Editorial June 9, 2003 Issue

Proactive prayers for the world

Editor

Recently a European visitor to our offices commented on what she saw as Americans' naiveté about the rest of the world, perhaps because of the general lack of historical context in American thinking. The common assumption is that since America's "world" wars have been fought outside of its borders, the powerful memories of war haven't permeated the American consciousness. On the other hand, in most other countries, the destruction of war is vividly etched into the everyday lives of the citizenry.

That assumption about Americans may be changing. Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, people in the United States became galvanized in defense of their country. And with this awakened vigilance concerning the safety and protection of American lives and property, at the same time, millions of people felt a need for spiritual renewal. In record numbers they began visiting—or revisiting—places of worship, turning to prayer for their inner security and peace of mind. Prayers circles formed across the country, often extending around the world, in which people from all faiths joined as one family, metaphorically taking one another's hands to seek God's blessing on a nation reeling in shock and incomprehension at what had happened.

But what has become of those prayer circles? Church and temple attendance is back to pre-9/11 numbers. Have Americans slipped back into a spiritual lethargy because no crisis directly threatens their safety? Certainly the bombs of terrorism around the world are deafeningly loud to citizens of Bali, Congo, Kenya, the West Bank, and dozens of other global flashpoints.

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