Is there proof of the afterlife?

Re: faith


Not necessarily. Just 'having faith' won't do it.

I can 'have faith' in a lot of things or a lot of persons, but that doesn't mean those things or those persons can do anything.

The efficacy of faith depends on the answer to 'faith in what/who?'

Regarding 'scientific' studies on prayer, there never have been any.

The 'studies' that purport to be 'scientific' are far from it. No standardization, nothing close to what a truly scientific inquiry would require.

A truly scientific study would necessitate that each participant in a group or subgroup or pray-ers believe the same thing and pray the same thing in the same manner, etc

This then could be compared with other group(s) of pray-ers (or non pray-ers) whose behavior, prayers or lack thereof, beliefs, etc were similarly standardized to allow a reasonable comparison of results.

No such has ever been (or likely ever will be) done.

real wrote: The 'studies' that purport to be 'scientific' are far from it. No standardization, nothing close to what a truly scientific inquiry would require.

Since the answer didn't satisfy real, he attacks the people that did the "scientific" study on prayer. Typical.

All the positive research on prayer were performed by religious organizations. * Conflict of interest, anyone?.

The following research was done at Harvard.


The researchers concluded that prayer had no effect on complication-free recovery from bypass.

I think the title of the thread makes far more sense if you drop the "r" from "proof'.

Is there poof of the afterlife?

No standardization in the Harvard study, CI. It's nowhere near a 'scientific' study.

Nor is there standardization in any studies done by or sponsored by religious organizations. Those studies are not scientific either.

Okay, real, what's considered "scientific" to you?

real life, do you know of any amputee who has regrown a limb through prayer?

Or is it generally understood that prayer only works in situations where it may seem not to have actually been the prayer making the difference, so that the gods involved don't blow their cover?

EorI, Good question. Will await real's answer.

Perhaps real life should have an impromptu jam-prayer session with Rick Allen, Def Leppard's one-armed drummer.

Re: Is there proof of the afterlife?


Well, if there was then we'd all know about it.

My friend said she had her own supernatural experiences. Her dreams would come true sometimes. Once in her dream she was in a flower shop. She saw a tree there. Her sister and her boyfriend took a picture of the tree. A month later in reality she saw that same exact tree in a flower shop. Her sister and boyfriend took a picture of the tree- just like in her dream! What's the explanation for this?

You have given us so little information, how can you expect us to provide an explanation? That would be like trying to find out how far it is to Brasília (the capital of Brazil) if you don't know where you are.