Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Gestalt prayer


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.  

The result was keep. Krakatoa Katie  02:08, 8 September 2007 (UTC)

Gestalt prayer

 * – (View AfD) (View log)

Delete a belatedly contested prod which had been deleted, unsourced article about a prayer or poem, a couple thousand google hits but not much by way of realiable sources - about 1/3 of the sites indicate that the prayer is copyright ( gives 800 hits), so this could be a copyvio as well Carlossuarez46 03:01, 31 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Comment, according to this it was first published in "Gestalt therapy verbatim" and probably later in his autobiography. As far as I can tell it was first published by Bantam Books, a united states company, and the only renewal I can see is this '51 book. John Vandenberg 12:48, 31 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Something published in 1969 or having its copyright renewed in 1979 is probably still under copyright protection - I think it lasts quite a long time: otherwise all the movies and books and music from the 1950's and 1960's and 1970's would be public domain which is contrary to my understanding. Carlossuarez46 17:02, 31 August 2007 (UTC)
 * You are right about that; s:Template:PD-US-no-renewal stops at 1964. However, the book appears to be primarily a compilation of "verbatim transcripts from his large-scale weekend dreamwork seminars between 1966 and 1968 and from an intensive four-week gesalt therapy workshop in 1968, all of which were held at Esalen."  There is definitely a fair-use case that can be made for this, however it may also fit within s:Template:PD-US-no-notice if distribution of the text of the prayer was promoted in those workshops. John Vandenberg 23:55, 1 September 2007 (UTC)
 * STRONG KEEP This is a perfectly good stub with a valid reference source. The Gestalt Prayer was a mantra of the 1970's that inundated American culture.  It was quoted often and nearly everywhere.  My dad had it on a plaque on the wall in our downstairs den.  Schools and churches had plaques on their walls.  It was used as the basis for many lectures, sermons, philosophies, books.  It had a real place in the history and shaping of American culture.  there should be an article on this subject and this is a good start.OfficeGirl 05:34, 1 September 2007 (UTC)
 * Any chance you could ask your father when/where he purchased that? A photo of it would also be an excellent addition to the article. John Vandenberg 23:55, 1 September 2007 (UTC)
 * KEEP As a response to questions of the cultural importance, I've added a section on the impact and legacy of the prayer. I've also cited several journal articles which have discussed the prayer about 15 years after it's original publication. I hope this goes some way to demonstrating the popular and academic significance and longevity of the text. 212.56.88.63 14:17, 1 September 2007 (UTC)
 * Keep, 111 Google Book hits and 33 Google Scholar hits. John Vandenberg 23:55, 1 September 2007 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Literature-related deletions.   -- John Vandenberg 12:01, 5 September 2007 (UTC)
 * Keep The Gestalt Prayer is a vitally important document in understanding the human potential movement, as well as the culture of the '60's and '70's. Jack Gaines' oral biography of Perls, Fritz Perls Here and Now (1979, Celestial Arts Publishing) details the impact and controversy surrounding the Gestalt Prayer.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.65.207.70 (talk) 11:58, 7 September 2007 (UTC)
 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.