Tania ap Siôn, (2010) An empirical study of ordinary prayer. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

The aim of the thesis is to demonstrate the significance of ordinary prayer for the
study of ordinary theology, as conceived by Astley (2002), and to make an original
contribution to research in this field. For this purpose, in part one, the thesis begins
by establishing the relationship between ordinary theology and ordinary prayer,
followed by a review and evaluation of empirical studies relevant to ordinary prayer.
These studies are organised according to five themes: who prays, when people pray,
the subjective effects of prayer, the objective effects of prayer, and the content of
prayer. Part one concludes with a consideration of the significance of the empirical
prayer studies for the understanding of ordinary theology and ordinary theologians,
and demonstrates their practical importance to the Church. Based on the evidence
gathered thus far, a new methodology is proposed, which supports the detailed study
of ordinary prayer content found in prayer requests left in churches. The new
methodology involves the development of an analytical framework designed to
explore the content of ordinary prayer through the three components of reference,
intention, and objective. In part two, the analytical framework is employed in five
case studies: two case studies test the general framework through the analysis of two
different sets of prayer requests; one case study uses the general framework to
explore ordinary prayer and implicit religion; and two case studies use modifications
of the intention component of the framework in order to provide focused studies
relating to ordinary prayer and health and well-being and to ordinary prayer and the
activity of God in the world. The thesis concludes with an evaluative summary of the
contribution of ordinary prayer to ordinary theology in general and the contribution
of the new methodology to the study of ordinary prayer and ordinary theology in
particular.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BV Practical Theology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Prayer -- Christianity, Theology -- Study and teaching, Christian life
Official Date:	February 2010
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Institute of Education
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Francis, Leslie J.
Extent:	328 leaves
Language:	eng
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/3604

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