More Americans Pray in Their Car Than In a Place of Worship

Religion News Service Reports on a Survey Release Last Week on the National Day of Prayer

More Americans Pray in Their Car Than in a Place of Worship, Survey Finds

Article written by Adelle M. Banks with Religion News Service

“A distinct majority of those who pray (87%) said they believed they’d received an answer to their prayers in the last 12 months.”

Access the full article HERE.

“A higher percentage — 85% — say they engage in a spiritual practice to connect with a higher power, whether prayer, meditation, mindfulness, reciting affirmations or spiritually based yoga. Prayer is the most common of the five practices, with 39% of Americans saying they practiced meditation and 38% practicing mindfulness.”

ForthTelling Innovation Insights: First, the diversity of ways people talk about connecting with God (or a higher power) is interesting and important to understand. Only 61% say they do this by praying. It is compelling to see how what might be “God-neutral” ways are escalating in popularity. Meditation is the chosen way of 39%. Practicing Mindfulness the chosen way of 38%. Christian churched culture people should be aware that in talking about spirituality with people they need to understand, appreciate, and respect the use of “meditation” and “mindfulness,” and how these are like and unlike prayer. That means Christian people must understand something about “meditation” and “mindfulness.”

Second, what Americans pray for is what we would expect, but also turns God into a crisis counselor. Most frequently mentioned is that 76% pray “for loved ones during a time or crisis.” Praying for spiritual guidance and understanding God’s call on their lives either was not on the survey or did not score high enough to be mentioned. Then again, at least they are praying. One role of Christians may be to help spiritually-seeking people understand the purpose and power of prayer much like Phillip sought to help the Ethiopian eunuch understand the scripture he was reading — The Acts of the Apostles 8:25-40.

Third, we were sorry to see that 19% pray for their favorite sports team or athlete to win. (This past Saturday some of these same people may have prayed for their horse to win the Kentucky Derby. ) Certainly praying for people who are athletes and their spiritual life issues is laudable. Praying for them to win — as opposed to doing well in all of life and serving as positive role models — is questionable as a legitimate spiritual concern.