All faiths and many humanists share the principle that we love our neighbour as our selves – or do as we would be done by – action at its best excludes no one from the practice of that principle. Prayer in this context is thinking about the facts and circumstances of the unfortunate people I meet in the context of that principle and deciding what action to take, and then reviewing the action. It is the connection between internalisation and activity and is be done by many people who do not call it prayer, In some circumstances the indignation and desire to act means I have to cope with the reality of my powerlessness to change the oppressive circumstances I meet.

I agree with Sam Halvorsen that researchers dipping into the work of activists taking what they want and giving nothing should be addressed and corrected as it happens. I founded, with some friends, the Zacchaeus 2000 Trust http://www.z2k.org in the 1990s. We work with the poorest debtors. We are frequently asked by journalists in TV and press to introduce them to some of the debtors we serve so they can write about them. I often refuse. It worries me for several reasons, the journalists sometimes act like Sam’s researchers interviewing the debtors but giving nothing to that person, except the publicity to the debilitating poverty, which is desperately needed, the benefit claimants we work with are often frightened of the publicity and the reaction of the authorities who have the power to evict them and stop their benefits, they can be humiliated by the publicity given to their poverty, the Daily Mail regularly lies about poverty see the following blog written by an official in the head Office of the Methodist Church. http://jointpublicissues.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/daily-mail-welfare-story-untrue-and.html ,

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