ABSTRACT
People across the globe have been trying to connect and communicate with the divine and with the deceased since the dawn of time. Prayers and rituals of various sorts, reflecting diverse faith traditions and cultures, have tried to not only interact with those who have passed on but have tried to influence the divine, the sacred, and the departed to act in ways that will benefit the living. Prayers for salvation, deliverance from troubles such as illness and traumas, as well as for insight, inspiration, wisdom, safety, security, and for basic needs are common. The influence of, and engagement with, organized religion in the western world has decreased dramatically over the past several decades as many countries have become more secular, and religious communities and traditions have become more marginalized. This is due to a confluence of reasons, but numerous religious organizational scandals have contributed a great deal to the receding influence of religion in western society.
