Prayer and Society

              Majority of religions have a common factor in that they conduct a similar act of prayer. This is a mixture of belief and ritual. Prayer represents an individual’s attempt to communicate with the supernatural. Joseph O. Baker uses the Baylor Religion Survey to provide information about sociological patterns of prayer frequency and content in his academic journal, “An investigation of the Sociological Patterns of Pray Frequency and Content”, to determine how communication with the supernatural manifests itself by influencing the reason people pray and needs prayer addresses in American society.

The survey was conducted through a random sample, although the survey happens to be majority Christian. This means statically the information reveals more on Christians in American Society, but will still relate to all religions in American Society on some level. The survey revealed that three out of four people state that they pray daily. In those three, 95 percent believe that they were answered. These individuals stated the topic of prayer was on the subject of health and well being. Prayer is often used as a stress deterrent or a coping mechanism for problems in ones environment or internal affairs.

            The survey did reveal a key component to showing the connection with prayer and society. It was seen that members of traditionally underprivileged or marginalized groups, such as women, African Americans, and older Americans are more likely to pray. The importance of this information is that it shows a connection between suffering and praying. Baker states in his conclusion of this information “ Individuals from social groups that experience more suffering and deprivation may turn to prayer as a coping mechanism. (170). This shows that gender, race, and social class all have some level of correlation to the content and frequency of prayer. If American society is going through economical and/or social problems one can assume that the frequency of individuals prayer will increase. We can assume this because people will turn to God to help to maintain a feeling of control in difficult situations to cope with environmental and internal demands that the American Society cannot meet.