The Concept of Prayer (Routledge Revivals) - Philosophical Study

In this review of The Concept of Prayer (Routledge Revivals) the bottom line is clear: this compact reissue is best for students and readers who want a careful, philosophical examination of prayer rather than devotional guidance. D. Z. Phillips treats prayer as a question that illuminates what is meant by the reality of God, and the book's greatest strength is its insistence that understanding prayer is inseparable from understanding religious language and community. This review focuses on why the book matters to those studying the philosophy of religion and what to expect from its argument-driven style.

Key Features

• Philosophical framing: Phillips places prayer within a broader philosophical context so readers can follow how theological questions arise from language and concept, not just belief claims.
• Focus on meaning: The text treats prayer as a concept to be clarified, helping students see how questions about God and prayer intersect with ordinary language.
• Themes explored: Topics such as prayer and talking, prayer and dependence, superstition, and community are examined to show different dimensions of prayer's significance.
• Concise reissue: As a reissued classic first published in 1965, it provides a compact, historically situated argument useful for course reading lists.
• Academic value: The book is particularly valuable for those studying philosophy of religion and religious studies, offering material suited to seminar discussion and critical essays.

Who It's For

This book is aimed at undergraduates, graduate students, and independent readers with an interest in the philosophy of religion, religious studies, or the history of ideas about prayer. It suits readers who appreciate close conceptual analysis and are comfortable with argument-driven prose rather than pastoral or devotional treatment.

Those seeking practical guidance on how to pray, devotional inspiration, or a survey of different religious traditions should look elsewhere, since the book is narrowly philosophical and concentrates on conceptual issues rather than practice or doctrine.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides a rigorous philosophical approach that clarifies how prayer relates to the concept of God and religious language.
• Addresses multiple angles-talking, dependence, superstition, community-so readers gain a rounded perspective.
• Concise reissue makes the original 1965 argument accessible for classroom use and focused study.

Cons

• Not intended as devotional literature, so readers expecting practical prayer guidance may be disappointed.
• The philosophical style can be dense for readers without prior exposure to analytic approaches in religion.

Specifications

Our Verdict

The Concept of Prayer (Routledge Revivals) is a focused, argument-driven reissue that rewards readers interested in conceptual analysis of religion. It is good value for classroom use or private study because it brings a clear, historically placed philosophical case that helps reframe questions about the reality of God through the lens of prayer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book devotional or instructional?
The book is philosophical and analytic in approach, not devotional or a how-to guide on prayer.

Who benefits most from reading it?
Students and scholars of philosophy of religion and religious studies will gain the most from its conceptual arguments.

Does the text cover multiple religious traditions?
The book focuses on conceptual questions rather than comparative tradition surveys, using philosophical discussion to address prayer and religious language.