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Podcast: Religion on the Mind
Episode: What Counts as Prayer? (#31)
Description: Can silent meditation be prayer? Is prayer always in some sense bodily and physical, or is it only a spiritual thing? When did prayer first enter the story of humanity — millions of years ago, or only after verbal language? Did Neanderthals pray? Is it worth looking into the prayer practices of other religions, and if we do, what might we learn? These questions and more are explored with Dr. Carol Zaleski (Smith College), co-author of the incredible book “Prayer: A History.” Later, Dan answers a listener question: “What are the mental tricks or ways that you seek to understand or empathiz...