Prayer: A Challenge for Science

by Rupert Sheldrake

ABSTRACT:

Rupert Sheldrake, a fellow of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, is a biologist who has spent many years exploring and developing an alternative view of evolution–one in which "formative causation", "morphogenetic" or "mental" fields play a decisive role. Sheldrake is also a scientist who devotes time regularly to the practice of prayer and exploration of its efficacy. How did a scientist come to be so interested in prayer, and how does he reconcile this with his scientific training? In December last year, IONS editor Christian de Quincey visited Sheldrake in his London home to talk about prayer and science–the following article is based on that interview.