> I find it puzzling why some "academics" as they are referred to here, are so anxious to disprove the existence of a higher power.
What I find puzzling is your belief that that was their goal. Consider two possibilities:
1) The researchers find no correlation between prayer and effect. Result: Shrug.
2) Researchers find Evidence Of God. Result: Nobel prizes all 'round. Buckets of money. Scientific knowledge of a staggering order. Groupies. Some idea regarding eternal life.
Scientists are humans. The results of #2 would be more appealing than #1.
You are misunderstanding my post. I was not criticizing the researchers. I was criticizing this: "Naturally, some observers were delighted at the results. They think the study proves conclusively that prayer doesn’t work, and it’s time for men of science to “stop dabbling in the supernatural,” as one academic put it."