The elders of my church prayed a few weeks ago for a member who had stomach cancer, and a return trip to his doctor found the cancer was gone. The doctor's explanation: "It was a miracle." This would indicate that this Reuters-reported study was flawed.
A complete and total misunderstanding of prayer. How nice.
...typical article for a Rooter-Writer.
And there you have it. Some are actually "worse off" because of prayer while none are better off. More road apples!
Well Golly Gee!!!! I guess GOD never took a course in Probability and Statistics for Atheists.
Pray tell, who funded this study?
I do think publishing this result does more harm than good. "Knowledge" isn't positive knowledge given the inevitable gross misinterpretations by hypersecular enthusiasts.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/485268.stm
Health
'Healing power of prayer revealed'
Research shows prayer has a beneficial effect
A massive study has found that patients admitted to hospital with heart trouble fare better if someone is praying for them.
None of those involved were told that people were engaging in what is known as "intercessory prayer" on their behalf.
Just over half of these, picked at random, were made the subject of intercessory prayer.
However, on average, the 500 patients prayed for had 11% less complications during their stay in hospital.
In all, the researchers looked at 990 people admitted to the coronary care unit over the course of a year.
Using a standard coronary care scoring system, patients from prayer and non-prayer groups were assessed. Those who were the subject of prayer did better than their fellow patients, although in general, they did not get out of hospital any earlier.
'Could be chance'
The research team, based at a university hospital in Kansas City, US, admitted that no rational explanation could be found to explain away the difference.
But their report said: "We have not proven that God answers prayer or that God even exists. It was intercessory prayer, not the existence of God, that was tested here.
"Chance still remains a possible explanation of our results."
The prayers were said by volunteers from a local church. They were simply sent the patient's first name on a piece of paper, and told to pray for "a speedy recovery with no complications".
Studies inconclusive
Those being prayed for did not even know that a clinical trial was going on, let alone that they were the target of prayer. The scientists believed that knowing that someone was praying for you could conceivably have an effect on outcomes.
Other studies into the effects of intercessory prayer have been inconclusive - it has been found in earlier studies to have no significant effect on leukaemia patients, or those suffering from anxiety or depression.
However, one study into AIDS patients found significant improvements in the number of infections acquired when intercessory prayer was given.
The latest study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
I'm an atheist, but I have a son who is quite religious. I discuss religion with him all the time and he understands my point of view. I think this was a good study although they could have looked into a few other things. Nevertheless, I'm thinking that it might be somewhat cruel to send my son this article.
Since when does it take a study to determine what God has said to be the truth? The only people who put any stock in such a study are atheists and agnostics.
Gideon wanted to see proof, too.
quote "One caveat is that with so many individuals receiving prayer from friends and family, as well as personal prayer, it may be impossible to disentangle the effects of study prayer from background prayer"
you always have to read to the end to get the truth.
Why don't they do a study about whether preschoolers' actually recieve all that they request of their human fathers?
That would be just about as relevent and meaningful as this study.
Whoever did this study obviously doesn't understand prayer or the will of God.
Hank the Bible answer man, was answering questions on his radio show. The caller was asking why some people were healed. Hank said sometimes God heals people because it makes him feel good.
Prayer works but it's not automatic, you must be "worthy" for it to work for you.
Ten years ago I almost died. There was a pray vigil for me. Enough said.
My opinion is that the most important change that prayer can effect takes place in the person doing the praying. We shouldn't expect God to bend the world for us, but should instead try to live a life in harmony with God; prayer helps us do that.
done by the same folks that did the study that showed the American media to be ACCURATE and UNBIASED!