Christian Prayer (May 29, 2008)
I greatly appreciate the SOF podcast, and the broadcast on different approaches to prayer in a spectrum of faiths was interesting. It touched on the surface of some ideas I know to be true from my own experience. How by practicing ritual over and over, we become free to expand the ritual and grow beyond it. The validity of prayer in diverse traditions, and commonalities of these.

Being from a conservative North American, Christian tradition myself, I long to hear discussion of experiences relating to the fundamental tradition of Christian prayer as we know it in the western protestant churches.

It is a huge subject, and I'm sure much more diverse than I know of. Maybe this is something that could only be treated in a cursory way, because of the vastness of history and experience. But I'm interested.

Linda Jerome
Hillsboro, OR (KOPB, 91.5 FM)

Living in the Presence (January 6, 2007)
The last part of the program, especially the testimony of Roberta Bondi found resonance in me while I was driving on I-43 out of Milwaukee. A baptized believer in Christ since infancy, I discovered in adolescence the gracious presence of God in all phases of life. But the road to discovery has been uneven, and I have often strayed from the path of discipleship. What struck a chord with me was Roberta's witness that much of prayer is just showing up. The thrills of spiritual renewal, though infrequent, can strike me at any moment, though have dimmed over the years.

Listening to a radio message in a dark room or on the highway, riding a crowded bus, or sharing in a concert or worship service might send shivers down the spine. But I have found the incomparable value of daily reading of Scripture, walks in the neighborhood or natural area, and a silent space anywhere I am willing to be open to what the Lord might have to say. Often there is no thunder, no bells, nor emotional thrills, but the discipline of devoting time to spiritual reflection is living in the presence of our holy and gracious God.

Dale Erickson
Cedarburg, WI (WUWM, 89.7 FM)

Corporate Prayer (January 5, 2007)
In listening to this program, I was struck by an incongruity. The show said that the guests represented "different religious traditions." However, they all sounded American to me. Their reflection on prayer was all individual; even the Hindu claimed that she did not follow the "traditional" faith like her mother.

I would have liked to hear more discussion about the corporate meaning of prayer. What does it mean for Muslims to stand and bow the same as all those in the room, as all have done as far as anyone can remember? How do Jews feel about reciting the shema together — requiring at least 10 people — repeating the very words of Moses? The corporate aspect of prayer should not be neglected, even when examining prayer's mystical meaning.

Rich Benton
Madison, WI (Listens to SOF Podcast)

Jacob's Struggle (March 27, 2006)
What a wonderful hour I just spent listening to Speaking of Faith. My own personal faith has been rocked by many storms and even though I scream a lot, I always come back. And even though I say I am not going to communicate with the "higher power" anymore, I always come back. I have a deeper understanding now of the story of Jacob and how this relates to my own prayer life. And by the way, one morning some time ago when I usually set aside some time for prayer, I decided to read a book instead which I really loved. During my reading, a thought came to me that, "Hey, reading this book is like praying to me." The thought jostled me somewhat but after hearing tonight's program, I am positive now that I was praying after all. And all this time I thought I was acting like a pagan. Thank you for setting me straight. I love the program.

Monique Laperle
Burlington, VT (WVPS, 107.9 FM)

A Humble Paramedic (March 27, 2006)
Thank you for continuing to address the topic "prayer." What, why, and when is it? Oftentimes living in community defines our world. Those living outside the definitions of that community are not welcome. Listening to your programs reminds me that I am not the only one wrestling with God and meaning. I am not alone.

Daryl Doering
Dayton, MN (KNOW, 91.1 FM)

Attention as Prayer (March 26, 2006)
Years back, when reading I and Thou by [Martin] Buber, I glanced up from the book to have what I can only call a long "encounter" with a shrub. My whole attention was engaged with seeing and experiencing, over many, many minutes, the shrub itself and then many individual leaves. It was an encounter with the immediate and the infinite; it was prayer. I've known since then what it is to give total attention to a plant, flower, tree, rock, although raising a family kept my attention elsewhere for many years, scattered both outside and inside myself. The attention I gave to my inner self expressed itself in poetry. The attention outside was claimed by challenging children, a challenging job in politics, and a challenging husband. I did, however, have a flower garden, and when walking through or past it would quietly say over and over again to plants as I passed "Blessed be!"

My family is raised, I've retired from a demanding job, my husband has died, and I now find myself often giving attention to one blossom, one rock, one tree at a time. My interest in writing poetry, which for me was introspective, has waned, and an interest in painting both emerged and developed. A wonderful aspect of landscape watercolor painting, which is my practice, is that it not only allows but demands that I give close attention to what I want to see, what I want to paint. After spending the afternoon seeing and painting cherry blossom trees in the National Arboretum, I came home to listen to Speaking of Faith. I recognized that I had spent my afternoon in prayer. The prayer was both in encounter with trunks, limbs, and blossoms, and in the act of painting. The encounter was with the Infinite Mystery. The act of painting was both the lighting of a candle to express my response, and the creation of an icon that will remind me, every time I look of it, of that encounter.

Marguerite Beck-Rex
Silver Spring, MD (WETA, 90.9 FM)

Cutting Away Stereotypes (March 26, 2006)
Your session on prayer was an excellent presentation, especially since it treated prayer as used in many religious traditions. It cut away stereotypes. It was educational and inspiring — something not found in most radio and TV programs. It was balanced with fine use of background music, poetry, honest and authentic presenters. Congratulations. I look forward to more such programs.

Warren Hovland
Corvallis, OR (KOAC, 550 AM)

A Good Morning (March 26, 2006)
Good morning it was, thanks to you! The programming you bring is very new to me. I woke up around 3 this morning. I do not believe in coincidences. I turn on NPR and here you are with this wonderful programming. So here it is, people talking about their journey, the spiritual journey. So good to hear that. Aren't we all on the way to that what brings us closer to the endless source of love?

Didier Marchal
Waukegan, IL (WBEZ, 91.5 FM)

Listening (March 26, 2006)
I just listened to your wonderful program on the topic of prayer. The references to the power of silence sparked me to contact you to find out if you've ever done a show on Quakers, the Religious Society of Friends, of which I am a member. Quakers practice a very different form of Christianity, one that has emphasized — from our earliest roots in 17th-century England — both mysticism and "right action" in the world. Our regular worship "service" consists of sitting together in silence, in a practice of communion with the Divine, an expectant waiting, listening for the voice of God.

Paulette Meier
Cincinnati, OH (WHYY, 91.0 FM)

"Passionate Buddhist" Is an Oxymoron (March 26, 2006)
First of all, let me say that I am a huge fan of your show. Your range, your depth… I am always impressed with your attempt to understand the "other" in all of us. You referred to someone in your program today as a "passionate Buddhist." I have heard that description from Western friends on numerous occasions, and I maintain it is an oxymoron. Worse still, it is a relentlessly idiosyncratic need for Westerners to accommodate Buddhism to their inherent cultural prejudices. Yes, a contradiction in terms because passion is a subset of desire (in the extreme) and that is precisely what Buddhism attempts to screen out of our consciousness (very difficult for we Westerners). To be passionate is perforce not to be mindful.

Geoffrey King
Jackson Heights, NY (WNYC, 93.9 FM)

Music on Speaking of Faith (March 25, 2006)
I just finished listening to the podcast of this week's SoF on prayer. I am curious about the music playing while "The Summer Day" was being recited. The poem and the music were both very beautiful. I also appreciated hearing Roberta Bondi. She will certainly gain a book sale or two from having spoken on your show. Your program is very important to me.

Christopher Gudger-Raines
Millburn, NJ (Listens to SOF Podcast)

Appreciating Beauty (May 15, 2005)
The show on prayer was great. A similar large concept my instincts are drawn to lately is beauty, another definition of the divine. What we really do for each other is let each other know we are beautiful. That's what we really need. (Vanier) Far from being a distraction, maybe appreciating beauty is when we get a glimpse of the divine.

Richard Bresden
Chicago, IL (WBEZ, 91.5 FM)

Prayer as a Source of Elevation (May 15, 2005)
I grew up Catholic; generally, I experienced Catholic prayer as mechanical and incomprehensible — especially considering that it used to be in Latin. It seemed to come truly alive only during times of crisis or death — when the ritual itself necessarily took on a transcendental quality. As an adult I did not maintain the practice of prayer taught to me — other than during, of course, crises. That much seemed to have gotten ingrained.

Then when I was going through a personal crisis in my early thirties, a friend invited me to live and work at an ashram, or Indian-Hindu, Yoga community. The community enterprise had just purchased a new property that cost millions of dollars without selling their former place. I got there during one of those periods in my life when getting out of bed was a victory. But I nevertheless somehow got into the practice of getting up very early in the morning for yoga, meditation, and satsanga (chanting, dancing and prayer).

Because the community had a formidable task to achieve, the place was full of high energy. I didn't have the energy or the desire to analyze the experience so I simply surrendered to it. Years later, however, researching the subject for a book I am writing, I realized that each morning we were being re-programmed out of our fear-based "lizard brain," and intentionally turning on the parts of our brain that evolved later and held the promise for better days of peace, love, and happiness among human beings.

Like myself, the community could have allowed themselves to be weighed down by fears about their circumstance, or they could have found a way to rise above. Prayer, for them, and me, was a way to rise above. Thanks for the very entertaining show — in the best sense of that word.

James Abro
Toms River, NJ (WHYY, 91.0 FM)

Intellectual Clarity (May 15, 2005)
One contributor claimed that simply intense focus upon an activity is a type of praying. It might have been appropriate to ask if such an ill-defined notion of prayer actually results in the notion being devoid of any genuine meaning. Please can we have an atheist interviewed? After all, giving the definition of prayer give in today's show, surely atheists are also theologians?

Graham Lister
Fargo, ND (KCCD, 90.3 FM)

Profound and Spiritual (May 14, 2005)
I was moved by Krista's interviews with Stephen Mitchell and Roberta Bondi. I have read some of their writings and cherish them. Experiencing Krista's conversation with each of them felt intimate, as if i was there, hanging on every word. She asked what I would have asked, having each guest reveal what I am now gratified to learn about their personal beliefs and insights into prayer and their spiritual thought process. This program was profound and deeply spiritual. Thank you for bringing it to us.

James George
Park Ridge, IL (WBEZ, 91.5 FM)

One Person at a Time (May 14, 2005)
While listening to this week's program on prayer, I realized why the program as a whole is so successful — or at least one reason I enjoy it so much. There is no debate. Krista interviews her guests one person at a time, giving each one her thoughtful, respectful listening and provocative, knowledgeable, and gentle questions. They do not face each other to say, "No, my religion/viewpoint is the best." I really like that.

Nanci Smith
West Palm Beach, FL (Subscribes to Audible.com)

Faith on a Motorcycle (May 12, 2005)
It wasn't until recently that I discovered this program and so now I anticipate the Thursday e-mail with your reflections. This week's opening page contained an image of Christian bikers and it brought a smile to my face. I am a photographer and I recently got a call from the Chaplain of the Harley Davidson chapter in Santa Barbara, yes they have one. He remembered that I took a couple photos from last year's Blessing of the Bike Day at the old Santa Barbara Mission and he asked me to come back and shoot the whole event. It was amazing, over 200 ex-cons, tough looking, Christian bikers. I wish I could attach some photos here for you to see. Thank you Krista and all involved in creating such a wonderful program that covers the spiritual spectrum. All the best to you.

Craig M. Renwick
South Pasadena, CA (KPCC, 89.3 FM)