An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

praying for health, members of these congregations are not doing anything particularlyunusual. The popular practice, however, overlaps with the theologically defined ritualactivity.McCullough (1995) suggests that although the Lord‟s Prayer encourages them to pray forthemselves and others, the primary goal of Christian prayer is to commune with Godrather than to improve one‟s health. The findings of my research show both parametersof communing with God and improving health.There is a complex relationship between the involvement of faith groups within the NHS,and the practice of private prayer and prayer in church. It is not overtly acknowledged bymany doctors of conventional medicine that many patients rely on the prayer of thechurch to support them through any illness ranging from a minor cold to major surgeryor treatment for cancer. Writing about the work of NHS chaplains, however, Kendal-Raynor (2008) argues spiritual assessment should form part of holistic care and prayershould be part of nursing care if the patient‟s spiritual needs are identified. However,they assert prayer should not be forced on patients and staff should not be forced to prayfor patients. This is acknowledged also by popular religious advocates such as Packerand Nystrom (2006), who postulate that the practice of prayer, though a Christian duty, isalso a privilege and joy, but not something which can or should be forced. Whenperformed with wisdom and sincerity, they argue that it leads us through different moodsand types of praying as well as pointing us to a clearer understanding of the character ofGod.Nonetheless, Ewles and Simnett (1999, 2003) and Seedhouse (1997), in their standardhealth promotion texts, both discuss the spiritual and philosophical aspect of promoting233