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Related: About this forumWhen Prayer Makes Anxiety Worse
The fourth chapter of the book of Philippians instructs the faithful, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
But for those who are anxious about everything, prayer can sometimes help and sometimes hurt. Past research on the mental-health benefits of praying have been mixed. Some studies have found that people who pray more are more satisfied and happy, others found no relationship to well-being, and still others found a negative correlation.
A new study published in Sociology of Religion suggests that prayer can help ease people's anxiety, but whether it does so depends on the personality of the God they believe in. That is, whether someone has a relationship with what they perceive to be an angry, vengeful God or more of a friendly figure could determine whether prayer brings reliefor simply more stress.
"For many individuals, God is a major source of comfort and strength that makes the world seem less threatening and dangerous," Matt Bradshaw, an assistant professor of sociology at Baylor University's College of Arts and Sciences, said in a release. "But other people form avoidant or insecure attachments to Godmeaning that they do not necessarily believe God will be there when they need Him. For them, prayer may feel like an unsuccessful attempt to cultivate and maintain an intimate relationship with God."
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/08/when-prayer-makes-anxiety-worse/376002/
But for those who are anxious about everything, prayer can sometimes help and sometimes hurt. Past research on the mental-health benefits of praying have been mixed. Some studies have found that people who pray more are more satisfied and happy, others found no relationship to well-being, and still others found a negative correlation.
A new study published in Sociology of Religion suggests that prayer can help ease people's anxiety, but whether it does so depends on the personality of the God they believe in. That is, whether someone has a relationship with what they perceive to be an angry, vengeful God or more of a friendly figure could determine whether prayer brings reliefor simply more stress.
"For many individuals, God is a major source of comfort and strength that makes the world seem less threatening and dangerous," Matt Bradshaw, an assistant professor of sociology at Baylor University's College of Arts and Sciences, said in a release. "But other people form avoidant or insecure attachments to Godmeaning that they do not necessarily believe God will be there when they need Him. For them, prayer may feel like an unsuccessful attempt to cultivate and maintain an intimate relationship with God."
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/08/when-prayer-makes-anxiety-worse/376002/
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When Prayer Makes Anxiety Worse (Original Post)
SecularMotion
Aug 2014
OP
cbayer
(146,218 posts)1. The article also addresses when it makes anxiety better, but that wouldn't
be a very sexy headline.
Interesting study and a good case for embracing a loving and forgiving god, if one is going to embrace a god.
cornball 24
(1,477 posts)2. As always, an uplifting and positive post. A statement I have recently come upon and pondered is:
"He who believes in an angry God(god) leads an angry life."
cbayer
(146,218 posts)3. Welcome to the religion group, cornball 24.
I think what you say is meaningful and can also be applied to who one spends their time with, identifies with or otherwise embraces.
Anger breeds anger. Joy breeds joy.