An Investigation of the Sociological Patterns of Prayer Frequency and Content*

Abstract

The majority of previous social scientific research on prayer has focused on the relationship between prayer and various types of health outcomes. Only limited attention has been given to prayer itself. This study examines the frequency and content of prayer using empirical data from the Baylor Religion Survey (2005), a national random sample of U.S. adults (N=1,721). Results indicate that women, African-Americans, and those with lower incomes pray more often than males, whites, and those with higher incomes. Concerning content of prayer, African-Americans and those at lower levels of income and education are more likely to pray about petitionary concerns such as asking God to influence personal health or one’s financial situation. In addition people at lower income levels are more likely to offer prayer in an effort to gain supernatural favor and good standing with the divine. Theoretically this is understood by conceptualizing prayer as a coping mechanism. It would be difficult to overstate the importance of prayer to religion, for it is “belief and ritual at the same time” (Mauss 2003:22) and “to religion what thinking is to philosophy” (the poet Novalis as quoted in Heiler 1932:viii). Although prayer represents a fundamental aspect of religious life, the influence of social factors on prayer patterns has yet to be extensively explored. This study uses the 2005 Baylor Religion Survey to provide information about sociological patterns of prayer frequency and content. Demonstrating how sociodemographic variables influence prayer provides evidence for the connection between sociological factors and even the most private of religious practices. Prayer represents an individual’s attempt to communicate with the supernatural (Stark and Finke 2000), as well as oneself and others (Ladd and Spilka 2002, 2006). It is expected that social factors will play a fundamental role in determining how communication with the supernatural manifests itself by influencing the reasons people pray and the needs prayer addresses. Sociology of Religion 2008, 69:2 169-185