Testing the power of prayer.....or simple fakery????

Even if he statistics are correct...it would show nothing about prayer. "Wishing" might work as well.

If "praying" worked to any degree whatsoever...we would have world peace. Damn near every theist "prays" for peace.

And if you haven't noticed..."peace" we ain't got.

Oh yes - re the wishing...

Mornin', Frank and Deb.

I can't cite chapter and verse, but recent studies have looked at the power of the mind as having a decided impact on our health. I would assume that the prayer aspect is rather like that. The part of the article that dismayed me was the fact that indigent people of the world have only prayer on which to rely.

My son and I talked about this on the phone last evening, and as a doctor, I was impressed that he was so very lucid and objective on the subject.

The negative part, of course, is that the study was done under rather dubious auspices and funded by tax payers.

Newsweek special on Mind/Body stuff:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6037902/site/newsweek/

Good article, Deb. It seems that the pendulum on the power of the mind swings back and forth. I am amazed at some things that are touted as new and "revelationary" are, in fact, practices that go back thousands of years.

Apparently prayer is not the way to achieve world peace. From a site I found while browsing 'world peace':

"There's no greater antidote for war than love. Feelings of hatred and distrust form the necessary basis of armed confrontation. Replace those negative feelings with love and you're halfway towards resolution of any conflict.

However, any real love must start from within. You can't love others without loving yourself first. And, of course, masturbation is the greatest expression of self-love. So it's natural that we, the citizens of the world, are joining together to masturbate for peace.

As we begin with this act of self-love, we encourage others to do the same, to take pleasure in life and to share masturbation's positive energy with a world in need.

Joining the Movement

Joining this movement is simple. Just masturbate in your own way, focusing your thoughts and energy towards love and peace. Encourage others to do the same. Also, please fill out the petition below and tell us how you intend to masturbate for peace. We will share the most thoughtful petitions on this site. This is an international movement for peace. So far we have received over 17,000 petitions from 91 countries and all 50 of the United States."

Oh boy...

I did not know if I missed anything, but were the persons who were prayed for aware that people were intervening n their behalf? I think that would make a real difference.

In the past, primitives would pronounce a "voodoo curse", and the subject would sicken and die. Was the effect caused by the "curse" or did the subject who believed in the curse destroy himself?

Tell me about it.

To address Phoenix, what exactly do you mean by 'primitives'?

Sorry about that....my personal opinion is that like everything in life, if you BELIEVE you are either under the influence of a blessing or a curse, it can help or harm you. As for the ones who do not know who may be praying for them (great question), the jury is still out for me. If the suffering person has a strong desire to survive, they just might, despite any 'unknown' prayer. I think overcoming all adversity comes from within, and all 'curses' from a naive lack of self-esteem.

In the end, if the people praying for the unknown recepient feel they are doing good work, that empowers them, and that is a positive thing. As for those who curse others, I'll give them the number of a good shrink. Their own motivations will consume them eventually.

Oh, come on.

prayer and touch are for real

Prayer definitely is for real.

I know people who pray all the time.

That is not in question.

Whether there is a God...and whether that God, should It exists...actually responds to prayer is most assuredly still up for grabs.

But of course, there MAY be a God...and the God MAY enjoy doing parlor tricks....

Well Frank just a couple times I've placed my hands on folks to be used as a healing agent for the Holy Spirit. Just very difficult to think something is not happening with a couple of the things I have seen (not trying to hold back some mystery), why me who knows? how it happens I don't understand. Does it humble and make me feel small - yes.

To me the fact that every society seeems to evolve some type of religious belief is a powerfull statement...at least to our need for a God as well as the human bennifits of a belief in God.. Problem is that we have replaced religious belief with a unquestioned belief in science and scientific studies.

Thus while primtive societies found some type of meaning in life we, in our arrogance, continue to support a society based on cruality, and lies.

good observation

Well, if you think you are a healer...go heal.

I'd prefer to use the doctor I've been using for many years.

In any case, who knows why whatever you perceive to be happening...happens?

Even if it happens...something I don't know for sure...it may have absolutely nothing to do with any spirituality or any gods.

husker, I know that prayer works, I'm just not sure why it does.

There is something about the sense of touch that is so soothing. We'll never really understand how this material body reacts to the sense of tactile. It is healing.

Husker,

Thanks for support.

One interesting thing about medical studies is that when a group of people are given a placebo and do not know it usually about 1/3 of them will be cured.

There is much to be learned about the mind. It may be that the people in bibical times understood more about human nature than we do.

Yes - what is interesting - and the studies are only relevant if it is so - is if the effects occurred WITHOUT those prayed for knowing they were being prayed for. .