the power of prayer

robtex · Jul 16, 2005

http://www.latimes.com/features/hea...6jul16,1,5338627.story?coll=la-health-medcine

Interesting article. I tried to log on to the source but I didn't want to sign up for it . The short article in the link states that a study published in the Lancet medical journal took 748 patients in 9 cities and exposed them to

1) music
2) touch
3) prayer from a distant congregation

When 1 and 2 were done there was a slight correlation between stress relief and the activity but no correlation could be found in prayer from a distant congregation.

The thing that caught my eye about the study was that I had not seen an attempt to measure prayer at a distance before which makes more sense than one done near as the placebo effect cannot be triggered from a distance if the recepiant is unaware of the metaphysical transaction. I would have liked to have seen the stats and wonder what their standard deviation used was.

michel · Jul 16, 2005

I am not sure - there have been studies of the milk yield from cows who have piped music (mostly relaxing classical stuff) - going back to the sixties; I think this sums up part of the efficacity of the use of proximity:-

"Researchers said the therapeutic benefit could have resulted from the presence of a caring individual who helped reduce patients' preoperative anxiety. Stress reduction could affect physiological processes and improve survival, Krucoff said. "

Maybe that is the crux of the matter?

EnhancedSpirit · Jul 16, 2005

robtex said:
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/medicine/la-sci-prayer16jul16,1,5338627.story?coll=la-health-medcine

Interesting article. I tried to log on to the source but I didn't want to sign up for it . The short article in the link states that a study published in the Lancet medical journal took 748 patients in 9 cities and exposed them to

1) music
2) touch
3) prayer from a distant congregation

When 1 and 2 were done there was a slight correlation between stress relief and the activity but no correlation could be found in prayer from a distant congregation.

The thing that caught my eye about the study was that I had not seen an attempt to measure prayer at a distance before which makes more sense than one done near as the placebo effect cannot be triggered from a distance if the recepiant is unaware of the metaphysical transaction. I would have liked to have seen the stats and wonder what their standard deviation used was.

As a healer. I was taught that I cannot put my hands, or our will on someone without their permission. This would be a violation of their free will. This is one of the dangers of Wicca. Spells is just another word for prayer. Both are using the power of the word to create. God gave us this gift, and we must use it responsibly, or suffer consequences.

Jaymes · Jul 16, 2005

Can't say I'm surprised.

fromthe heart · Jul 16, 2005

The article didn't say if the folks on the trial were told if they were being prayed for or not...it didn't say if these were religious folks or who they were. I would have to say based on these things (and a few others) leave this study a little off balance. There are a lot of things Christians for one rely on in being prayed for...prayer is the same as offering a person a gift. To have someone pray for you is an act of unselfishness and caring...but these are just my personal opinions and should be taken as such. I personally know prayer works. I don't really know if the distance between patient and the one offering the prayer has any correlation to the benifits. I do know if you believe in the prayers being offered has a lot to do with their effectivness too.

I once was told I had a sizeable mass in my abdomin and would need surgery to remove it. I requested prayer from several sets of Christians I knew were God fearing believers. The day I went for the 2nd. CAT scan to be able to direct the surgery it was not found to be present anymore. The doctors could NOT explain how this sizeable mass just up and vanished without treatment of any kind...the only treatment I'd had was prayer from other believers. I believe in the power of prayer; It's worked for me and for others I know.

Melody · Jul 16, 2005

robtex said:
When 1 and 2 were done there was a slight correlation between stress relief and the activity but no correlation could be found in prayer from a distant congregation.

Or perhaps in these cases, it was not God's plan for these people to be cured. When we do energy work we never say we're going to heal the person. We say, "by thy will" (for those who believe in a higher power).

I just don't think it's something the scientific community will ever prove to their satisfaction. I do know, by the way, of two people personally who were diagnosed with terminal cancer and who somewhere along the way were shown to be cancer free...without the chemotherapy....but after they had been prayed over by the congregation.

Shadow Wolf · Jul 16, 2005

The mind must also be open to recieving metaphysical energies. If the participants were all athiest, then thier minds could have been shut off to recieving the energy.

Voxton · Jul 18, 2005

Luke Wolf said:
The mind must also be open to recieving metaphysical energies. If the participants were all athiest, then thier minds could have been shut off to recieving the energy.

Or to use slightly a different (and incidentally, rational) language: the naive are more prone to be affected by placebos.

Everyone's got stories about cancers magically disappearing, and otherwise amazing miracles being worked through the power of prayer -- but guess what, folks? There are atheists in the foxholes -- there just aren't any Christians in the emergency room...

When Mother Theresa suffered a heart attack, who'd she turn to? God? Jesus? Mary? Maybe -- I don't know -- but if she did, it sure didn't do her any good (nor did the prayers of an awful lot of Christians). But by the time she suffered her second attack, it was time for some of that old-time Science, it seems. Of course, she denied those dying in her missions any medical care, but for herself, it was different. She got herself a pacemaker.

Mister Emu · Jul 18, 2005

I would have to agree with fromthe heart. This article at least is far too vague to mean anything. If the study has the same vagueness about it, I would have to say that it too is worthless.

There are atheists in the foxholes -- there just aren't any Christians in the emergency room...

You slay me.

she denied those dying in her missions any medical care,

She did?

One of the most important parts of this test should have been to let the people know, that they were being prayed for, in all of the Biblical healings I can remember the faith of the one being healed was what mattered.

EnhancedSpirit · Jul 18, 2005

Voxton said:
When Mother Theresa suffered a heart attack, who'd she turn to? God? Jesus? Mary? Maybe -- I don't know -- but if she did, it sure didn't do her any good (nor did the prayers of an awful lot of Christians). But by the time she suffered her second attack, it was time for some of that old-time Science, it seems. Of course, she denied those dying in her missions any medical care, but for herself, it was different. She got herself a pacemaker.

If it's your time to die, no amount of praying will change it. Or if you have lessons to learn in this life about being handicapped, prayer will not take the teacher away from you. It was decided at your birth.

If, however, your illness, or infliction is caused by your own actions, mistakes, or bad choices. You can undue them with forgiveness, faith and prayer.

I am a Reiki practitioner, but, I do not put my hands on many people. I do have a few people who come to me to take away their pain. But I see it as just a band-aide that covers a symptom of some other problem. I spend more energy on getting people to understand that they can heal themselves.

Shadow Wolf · Jul 18, 2005

Or to use slightly a different (and incidentally, rational) language: the naive are more prone to be affected by placebos.

The Placebo effect is when someone believes a process will work. You can get someone drunk on water. All you have to do is convence that person that the water has alcohol in it. You can make a pill from corn starch and tell someone it cures head aches, and if the person believes it, it will cure head aches.
Opening your mind to recieve energies isn't a placebo. Its just an opening to accept whats thier.

djhwoodwerks · May 2, 2016

EnhancedSpirit said:
If it's your time to die, no amount of praying will change it. Or if you have lessons to learn in this life about being handicapped, prayer will not take the teacher away from you. It was decided at your birth.

I know this is a very old thread, but I'm slowly making my way thru them all!

I'd like to know where in the Bible does God ever use sickness or disease to teach His children anything.

Jesus said the Holy Spirit is the teacher of the church.

John 14:26 (ESVST) 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

jaybird · May 2, 2016

group prayers are important but IMO we should not forget the power of our own prayer and our own individual relationship with the Lord most High. i think this is why Jesus put emphasis on such things as silence and solitude when praying. He also said He will not pray for us.

Shadow Wolf · May 2, 2016

jaybird said:
group prayers are important but IMO we should not forget the power of our own prayer and our own individual relationship with the Lord most High. i think this is why Jesus put emphasis on such things as silence and solitude when praying. He also said He will not pray for us.

What are group prayers important for?

jaybird · May 2, 2016

Shadow Wolf said:
What are group prayers important for?

the person being prayed for

the power of prayer

robtex

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