Prayer and magic can be grouped together in many respects, with the
difference being whether a mystical third party is thought to be
involved. The introduction of the third party leads to some interesting
patterns in the adherents, however.
Prayer relies on badgering some deity into doing the actual work, who
may refuse to do so. Hence it's frequently used as an alternative to
practical action, is often blatantly selfish, is generally effectless,
and its failures are almost always blamed on divine plan. Massive
prayer vigils tend to combine the worst of all of these with being
massive time sinks, leaving few people free to do anything effectual
(We're starving, let's pray! for example), and deeply
underscoring the nagging, beleaguering nature of prayer in these
groups.
In contrast, groups without the intermediary usually try to affect the
world directly through magic, tend to take responsibility for not
succeeding instead of blaming some divine third party, often have
substantial lore recommending against selfishness, and are less likely
to believe that prayer/magic can replace practical effort.
In all groups, a significant fraction, even the majority, will probably
never pay the group's rituals or concepts more than superficial
service, often for mere peer validation, camaraderie, or even just a
fondness for the rituals themselves. These people are irrelevant in
determining the power of either prayer or magic.
In my experience, the prayer-oriented groups don't have any real
interest in developing prayer as a skill with predictable effects,
which makes sense given the third-party whim problem . A few
magic-oriented groups, on the other hand, will test for effects, with
the objective of developing magic as a skill. For example, one person
may attempt to make one of several items feel more significant, and
expect another to determine which by feel. In some cases a range of
such tests is part of the group's lore, and such groups can even appeal
to those with a background in scientific method, although applying
rigorous testing must be frustrating or nearly impossible when emotion
may be a key component of success.
I've seen people in both the prayer- and magic-oriented groups who
seemed capable of passing the types of tests I mentioned, although
very, very few. The prayer groups historically seem to be much less
likely to be supportive, however.
Although the testing-oriented subgroups are probably the most likely to
develop anything interesting in the long, long run, they will also
probably be in the minority for at least as long. The expectation to
improve one's skill is a significant barrier to entry, and it's much
easier for an individual to walk into the arms of an accept-anyone
religion that doesn't expect anything of its followers. Except possibly
for manpower and tithing.
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