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91:2.1 The first [[prayers]] were merely verbalized [[wishes]], the [[expression]] of [[sincere]] [[desires]]. Prayer next became a [[technique]] of achieving [[spirit]] [[co-operation]]. And then it [[attained]] to the higher [[function]] of assisting [[religion]] in the [[conservation]] of all [[worth]]-while [[values]].
91:2.2 Both [[prayer]] and [[magic]] arose as a result of man's adjustive [[reactions]] to Urantian [[environment]]. But aside from this generalized [[relationship]], they have little in common. [[Prayer]] has always indicated positive [[action]] by the praying [[ego]]; it has been always [[psychic]] and sometimes [[spiritual]]. [[Magic]] has usually signified an attempt to [[manipulate]] [[reality]] without affecting the [[ego]] of the manipulator, the practitioner of [[magic]]. Despite their [[independent]] [[origins]], [[magic]] and [[prayer]] often have been interrelated in their later [[stages]] of [[development]]. [[Magic]] has sometimes [[ascended]] by goal elevation from [[formulas]] through [[rituals]] and [[incantations]] to the [[threshold]] of true [[prayer]]. Prayer has sometimes become so [[materialistic]] that it has [[degenerated]] into a pseudomagical [[technique]] of avoiding the expenditure of that [[effort]] which is requisite for the solution of Urantian [[problems]].
91:2.3 When man learned that [[prayer]] could not [[coerce]] the [[gods]], then it became more of a [[petition]], [[favor]] seeking. But the truest [[prayer]] is in [[reality]] a [[communion]] between [[man]] and his [[Creator|Maker]].
91:2.4 The [[appearance]] of the [[sacrifice]] [[idea]] in any [[religion]] unfailingly detracts from the higher [[efficacy]] of true [[prayer]] in that men seek to substitute the offerings of [[material]] [[possessions]] for the offering of their own [[consecrated]] [[Free will|wills]] to the [[doing of the will of God]].
91:2.5 When [[religion]] is divested of a [[personal]] [[God]], its prayers [[translate]] to the levels of [[theology]] and [[philosophy]]. When the highest God [[concept]] of a [[religion]] is that of an [[impersonal]] [[Deity]], such as in [[pantheistic]] [[idealism]], although affording the basis for certain forms of [[mystic]] [[communion]], it proves fatal to the potency of true [[prayer]], which always stands for man's [[communion]] with a [[personal]] and superior [[being]].
91:2.6 During the earlier times of racial [[evolution]] and even at the [[present]] time, in the day-by-day [[experience]] of the [[average]] [[mortal]], [[prayer]] is very much a [[phenomenon]] of man's [[intercourse]] with his own [[subconscious]]. But there is also a [[domain]] of prayer wherein the [[intellectually]] alert and [[spiritually]] [[progressing]] [[individual]] [[attains]] more or less contact with the [[superconscious]] levels of the [[human]] [[mind]], the [[domain]] of the indwelling [[Thought Adjuster]]. In addition, there is a definite [[spiritual]] [[phase]] of true prayer which concerns its [[reception]] and [[recognition]] by the [[spiritual]] forces of the [[universe]], and which is entirely distinct from all [[human]] and [[intellectual]] [[association]].
91:2.7 [[Prayer]] contributes greatly to the [[development]] of the [[religious]] sentiment of an evolving [[human]] [[mind]]. It is a mighty [[influence]] working to prevent [[isolation]] of [[personality]].
91:2.8 [[Prayer]] [[represents]] one [[technique]] associated with the [[natural]] [[religions]] of racial [[evolution]] which also forms a part of the experiential [[values]] of the higher religions of [[ethical]] excellence, the [[religions]] of [[revelation]].
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_91 Go to Paper 91]</center>
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>
[[Category:Paper 91 - Evolution of Prayer]]
91:2.1 The first [[prayers]] were merely verbalized [[wishes]], the [[expression]] of [[sincere]] [[desires]]. Prayer next became a [[technique]] of achieving [[spirit]] [[co-operation]]. And then it [[attained]] to the higher [[function]] of assisting [[religion]] in the [[conservation]] of all [[worth]]-while [[values]].
91:2.2 Both [[prayer]] and [[magic]] arose as a result of man's adjustive [[reactions]] to Urantian [[environment]]. But aside from this generalized [[relationship]], they have little in common. [[Prayer]] has always indicated positive [[action]] by the praying [[ego]]; it has been always [[psychic]] and sometimes [[spiritual]]. [[Magic]] has usually signified an attempt to [[manipulate]] [[reality]] without affecting the [[ego]] of the manipulator, the practitioner of [[magic]]. Despite their [[independent]] [[origins]], [[magic]] and [[prayer]] often have been interrelated in their later [[stages]] of [[development]]. [[Magic]] has sometimes [[ascended]] by goal elevation from [[formulas]] through [[rituals]] and [[incantations]] to the [[threshold]] of true [[prayer]]. Prayer has sometimes become so [[materialistic]] that it has [[degenerated]] into a pseudomagical [[technique]] of avoiding the expenditure of that [[effort]] which is requisite for the solution of Urantian [[problems]].
91:2.3 When man learned that [[prayer]] could not [[coerce]] the [[gods]], then it became more of a [[petition]], [[favor]] seeking. But the truest [[prayer]] is in [[reality]] a [[communion]] between [[man]] and his [[Creator|Maker]].
91:2.4 The [[appearance]] of the [[sacrifice]] [[idea]] in any [[religion]] unfailingly detracts from the higher [[efficacy]] of true [[prayer]] in that men seek to substitute the offerings of [[material]] [[possessions]] for the offering of their own [[consecrated]] [[Free will|wills]] to the [[doing of the will of God]].
91:2.5 When [[religion]] is divested of a [[personal]] [[God]], its prayers [[translate]] to the levels of [[theology]] and [[philosophy]]. When the highest God [[concept]] of a [[religion]] is that of an [[impersonal]] [[Deity]], such as in [[pantheistic]] [[idealism]], although affording the basis for certain forms of [[mystic]] [[communion]], it proves fatal to the potency of true [[prayer]], which always stands for man's [[communion]] with a [[personal]] and superior [[being]].
91:2.6 During the earlier times of racial [[evolution]] and even at the [[present]] time, in the day-by-day [[experience]] of the [[average]] [[mortal]], [[prayer]] is very much a [[phenomenon]] of man's [[intercourse]] with his own [[subconscious]]. But there is also a [[domain]] of prayer wherein the [[intellectually]] alert and [[spiritually]] [[progressing]] [[individual]] [[attains]] more or less contact with the [[superconscious]] levels of the [[human]] [[mind]], the [[domain]] of the indwelling [[Thought Adjuster]]. In addition, there is a definite [[spiritual]] [[phase]] of true prayer which concerns its [[reception]] and [[recognition]] by the [[spiritual]] forces of the [[universe]], and which is entirely distinct from all [[human]] and [[intellectual]] [[association]].
91:2.7 [[Prayer]] contributes greatly to the [[development]] of the [[religious]] sentiment of an evolving [[human]] [[mind]]. It is a mighty [[influence]] working to prevent [[isolation]] of [[personality]].
91:2.8 [[Prayer]] [[represents]] one [[technique]] associated with the [[natural]] [[religions]] of racial [[evolution]] which also forms a part of the experiential [[values]] of the higher religions of [[ethical]] excellence, the [[religions]] of [[revelation]].
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_91 Go to Paper 91]</center>
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>
[[Category:Paper 91 - Evolution of Prayer]]
