Kelley Calvin: Reflection on The Phenomenology of Prayer #2

Prayer as Kenosis

Prayer, as James R. Mensch explains, is "both private and public". Yet, it is one of the most common human activities. Mensch discusses the ideas of: Two Concepts of the Sacred, Kenosis as Receptivity, Empathy and Incarceration, Escaping Mimetic Violence and the Earthly Economy, and What Should We Pray For? 

Two Concepts of the Sacred

The first and most basic concept, according to Mench, stands opposed to any attempt to analyze it phenomenologically. Phenomenology is the "study of appearing", however, the sacred cannot appear, it represents the things that cannot appear. The second notion of the sacred is "the sense of the sacred as coming into the world by incarcerating itself". 

Kenosis as Receptivity

Mensch explains the title as "if we wish to encounter God within the world, it must be on an appropriate level". Thus, in-order to encounter him, we must empty ourselves. The Christian Holy Book provides two figures to understand this relation. The first being 'empty waste" that existed prior to creation. The second being the "creative breath" that hovers over it. 

Empathy and Incarnation

According to Mensch, "a strictly phenomenological account of the relation of kenosis and incarnation can be made in terms of empathy". Both words have similar origins and meanings. Simply put, "empathy is bodily". No matter what, empathy involves not only self-emptying but an assumption of the other. 

Escaping Mimetic Violence and the Earthly Economy

People tend to mimic each other while not even realizing it. In fact, "we imitate each other to the point of desiring what the other desires, we tend to enter into competition with the other". This causes "mimetic violence". This violence could indeed destroy an entire society. Mensch ends this section with the idea that "focus on doing good rather than recieving goods" is what "ultimatly moves one beyond the earthly economy". 

What Should We Pray For? 

We must open ourselves up id we ever want god to come into our lives. The person who closes himself off from opportunity and the world is the one that god will never reach. In order to have contact with god, one must be open to the idea of it. More important than praying for good things to happen is to actually do good in the world.