Interfaith civic groups find ‘bridging prayers’ helpful

Just because interfaith, interracial, and varied ethnic groups share a common cause doesn’t mean a diverse coalition can hang together.

It often takes prayer. And not just a “Bless this group, Amen” invocation.

A new study by three sociologists finds that three out of four interfaith civic coalitions turn to what the sociologists have dubbed “bridging prayer”— interactive, participatory, and often innovative prayers and rituals that highlight their shared identity as people of faith.