What is Prayer?

Prayer is a core component of the religious and spiritual life in many a tradition, yet a clean and straightforward presentation of prayer is often never taught and as a result, sorely lacking.

What I hope to do here is give a brief historical introduction to the subject of prayer, provide a typology, an overview, of the different types of prayer, next we’ll have a look at some of the philosophical and theological challenges facing prayer and some responses to those challenges, and end by opening a window to an entirely different kind of prayer.

If you find the work we’re doing here to be of value, of bringing a critical yet sympathetic lens to the study of religion and mysticism, please do subscribe and consider supporting our work with a one-time donation on PayPal, or a recurring donation on Patreon:

00:00 Intro to Prayer
01:07 Prayer, Historically
02:57 Types of Prayer
08:00 Challenges to Prayer
09:56 Responses
12:22 Mystical Prayer
14:56 Like a Child
15:52 Book Time

Join Seekers:

Sources and Further Reading:
• Aldous Huxley, The Perennial Philosophy, 1945, p. 251
• Alexander J. Hodge, Prayer and Its Psychology (New York), 1931
• Antti Alhonsaari, Prayer: An Analysis of Theological Terminology (Helsinki, 1973).
• Basinger, D. (1995) ‘Petitionary prayer,’ Religious Studies 31: 475–84.
• Bruce Ellis Benson, Norman Wirzba (eds.), The Phenomenology of Prayer. United Kingdom: Fordham University Press, 2005
• Brümmer, V. (1984) What Are We Doing When We Pray? London: SCM Press
• Carol and Zaleski Philip, (2006). Prayer: A History. Boston: Mariner Books. pp. 24–25.
• Charles Taliaferro, “Prayer,” in The Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Religion, Routledge, 2012
• D. Z. Phillips, The Concept of Prayer (Routledge Revivals). United Kingdom, Taylor & Francis, 2014.
• Donald Brown, (1991). Human Universals. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
• Donald G. Bloesch, "Payer", Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 2nd ed., 2001
• Friedrich Heiler, Prayer: A Study in the History and Psychology of Religion from the German theologian and historian of religion, 1932
• George Mavrodes, 1998, 'Prayer' In: Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Taylor and Francis,
• Gerardus van der Leeuw, Religion in Essence and Manifestation, (2 vols., translated by J. E. Turner (London, 1938), pp. 403–446.)
• Harold A. Carter’s The Prayer Tradition of Black People (Valley Forge, Pa., 1976)
• Immanuel Kant, Religion within the Bounds of Bare Reason, 1792, p. 198
• Issler, K. (2001) ‘Divine providence and impetratory prayer,’ Philosophia Christi ns 3/2: 533–41
• Jerome Neyry, Give God the Glory, B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, Grand Rapids, 2007, p. 11.
• Margaret M Poloma and Brian F. Pendleton. 1991. The effects of prayer and prayer experiences on measures of general well-being. Journal of Psychology and Theology 19(1):71–83.
• Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, 2nd ed., 1998
• Murray, M. (2004) ‘God responds to prayer,’ in M. Peterson and R. Van Arragon (eds) Contemporary Debates in the Philosophy of Religion, Malden, MA: Blackwell
• Perry Le Fevre, Understandings of Prayer (Philadelphia, 1981).
• R. H. Coats, The Realm of Prayer, (London), 1920
• Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, “Mitzvas Haamanas Elokus” in Derech Mitzvosecha, Poltava, 1912
• Sam D. Gill, “Prayer,” (1987), in Encyclopedia of Religion, Second Edition, Lindsay Jones ed., 2005, p. 7368
• Scott Davison, Petitionary Prayer: A Philosophical Investigation, United Kingdom, Oxford, 2017
• Scott Davison, "Petitionary Prayer", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2021 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.)
• Simon Parker, “Divine Intercession in Judah,” in Vetus Testamentum, 56 no 1, 2006, p. 81-82.
• Stump, E. (1979) ‘Petitionary prayer,’ American Philosophical Quarterly 16: 81–91
• The Oxford Book of Prayer, edited by George Appleton and others (New York, 1985)
• Tzvee Zahavy “A New Approach to Early Jewish Prayer,” in History of Judaism, Baruch Bokser ed. (Calif., 1980), pp. 45–60.
• Ward, K. (1990) Divine Action, London: Collins
• William James, Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature, 1902, (pp. 359–371.)

[Silent-Speaker]

"we pray because we must, not because it makes sense"🙏

[dylans]

"Prayer is an elevation of the heart to God who is absolute love and asks nothing for himself. Worship itself is the prayer answered; the petition itself is bliss. For although prayer may also contain a petition for some particular thing, this particular request is not what should really be expressed; on the contrary, the essential thing is the assurance of simply being heard, not of being heard in respect of this particular request, but absolute confidence that God will give me what is best for me. Even in this respect, prayer is itself satisfaction, enjoyment, the express feeling and consciousness of eternal love which is not only a ray of transfiguration shining through the worshipper's figure and situation, but is in itself the situation and what exists and is to be portrayed." -- G. W. F. Hegel, Lectures on Fine Art, Volume II

[burcu]

"...another popular rearticulation of prayer is to see prayer not as a means of influencing the divine but instead as an attempt to influence and change ourselves..."
That's a very accurate description, I've always thought that way for a long time. When I stay away from prayer, I make many more mistakes in my daily life. Prayer is our most fundamental connection with God🙏🏼

[nicolesawyer-jmir]

Fantastic ! Prayer as a celebratory act of alignment in hope of remaining in this state while embodied as a human being. Becomes a natural act of Awe ‘ calling forth to BE’ a rebirth in every moment, every breath and in all things. Unity of One. ‘ here am I ‘ Here am I ‘
Your servant o’ Lover, Maker animator of Grace. Behold your beauty my hsbdscannot hold. Pours through like water to nurture your created ground ‘. I bow down 🙇🏽‍♀️ forehead to this ground. In ceasing weeping. O’ lover of true human heart. Hear our prayers. In unity we stand. O Divine. O Divine ‘. - NMS.

G-d Bless All who come upon this work. Thank you Levi. 🙏🏼

[robynagape]

Thank you, Zevi. With regards to the content of the video, words fail me; so for the sake of algorithmic engagement and with utmost sincerity, let me instead just say that your content and work here in the last few years has been illuminating, both intellectually and spiritually. Your videos have become noticeably more thorough and polished. The confidence with which you speak about such tricky subjects, and the amount of research, knowledge and growing wisdom that shines through when you do are matched equally by a sense of humility, curiosity, and compassion. The work is Good, and we are all so lucky to be growing through it alongside you.

[obsidiananvil]

Nicely done! {Old School} "The greatest distance one can see, is the very nearness of God." ~ Shabdahbriah 🙏 Persevere 🙏

[Tzimtzum]

Would love a video on the Kabbalistic intentions during prayer as brought down by the Arizal and especially the Rashash, and how that fits into the ideas of Jewish mysticism/philosophy. Thanks 🙏

[PSQWERTY]

The mystic model of prayer answers some of the core theological questions in such a heartfelt way. Thanks for this beautiful teaching Zevi ❤

[genghisgalahad]

It is perhaps this wondrous, simple, clean and inviting Art of Prayer, Zevi's The Art of Prayer and foundational universal overview of the essence and essential need for prayer is edifying and enlightening and has me contemplating in my ordinary musings what a centering meditative even mystical prayer might be to me, daily! To attain to that sought after natural state! 🎉 🌌 🌅 🧘‍♀️🙇‍♂️ 🏞 Thank you for that simple but deeply moving resonant reminder, as well! Pausing my analytical mind and encouraged by your mention of the simple Serenity Prayer, while transcending to a serendipitous glimpse of doable prayerful being and doing! Thank you, Zevi! 🙏 🙇‍♂️ 😊 🌌 🌅 🏞 🧘‍♀️❤️‍🔥🪽🎉

[Casey-gxww]

Very insightful. Looking forward to future teachings on prayer.

[ramkitty]

Aways struggled with the purpose of prayer. When I give Salat I just try to release all physical and mental strain and be empty. Thank you zevi

[alwilliams]

Fantastic as always Zevi. Looking forward to what you have in store for us. I practice meditative and calligraphic prayer (writing out the "Pater hemon" in koine). Need to focus on the continous kind.

[jonhanson]

Another wonderful video Zevi, beautiful, informative, and engaging. Wish you were getting more reach, these videos deserve so many more views!

[Silent-Speaker]

Thank you for sharing this! As usual, your videos are scholarly and erudite, as well as being heartfelt, insightful, and inspiring. ❤❤

[fusunsanac]

A delicious content as usual Zevi 🙏🏼, Well balanced from the unity perspective 😇 I regard praying as talking to God from my heart space ❤

[richardbillingsley]

Thank you for this lesson, it is much needed and very much appreciated. Sometimes we all need to go back and review the fundamentals of faith and its expression. I love you content Zevi and I will go back to watch more over the coming year. Also I enjoy watching you and Justin Sledge discuss Kabbalah.

[jordanyanowitz]

What a beautiful way to start the new year! Looking forward to many more Zevi!

[esthersilberberg]

Beautifully done. I'm really looking forward to this series! Thank you for this and all your wonderful work.

[jonathanwilner]

Thank you for this video. I look forward to more of these and hope you continue in this direction perhaps interviewing, discussing or moderating discussions of scholars and others immersed in the religious and spiritual experience.

[baileyt]

Thank you so much as always, love your content and the work you are doing. This is a topic that has been on my mind for many years. ❤