Thomas Steininger in dialogue with Elizabeth Debold

What is the role of prayer and ritual in our contemporary lives? Many of the 60s generation have rejected prayer along with the idea of a white-bearded old man as God. Yet among younger generations, there is a hunger for ritual and ways of creating connection with that which is larger than ourselves. Given that humans have been creating rituals since the beginning of humanity, how can we come to a new practice of prayer and ritual for our time?

In this conversation, Thomas and Elizabeth explore the nature of prayer as a means of relating to the sacred and clarifying one’s intention and purpose. Using the upcoming 24-hour global meditation and prayer ritual, One World Bearing Witness, that they will host on December 3-4, they explore the importance of creating rituals in a context of global diversity. Featuring the prayers of leading activists and transformative healers, the event creates a space where our prayers for the Earth, humanity, intergenerational trauma, and the beauty of life can be held. In this, which is a subtle form of change-making, it is sacred activism.

Dr. Thomas Steininger and Dr. Elizabeth Debold speak about the sacred activism and prayer that One World Bearing Witness is rooted in.