Thursday, July 30, 2009

"Learning to Pray"--article in Christian Reflection

The current issue of Christian Reflection: A Series in Faith and Ethics, a publication of The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, includes my article "Learning to Pray" (pp. 18-25). In his introduction to the issue, editor Robert Kruschwitz summarizes the article:

"Because prayer is so central to discipleship, learning how to pray became the most common theme in Christian writings in the four centuries after the New Testament. Steven Harmon thinks we can learn much about prayer, and about the God to whom we pray, from the 'collect' form of prayer that originated in early Christian worship and the practice of singing the Psalter. These ancient forms of prayer, Harmon writes in 'Learning to Pray' (p. 18), 'provide words for our prayers from beyond ourselves that transform us when we pray them.'"

Kruschwitz has also provided a study guide for the articles in this issue; the guide for "Learning to Pray" appears on pp. 4-5.

4 comments:

  1. Steve,

    I read your article over the weekend and want to thank you for it. It was tremendous and very helpful. I have been praying the Psalter (off and on!) for a couple of years now and have found it to be very, very helpful. Thanks and I'll be posting a link to your paper over at my site.

    Wyman

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  2. Wyman,

    Thanks for stopping by and offering the kind comments--and for the link, too.

    Steve

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  3. Dr. Harmon,
    I was delighted to get my latest edition of Baylor's always helpful Christian Reflection publication. Imagine my delight when one of my favorite instructors in the faith was one of the authors in this outstanding issue on an always timely and yet oft-neglected discipline. I so much enjoyed reading it.

    Sarah

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  4. Good to hear from you, Sarah--and thanks!

    SRH

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