BOSTON — A majority of praying Americans believe prayer can have a positive effect on national or world events, according to a poll by The Christian Science Monitor.
Fifty-eight percent “strongly agreed” that prayer has that effect and another 30 percent agreed somewhat that it did, the newspaper reported in an examination of prayer a year after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Fifty-nine percent of those surveyed said they prayed once or more a day and another 22 percent said they prayed at least weekly. About one-third of those who pray say they are praying more than they did before the attacks.
Asked why they pray, 62 percent said to seek guidance, 54 percent said to show gratitude, 54 percent said to praise or acknowledge God and 47 percent said to ask forgiveness.
The top subject of prayer in the last year was peace, or end to war, which was cited by 71 percent of respondents. Fifty-eight percent cited safety as a topic and 49 percent said they prayed about terrorism.
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