoughts" that seem to replace more meaningful action. Children die in a school shooting and people offer prayers and thoughts. But grieving parents and friends want action. "This shouldn't happen!" they scream. A crowd of sobbing people gather near an impromptu memorial of flowers. They tightly hug survivors of the bombing that separated lovers, family members, and friends. Sincere comments appear on social media pages, "Our prayers and thoughts are with you." What else can we do? We feel so helpless sometim...