Use of Prayer as Complementary Therapy by Christian Adults in the Bible Belt of the United States
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...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-11-01
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| Series: | Religions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/9/11/350 |
| _version_ | 1818238919145160704 |
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| author | Robbie Madden South Liz McDowell |
| author_facet | Robbie Madden South Liz McDowell |
| author_sort | Robbie Madden South |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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 (<i>n</i> = 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 <i>prayers of the people</i>, <i>rituals and traditions associated with prayer</i>, <i>prayers of supplication</i>, and <i>experiences related to the act of praying</i>. 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T12:49:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-517a21c87c6c437ba0122a451b68dfb6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T12:49:18Z |
| publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-517a21c87c6c437ba0122a451b68dfb62022-12-22T00:24:03ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442018-11-0191135010.3390/rel9110350rel9110350Use of Prayer as Complementary Therapy by Christian Adults in the Bible Belt of the United StatesRobbie Madden South0Liz McDowell1William Preston Turner School of Nursing, Lander University, Greenwood, SC 29649, USAWilliam Preston Turner School of Nursing, Lander University, Greenwood, SC 29649, USAPersons 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 (<i>n</i> = 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 <i>prayers of the people</i>, <i>rituals and traditions associated with prayer</i>, <i>prayers of supplication</i>, and <i>experiences related to the act of praying</i>. 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/9/11/350prayerhealinganointingBible Beltcomplementary therapy |
| spellingShingle | Robbie Madden South Liz McDowell Use of Prayer as Complementary Therapy by Christian Adults in the Bible Belt of the United States Religions prayer healing anointing Bible Belt complementary therapy |
| title | Use of Prayer as Complementary Therapy by Christian Adults in the Bible Belt of the United States |
| title_full | Use of Prayer as Complementary Therapy by Christian Adults in the Bible Belt of the United States |
| title_fullStr | Use of Prayer as Complementary Therapy by Christian Adults in the Bible Belt of the United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use of Prayer as Complementary Therapy by Christian Adults in the Bible Belt of the United States |
| title_short | Use of Prayer as Complementary Therapy by Christian Adults in the Bible Belt of the United States |
| title_sort | use of prayer as complementary therapy by christian adults in the bible belt of the united states |
| topic | prayer healing anointing Bible Belt complementary therapy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/9/11/350 |
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