Sentinel Watch November 21, 2011 Issue

Prayer as protest

Margaret Campbell

Much of the world has witnessed riots, demonstrations, and protest marches this year. The “Occupy Wall Street” movement, which originated in the United States as a protest against perceived greed and economic inequality, has now gone worldwide. And regardless of political affiliation, thoughtful people everywhere yearn to make a difference, to secure freedoms, and to see the standard of living improve for everyone. One protester said, “These protests are already making a difference. The dialogue is now happening all over the world” (Reuters, New York, October 15, 2011).

Have you ever thought of prayer—a spiritual response to world events—as a form of protest? After all, the word protest means not only to be against something, but also to stand for something. Webster’s New World College Dictionary defines protest as both “to state positively; affirm solemnly” and “to make objection to; speak strongly against.”

The prayer of protest is an effective spiritual response to troubling situations.