Citation

Thunström L, Noy S. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Anthropology and Sociology, Denison University, Granville, OH 43023.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, National Academy of Sciences)

DOI

10.1073/pnas.1908268116

PMID

31527228

Abstract

A standard response of both policy makers and private citizens to hardships-from natural disasters to mass shootings-is to offer "thoughts and prayers." Critics argue that such gestures are meaningless and may obstruct structural reforms intended to mitigate catastrophes. In this study, we elicit the value of receiving thoughts and prayers from strangers following adversity. We find that Christians value thoughts and prayers from religious strangers and priests, while atheists and agnostics are "prayer averse"-willing to pay to avoid receiving prayers. Furthermore, while indifferent to receiving thoughts from other secular people, they negatively value thoughts from Christians.

Copyright © 2019 the Author(s). Published by PNAS.

Language: en

Keywords

intercessory prayers; intercessory thoughts; willingness to pay