I am interested in learning the history of Christian prayer. There are denominations in which people always stand up, take off their hats if they are men, and become silent, humble and serious as a way of expressing respect to God.
In other denominations, people do not pay much attention to external features of prayer. They don't stand up or hold hands, and they don't even have to assume a proper pose; rather, they can pray simultaneously (not in turns), they can pray out loud, shout, express their joy, anger, contempt, etc. Usually Westerners do not pay attention to posture in prayer.
Does anybody know whether there were times when people / ministers deliberately worked out decent ways and postures for praying? Can we say that movements/groups like Catholics, Mennonites, or Anabaptist's created their own ways of prayer that can still be seen in some denominations?
My question is basically this: Why some Christians stand up and assume certain postures, while others pray however they want? How long has it been so? Is it related to the difference between Eastern and Western mentality? Has humanism affected the christian approach to God in prayer?