Azubuike S Oguji

Why I Do Not Pray Azubuike S Oguji

This is an expression of personal philosophical worries about the meaning, types and modes of prayer in juxtaposition with two major attributes of God: immutability and immensity; then a brief look at the psychological effects of prayer as well as existential responsibility and prayer. The objective of the essay is to show that prayer, first when looked at from the prism of divine attributes seems superfluous and indeed a contradiction to the meaning of God. Secondly the awareness and promise of divine help that prayer brings weakens and dries up human existential responsibility energy. Again the magnitude of prayer-defying problems in the world today, despite intensive prayers against them puts a lot doubt on the efficacy of prayer. It is noted that even though prayer can have a calming effect on the psyche yet that is not the exclusive reserve of prayer. The approach used is dialogical: personal philosophical worries are set in dialogue with religious practice of prayer. The paper ends with the worries of the author on why he still finds it difficult to accommodate the religious practice of prayer in his rational self.