Jesus Prayer, anxiety, and the puzzle of the thief

This paper will explore the use of the ancient Orthodox practice of the Jesus Prayer (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner), and its effects as a remedy to anxiety. As recent clinical research has shown, this practice can have a significant impact on mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, and there are notable similarities between the Jesus Prayer and many clinical treatments for anxiety. However, as the paper explores, offering a therapeutic approach in isolation risks distorting the aim of the Jesus Prayer. Considering the intriguing example of a thief who uses the Jesus Prayer to help him steal more effectively, the paper seeks to complexify the relationship between the therapeutic effects of prayer and their spiritual ends.