@NaturalMineralWater…And??? Is it a silly question because you’re not supposed to question “God Almighty” and anything related? Because hypnosis is silly??? “No” because the idea of prayer is not a silly concept???
From an outside perspective… a group of people close their eyes, bow their heads, and listen to the words of a leader, repeating them with sincerity in their heads to feel comfort and seek answers. Is it a Nazi war ralley, a KKK meeting, or sunday mass??? I don’t think there is a difference aside from the short-term goals of each group. I think, for some, it is self-hypnosis. Only 6% of the population of the world is highly succeptable to hypnosis, even less to self-hypnosis. For the other 94%, I think prayer is a way to focus on conscious awareness of ones own problems and short-comings while brainstorming possible solutions.
Personally, I think if you’re being led to prayer by someone smarter than you, who accepts a monetary donation from you every week, you’re victimizing yourself with some good old propaganda.