Dialogue With The World August 28, 2017 Issue

Do Christian Scientists care about humanity?

From the Office of Committee on Publication

The question in the title has been asked by many over the years, sometimes quite skeptically.

The skepticism stems at least partly from society’s somewhat conflicted attitudes toward prayer. On one hand, most affirm in a general way that prayer can be a good thing. People often speak of sending “thoughts and prayers” to the sick or grieving, for example.

On the other hand, that very phrase can sometimes feel hollow when it’s used casually as a cliché or ritual gesture. It brings into sharp relief the honest questions many people have about prayer: Does it really help in any tangible way? Is praying really doing anything? Are those who take prayer seriously just deluding themselves in thinking that their prayers make a difference in reaching to the great crises confronting humanity?

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

For kids

How big is God’s love?