Ma`rifat

Prayer and its effect on the soul are important in both Shia and Catholic religions. Shia calls prayer as the core of worship, and Catholicism interprets it as the door of worship and the bearer of great mysteries. But both religions believe prayer has some effects on human cognition and insight, based on their dominant theology, which can be effective for the perfection of their followers. Considering the importance of prayer in the two religions and its effect on the soul on the one hand, and the need for interfaith dialogue on the other hand; it is necessary to examine the effect of prayer on human cognition from Shiism and Catholicism point of view and study their similarities and differences. The method of this research is descriptive-analytical and the results are as follows: prayer effects the cognition and insight of the worshiper, in both religions, by paying attention to God and helping to know the Lord, self-knowledge, knowing the Savior and resurrection. According to the Catholic religion, prayer effects human cognition through the Holy Spirit which grants cognition while Christ prays, the predominance of the granted aspect of cognition, emphasizing the Trinitarian cognition, instilling and confirming the belief in the inherent sin of man, and the belief in ransom and salvation by Jesus; but according to Shia, the central key to acquire cognition is the content of the prayer, and human cognition is affected by the emphasis on monotheistic cognition, knowledge of the perfect human being, emphasis on servitude and salvation through faith, and finally doing good deeds which provide the ground for the fulfillment of human perfection.