The work of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche titled The Gay Science features several arguments. Among the many submissions, one claim that significantly impacted my perception was The Value of Prayer. Nietzsche gives his viewpoint on prayer, its importance, and its purpose. Reading Nietzsche’s work titled The Value of Prayer changed my opinion on the objective of prayer. The claim on prayer and its value exposes a different view from mine; hence, the reading allowed me to expand my perception of prayer. Nietzsche (1974) mentions that it has been prescribed by the founders of religions to establish mental and behavioral control over those who pray. However, prayer is more than an agent of behavioral and cognitive regulation; it is also a connection with the deity. Nietzsche’s argument on The Value of Prayer enabled me to develop an accommodative and flexible mindset toward the religious practices of different religious groups. Therefore, while Nietzsche in The Value of Prayer argues that prayer is an element of behavioral control, I believe that prayer goes beyond posture and routine since it connects humans with a higher being, and poses and other outward appearances are unnecessary.
Firstly, in the argument on The Value of Prayer, Nietzsche gives his understanding of prayer. He mentions that prayer is designed for people who cannot rely on their thoughts and do not have ideas to guide them through daily life. Nietzsche (1974) says those dependent on prayer “do not know any elevation of the soul or at least do not notice it when it occurs” (184). Further, Nietzsche explains that a prayer is a tool for individuals who do not know what to do in sacred spots and important events, so they must rely on it to keep them calm and dignified. Here, Nietzsche holds that some people must be controlled and directed on how to carry themselves in places of worship hence the existence of prayer routines and formulas. He says, “what are they to do at sacred sites and in all significant situations in life, where calm and some sort of dignity are called for?” (Nietzsche, 1974, p. 184). Those who do not realize avenues of personal development depend on prayer to rise to holiness. Therefore, Nietzsche views prayer as a tool for persons who are spiritually and mentally weak.
In his argument on The Value of Prayer, Nietzsche expresses the importance of prayer. He mentions that prayer helps to keep people who do not know how to behave calmly and with dignity from disturbing others. Therefore, to stay calm, a strategy of prayers designed through the “wisdom of all founders of religions, small as well as great, has prescribed to them the formulas of prayers” (Nietzsche, 1974, p. 185). The suggested prayer formulas take some time as it needs a mechanical movement of the lips, which requires some brain activity to exert memory. Moreover, the prayer formulas necessitate the maintenance of fixed hands, feet, and eye posture. The prayer strategy allows those who pray to “count the name of the god off their fingers…or use prayer mills and rosaries” (Nietzsche, 1974, p. 185), which keeps them tolerable to look at momentarily since the fixed postures fasten them. Therefore, Nietzsche explains that prayer is meant to keep the masses collected and show them how to act calmly and in acceptable ways in serious situations.
Additionally, Nietzsche explains the purpose of the invention of prayer. According to him, prayer was invented for “the benefit of the pious who do know thoughts and elevations of their own” (Nietzsche, 1974, p. 185). The purpose of the invention of prayer is to keep people in line with religious acts, upon whose elimination would result in the loss of their religion. Nietzsche indicates that prayerful persons that rely on the set formulas and postures would lose purpose “if one forbade them their prayer-rattling” (1974, p. 185). To Nietzsche, prayer is the overall goal of religion, created with the intent that the masses “should keep still with their eyes, hands, legs and other organs; that way they become more beautiful for a while and – look more like human beings” (Nietzsche, 1974, p. 184). Here, Nietzsche explains prayer as an outward show rather than an inward as he says it makes the masses beautiful to look at for a while. Through the prayer formulas and postures, a group of people praying assume a uniform appearance which Nietzsche says makes them tolerable to look at while they pray.
Having read Nietzsche’s argument on The Value of Prayer closely, my viewpoint on prayer has been enhanced to realize that praying goes beyond postures and routine. Prayer is an avenue of communication with a god, who is supernatural and whose work is beyond basic human understanding hence the need to revere them. However, Nietzsche views prayer as an essential outward factor designed by religious leaders to control the thoughts of those who pray and help them find righteousness. I partially agree with Nietzsche’s argument that the prayer formulas and posture make the masses look beautiful because the prescribed poses bring order rather than chaos, as everyone assumes any position in prayer. Nonetheless, the postures do not necessarily have to be adhered to as religious persons have the freedom to communicate with their god. The assertion has impacted my understanding by introducing a different school of thought that indicates how various people may regard prayers and their value and purpose.
Before reading Nietzsche’s argument on The Value of Prayer, I believed that prayer is a channel of communication with the deity and that any style or mode of praying was acceptable. However, after analyzing the philosopher’s argument, I have developed an appreciation for different views on the various modes of prayer without necessarily changing my initial understanding. Living in a broadly diverse society today, the claim on The Value of Prayer has become much more relevant because it enables people to expand their perspectives and opinions on certain aspects of life, such as prayer. Moreover, I can have more room for compassion and understanding for those with different views on prayer since I know that people can hold varying opinions. Since prayer is a particular matter for all religions, it is essential to consider the ideas of the reading and appreciate that other people have contrasting views.
Overall, the argument may allow me to enjoy better the nature of the religious diversities around the world and cultivate an accommodative perception of other people’s way of communicating with their god. Nietzsche mentions that prayer is a tool to control the minds of those who pray and enable them to connect with their spirit or experience a soul rise. Therefore, prayer is a vital tool connecting individuals with a higher power.
Reference
Nietzsche, F. (1974). The gay science: The value of prayer (W. Kaufmann, Trans.). Vintage Books. (Original work published1887).