10/29/14 The Phenomenology of Prayer: You Only Live Once

            Phenomenology has many different meanings, none of which are the normative one. This means that phenomenology doesn’t have a definite translation of what it means, because they are all so different. Martin Heidegger, taking over what Wilhelm Dilithey, classified phenomenology as a hermeneutical enterprise. Heidegger splits Hermeneutical phenomenology into two parts, life as we live it in the now, is already a meaningful thing, and that history is not to be seen as a multitude of ‘facts’ that represent the past, but as an abundance of expressive and eloquent moments in time. Heidegger goes on saying, “Life is not a chaotic confusion of dark torrents, not a mute principle of power, not a limitless, all-consuming disorder, rather it is what it is only as a concrete meaningful shape” (Prayer p.119). Life is more than a road travelled by everyone, where everyone experiences the same situations. You have to life on the edge; no day can be the same. Martin Heidegger basically is saying that Phenomenology is not set in stone, but what is set in stone is that life happens and what happens throughout YOUR life is under your control. What you do with you life is up to you; prayer can enhance the experiences you have by changing the outlook you have. When you are involved in prayer, things become clearer and you make better decisions. Basically you have a more experience filled life.