Petition and Praise: Basic Forms of Prayer in the Babylonian and Hebrew Tradition

Prayer is a multi-layered, amply-faceted religious and culturally determined phenomenon. The functional aspects of "praise" and "petition" may serve as our "vernacular" (and thus incompatible to ancient concepts) terms in our efforts to systematize notions of prayer. Pe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Die Welt des Orients
Main Author: Gerstenberger, Erhard S. 1932-2023 (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht [2019]
In: Die Welt des Orients
RelBib Classification:AG Religious life; material religion
BC Ancient Orient; religion
HB Old Testament
KBL Near East and North Africa
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
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Summary:Prayer is a multi-layered, amply-faceted religious and culturally determined phenomenon. The functional aspects of "praise" and "petition" may serve as our "vernacular" (and thus incompatible to ancient concepts) terms in our efforts to systematize notions of prayer. Petition for help and salvation in the ancient Near East arose in situations of danger (mostly befalling small social groups) in order to coerce superhuman powers into an alliance against destructive tendencies. Praise, on the other hand, came out of larger groups, tried to maintain or establish that beneficial equilibrium so necessary of all human well-being. Thus, both - seemingly dichotomous, ritualized allocutions to higher powers - are, in fact, human contributions to the micro- and macro-world order of peace, justice, and bliss.
ISSN:2196-9019
Contains:Enthalten in: Die Welt des Orients
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.13109/wdor.2019.49.1.81