Does Prayer Actually Work, or Is It Just Psychological? Examining the Evidence and Experience
Does Prayer Actually Work, or Is It Just Psychological? Examining the Evidence and Experience The Age-Old Question: Divine Intervention or Self-Fulfilling Prophecy? I still remember that night in the ER waiting room—my hands trembling as I closed my eyes, whispering words I hadn't spoken since childhood. Whether you are religious or not, you have probably found yourself asking the universe for intervention during life's most challenging moments. This got me thinking—what exactly happens when we pray? It is a question that's kept me up on more than a few nights. Does prayer actually work as a spiritual connection to a higher power, or is it just a psychological comfort mechanism? I don't have the answers—who does?—but after interviewing three neuroscientists and spending a weekend at a silent meditation retreat, I am starting to see the question differently. The brain scans from Dr. Lipton's 2023 study landed on my desk last month, and honestly, they've made ...