Use of Prayer as Complementary Therapy by Christian Adults in the Bible Belt of the United States

Bibliographic Data

ID3472145
AuthorsRobbie Madden South (0000-0002-8246-9288, Lander University, corresponding author), Liz Mcdowell (0000-0002-1294-5664, Lander University)
Year2018
Volume9
Issue11
Pages350
Publication date2018-11-07
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligions (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/rel9110350
OpenAlexW2900388052
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited14

Persons of all major religious groups use prayer as a spiritual discipline when dealing with sickness, and a majority of Christians report faith in healing prayer. The purpose of this research was to explore the use of prayer as complementary therapy for healing by Christian adults in the Bible Belt of the United States. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used in this qualitative study. This project was a secondary analysis of a larger study whose aim was to document stories of miraculous healings (n = 14). Open-ended questions focusing on participants' use of prayer followed the initial telling of their stories. All participants used prayer as complementary to their traditional medical treatments, and emerging themes included prayers of the people, rituals and traditions associated with prayer, prayers of supplication, and experiences related to the act of praying. These findings support prior published studies regarding the prevalence of prayer and its use as complementary therapy. Participants commonly used prayer in times of illness and the effects of prayer included a sense of wellbeing, increased calmness, decreased anxiety, and positive healing experiences. Participants utilized self-prayer and prayer support from family, friends, clergy, and healthcare professionals

Anxiety · Faith · Faith healing · Prayer · Psychiatry · Psychotherapist · Theology · Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies · Medicine · Philosophy · Psychology · Religion, Society, and Development · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology · Religious studies

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