The Bible tells us to pray for our enemies. Now psychologists are saying the same thing.
Saying a prayer may help calm anger and allow people to behave less aggressively towards those who have upset them, researchers say.
“Prayer gets people to view the world in a very kind and gentle way and reduces feelings of anger with empathy,” said Brad Bushman, co-author of the study and professor of communication and psychology at Ohio State University.
Prayer is a coping mechanism that can offer angered individuals perspective on the events that upset them, he said.
The effects of prayer did not depend on a person’s own prayer life, church attendance or religious affiliation. Atheists did not participate.
Read more of Brad Bushman’s research.
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