Prayer

Prayer in its elemental form is an act of cult by which a person attempts to establish contact with a higher, superhuman being he believes in. Usually by prayer, man tries by persuasion to move this higher being, or God, to gratify his wishes. Other objectives of prayer may be acknowledgment of God's excellence and man's absolute dependence, gratitude for benefits received and sorrow for sins. Prayer may be the spontaneous expression of the previous feelings or consist of fixed formulas, which are part of a ritual prayer language, viewed as sacred. By its alleged transcendent character, prayer raises man above the daily condition of human life. It may, however, also divert his attention from situations in which he could effect changes, should he will to do so.