Prayer a personal experience and my have physical benefits
In a recent ground-breaking study conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, neuroscientists were able to examine exactly which parts of the brain are activated by prayer and consequently prove that prayer and meditation can have physical benefits, like increased concentration.
Using an MRI scanner, study leader Richard Davidson was able to reveal that through regular prayer and meditation, the parts of the brain that control decision making and regulation of attention were activated easier.
However, for many people the benefits of prayer come from a spiritual place that remains deeply personal and can not be measured by science.
Joshua Pineault, vice president of the newly founded USU Religious Studies Club, said it is difficult to look at prayer as a science because they are two entirely different realms.
“What separates prayer and science is that science is trying to reach a conclusion and expects an answer,” Pineault said. “To say prayer is a science is a bit of a stretch. You can’t gage prayer.”
Since prayer is such a personal experience, Pineault said there are no set guidelines or one strict definition like there is in science. One way Pineault said he would describe it though is a way to create a relationship between and individual and a higher power.
“Prayer is a practice,” Pineault said, “a part of how people manifest and communicate with what they call god or any deity.”
Melanie Jackson, a junior majoring in art, said she also thinks prayer is open to interpretation and that there should not be one right way to pray.
“I think praying is praying no matter how you do it,” Jackson said. “Most religions have some way of praying and it works for all of them, so I don’t think there are any set prayer rules.”
David Stock, a senior majoring in business administration, said he believes there is a certain basic formula that involves talking to a higher power, but that he does not believe there is a strict way of praying either.
“To say God would ignore someone because they aren’t praying right, I don’t believe it,” Stock said.
Sonny Bryant, ASUSU campus diversity and organizations vice president, said no matter what the religion or type of prayer, the important thing is appreciating the differences. Through his job, Bryant said he deals with all types of diversity, including religious diversity, and that it would be impossible to come up with one definition for prayer. However, Bryant said one way to define prayer is meditation.
“After interacting with different groups, I think the way to refer to prayer is meditation,” Bryant said. “It’s separating yourself from reality for a minute and concentrating on the relationship between yourself and a higher being.”
Bryant said a higher being can be whatever you choose, even someone’s inner self, and that developing a relationship with that higher being is a healthy way to remove oneself from everyday life.
Jackson agreed and said whether it is the actual prayer or just the act of praying, for her prayer is important to her mental health.
“One of the reasons praying makes me feel less stressed is because it is just a few seconds in the day when I can clear my mind and just focus on one thing,” Jackson said.
Both Jackson and Bryant said the reasons people pray can be just as broad as the definition of prayer itself. For many religions, prayer is the essential way to stay in touch with a higher power, while for others it is a way to reflect on inner thoughts.
Jackson is a practicing Roman Catholic and said she prays every night because it relieves her stress and makes her days go smoother.
“Normally, if I pray enough, everything seems to be OK,” Jackson said.
Stock said prayer is a central part of his LDS faith and he prays because it is a way for him to develop a relationship with God.
“It’s become a bigger part of my life as I’ve grown up,” Stock said. “It’s more meaningful at this time in my life. I depend on him.”
While the number of reason someone prays will vary for every individual faith, Bryant said it is important to realize that and not try to lump them into one group.
“I just want everyone to take the time to consider different religions,” Bryant said. “Talk about it and look for differences to celebrate.”
-amanda.m@aggiemail.usu.edu