Prayer phenomenon

Abstract

This article from the perspective of psychology and phenomenology of religion analyzes an important element of global and national religion – prayer. Considering the prayer in the context of religious beliefs, and the cult, authors tries to reveal its unique features. Along with this, the authors, focuses on prayer and its stages of development reveals the kinds of prayers, role in the formation of religious individuals and groups.

The authors analyzes the views of scholars on the genesis and evolution of the prayer, authors came to the conclusion that the origins of this phenomenon is closely connected with the belief of human in supernatural force, in sacred. The relation of man to the sacred is the basis of prayer and composes its essential specificity.

The authors comparing prayer with widely ubiquitous phenomenon in the Kazakh tradition "bata", come to the conclusion that the original meaning of the "bata" was identical to prayer. However, with the proliferation and adoption of Islam its original meaning has been postponed and the "bata" has gained character unrelated to religion, everyday phenomenon.

At the end of the article the authors analyzes the most common kinds of prayers and thus tend to show the role and importance of prayer in the worship system.