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Vox ·For the curious

How to Pray When You Don’t Believe in God

by Casper ter Kuile

Published 2026-06-17 07:30:00-04:00

If prayer is a way of telling the truth, does it matter if anyone is listening?

0:00 / 8:46 · Narrator Algieba

Context

Published on 17 June 2026, the piece considers a quiet paradox: the lingering desire for the rhythm of prayer in the absence of a deity. As traditional religious affiliation declines, the psychological need for what psychoanalysts call primary speech remains. The piece looks at how secular rituals—from journaling in the dark to reciting poetry—can serve as tools for radical honesty. It suggests that prayer might not be about who is listening, but rather the discipline of discovering what is actually felt and finding the words to say it.

Show notes

An examination of the psychological and spiritual benefits of prayer for those who do not believe in a deity. It draws on clinical research and perspectives from religious leaders to outline practical methods for secular prayer, including radical honesty in journaling and the recitation of poetry. These approaches form a framework for prayer centered on attention and intention rather than divine intervention.

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