But petitional prayer is only one department of prayer…
“But petitional prayer is only one department of prayer; and if we take the word in the wider sense as meaning every kind of inward communion or conversation with the power recognized as divine, we can easily see that scientific criticism leaves it untouched. Prayer in this wide sense is the very soul and essence of religion.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Prayer, broadly understood as inner communion with the divine, remains untouched by scientific critique and forms the core of religious life.
In simple terms: Prayer is personal divine communication beyond science.
Respect the spiritual dimension of prayer.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal meditation
- community worship
- interfaith dialogue
- academic study
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal prayer shape your worldview?
- Can science ever fully explain religious experience?
Science can address aspects of religion but not its inner experience.