Prayer, cognition, and culture

Abstract

Religious texts, symbols, and practices have long been recognized as important aspects of culture, and yet they are less often the focus of empirical observation than are crude indicators obtained in surveys (such as religious preference and attendance). Prayer is one such topic: widely practiced, and yet treated mostly without regard to its cognitive content or cultural framing. Eleven empirical studies are presented here which examine prayers and prayer-related aspects of religion in contexts including advocacy groups, hospitals, congregations, the Internet, homilies in mosques, religious television, children's books, art, testimonials, inspirational guides, and interviews. The studies illuminate methods and data for studying cultural content of these kinds and draw connections with recent work in cognitive sociology and cognitive anthropology.