Post-theistic authors propose a new understanding of prayer based on awareness and silence

Post-theistic authors argue that traditional prayer, which involves asking a transcendent God to intervene in the world, is a form of magical thinking. These writers suggest that petitionary or intercessory prayer incorrectly assumes God is an external actor who distributes grace or relief. They claim that recent global crises, such as the pandemic, have demonstrated the logical inconsistency of viewing God as a figure who intervenes to fix problems.

These perspectives propose a shift toward prayer as an act of awareness. In this view, prayer is not about asking for external changes but about experiencing connection with a cosmic source or energy. The proposed model suggests replacing traditional petitions with contemplative silence and non-dual meditation, drawing on Advaita Vedanta, Zen, and the teachings of Meister Eckhart.