is there any statistical evidence that prayer does in fact affect the outcomes of events?

Question

just curious if anyone knows of any studies into the subject. im not trying to be heathenistic im just interested in the subject and would appreciate answers. please don't insult me for wanting to understand.

so many great and wonderful answers! i wanted to thank you all for helping me.

Answer 1

all us christians know the power of prayer

Answer 2

Well, there was an article that I believe was published in a peer review medical journal (I don't have the source, sorry, but it was within the last 2 years or so) that did it as a randomized trial for medical outcome of some serious illness (I think a type of cancer), and the answer was no in that case. But I'm not sure the pray-ers knew the pray-ees.

However, people that pray do get something similar to what other cultures call 'centering' & that does help with attitude, concentration, and many physiologic functions, which sounds good to me. Also, people that are active in prayer groups or religious life do better overall (including the ultimate endpoint, 'all cause mortality') than people that are more isolated; it's hard to dissect out what is cause & effect of course.

Remember too that in all studies, the compliant people within the placebo group do better than the noncompliant people within the placebo group. At minimum, then, prayer may be a proxy marker for good attitude and compliance, and sure those people do better.

As they said in WWI, ther are no aethiests in a foxhole.

Good luck in your searches!

Answer 3

Under proper scientific protocols, It wasn't possible to demonstrate that the prayers' impacts were statistically significant compared to inaction or indifference.

Should further studies demonstrate this, it would prove to be very interesting - but the double-blind studies are very unforgiving toward faulty scientific protocols and test procedures.

One thing is sure: with or without prayers, a positive and confident attitude will probably only help people get through difficulties and challenges.

Answer 4

Around 2000 there was a study, I think with heart patients that was the largest of its kind (in the health field) ever done on the subject and the results were overwhelming that patients lived longer and had fewer complications than the "non-prayer" control group. I can't name it, but it was put forth and shown by a professor in a college course at a state university.

Answer 5

Yes and No.

There is one study that says if you pray in front of someone who is sick, that person will most likely become more sick. This is believed to happen because the sick interpret this as them being really bad, so they become worse.

There is a study that says if you pray for yourself in non-trivial things, you will be better. This is based on cognitive psychology that states that much of our actions are self-fulfilling prophecies. In other words, people that pray believe so deeply that God will answer their prayers that they themselves find ways to figure it out.

The other studies pertain praying for people without their knowledge and what not. Studies have shown that there is NOT any statistical evidence for those prayers to be answered.

Overall prayer does NOT work.

Answer 6

I heard once some hospital did a study. Not sure of the outcome.
The act of prayijng helps people relax. Gives them a center to focus on. Hardship always seeks relief from suffering. God provides that.
Weather you can put that into a scientific study and measure it under a microscope I dont know. Its a good question!

Answer 7

Dossey (1993) proposed that medicine encompassed three eras, each having a different approach to health and healing:

* Era I promoted the belief that health and disease occurred only as a result of physical processes. It used therapies such as surgery and drugs, which became a large part of western medicine. Era I subscribed to laws of matter and energy, and stipulated that because disease is a result of a physical process, therapy for remedying disease must be physical in order for it to be effective.

* In Era II, the concept of mind/body emerged. Modern medicine embraced this thinking, referring to it as "mind/body" medicine because it focuses on the effects of thoughts and feelings on health and healing. Various other treatment modalities include biofeedback, meditation, relaxation therapies, and imagery.

* Era III is based on physics principles and includes the concept of nonlocality of the mind. This new emerging concept introduces the idea that prayer at a distance is capable of healing, and that it is both possible and probable according to scientific principles of physics. This leads to the current idea that prayer can be a mind/ body healing intervention. Prayer is a nonlocal event, indicating that it is not confined to a specific place in space or to a specific moment in time. Prayer can operate at a distance and outside the present moment. One such form of prayer is intercessory, whereby someone prays for another person who may be either close or far from them. This person may be unaware of these prayers. Since prayer is initiated by a mental action, there is presumably some aspect of the human psyche that is also nonlocal. Nonlocality insinuates infinity in space and time. Intercessory prayers can transcend space and time and, therefore, the effect of these prayers are not diminished by distance (Dossey, 1993; Schlitz, 1997).

Answer 8

We are taught that whatever the chance of something is, if it happens to you, it means you have the 100 % cahnce for it. So, until now I prayed thousands of time, and whenever I was in real need of something, my pray came true. I understand in my personal research that Someone is hearing me, and if my wish will be good for me in short and long period, He is answering Outcomes of my resaerch All the best : )

Answer 9

No, through fact God is going to allow this worldwide to run its direction. precise now we are interior the process the gentiles in accordance to the e book of Daniel. we are very on the brink of the top of the gentiles. considerable differences in this worldwide are going to ensue through fact of prophecy; extra so than prayer. yet interior the case to your grandmother; particular, maximum genuinely prayer can replace this.

Answer 10

Most studies have shown no statistically significant results.

The only one that did show statistically significant results showed prayer was HARMFUL, not helpful.

Answer 11

My brother was oversea's for almost 2 years. I prayed that he would come home for one week, one day he just appeared at the door unannounced. God answers prayers friend, he's answered so many of mine.