The Psychology of Religious Practices - Prayer

If we ask what are the psychical functions of religion, the answer is three-fold. First, religion is that which enables man to satisfy certain non-physical needs; secondly, it is that which results from experiences which involve the active participation of the supra-personal forces of the unconscious; and, thirdly, it is an activity which assumes common forms in different types of religion. Two of the most important of these activities are Prayer and Worship, which are so closely related that one cannot be discussed without the other. Yet despite the closeness of their relationship, there are distinctive aspects such as make it necessary to consider them separately.