Online Prayer

As we have discussed in class, many religious rituals have adapted some form of online medium. There are different understandings of the word “ritual”, but as defined by Helland, ritual is purposeful engagement with the sacred. For the Christian, one of the most intentional and purposeful forms of engagement with the sacred is prayer. Prayer, like ritual, is something that is difficult to define. For the Christian, prayer is the act of engaging in some sort of conversation with God, either out loud or in one’s own mind, in a solitary place or within community. The prayer can be words of adoration and worship, thanksgiving, pleas of conversation for help, or just simple rest. Most Christians believe they can pray anytime, anywhere, about anything, because God is always listening and wants to hear from his children. As more and more of our culture moves online, it is no surprise that many mediums of prayer have moved online as well. This is a little tricky because most Christians do not believe that prayer is something that necessarily happens by the act of ritual but more by a sincere act of the heart. What I mean is this: there is a difference between just reading a prayer that is posted online to God just as a ritual act to be done, and reading that prayer with a sincere heart of faith to God. For example, the website www.bible.com has a “prayer room” (http://www.bible.com/prayerroom/index.php ), where prayers are posted that the believer can look upon, reflect upon, or even pray. There are also forums where you can post prayer requests (things the believer wants other believers to pray about on their behalf) or praises (praises to God for answered prayers). Some questions raised in class concerning online rituals that I’d like to address are do they have supernatural efficacy, what are their limits, and what needs do they fulfill for the individual/community. In the context of a prayer room, there can be supernatural efficacy, but again, this deals not so much with the actual ritual itself (the act of reading some prayer) as it deals with the question of the heart’s intent and the legitimacy of the faith behind the prayer. If that person believes what the prayer they are praying that they found online with heartfelt conviction, then it is a prayer. I think there are several limits to online prayer rooms, especially the isolation aspect. One can log onto the internet and get onto a prayer room without knowing or being known by anyone in the online prayer room. It is much easier to say (or not say) many things when behind a computer screen. For example, a man might be a raging alcoholic and porn addict who logs online and joins this prayer room, but instead of asking for prayer for his addictions, he asks for prayer for much lighter subjects. When there is no accountability, it is easier for the believer to be fake about what they are really dealing with. This touches on the needs for individuals and communities addressed online. Of course online communities can give you some sense of community, but I’d argue that there is a big difference between synthesized community through a computer and real face-to-face-living-life-together community. Anybody can say they are whoever they want when they are behind a computer screen. 

To conclude, I do not think online prayer rooms are awful and evil, nor do I think they are the best thing ever. I think that when used with the right intentions, prayer rooms can be a beneficial tool to strengthen the body of faith, (though I realize “right intentions” can arguably be subjective). However, I think these online prayer rooms should serve more as a supplement for an already existing community in which people are known and knowing others. The people involved should know that prayer is not just a ritual in the Christian faith; otherwise you are missing the whole point. Prayer is connecting with the God who loves us (as Christians believe), and is a matter of the heart, not just the head.