A pervious question asked about why people pray. The American Heart Journal is going to publish a 10 year study that says that we you pray for someone, the chances of recovery of the patients are reduced.
These are some news sources I’ve found
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-2112892,00.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/health/31pray.html?ex=1301461200&en=4acf338be4900000&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
The Journal article is found on this web site
http://journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ymhj/issues/contents
Do you believe that this study is correct? Please back up your responses with sources so I can learn more
2006-11-25 07:28:37 · 4 answers · asked by Just Wondering 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This is a citation from the first news article.
“In fact, patients who know they are being prayed for suffer a noticeably higher rate of complications, according to the study”
2006-11-25 07:34:19 · update #1
@jsjmli: I thought your last question was great. I wanted to do two things that were different. First I wanted to see what the differences in responses would be if the question was asked in a non-provocative manner. Second what would happen if I put the sources up. My first question has been answered. Ask a question in a neutral fashion, and you are not likely to get any responses.
2006-11-25 07:46:10 · update #2
I too am aware of the study you are referencing. It seems as though this is true, that prayer has no effect on recovery unless the person who is being prayed for knows about it in which case it has a negative effect on the persons recovery (Statistically). Fact 1 prayer is pointless. Prayer is just the recitation of words or thoughts in the HOPE that it MIGHT help. The problem is introduced when someone has the expectation of prayer and from what i can gather it seems that this could be for a number of reasons, 2 of which seem to be the most likely.
1) If the person who is being prayed for knows they are being prayed for and they believe that prayer works, this person will be in a state of mind that will hinder his body from doing it's part in recovery because they believe that everything will be OK simply because prayer is involved.
2) Anxiety. This could be brought on by several things and in the case of prayer a person about to go under the knife and knowing someone is praying for their safe recovery could plant doubt in the mind of the person undergoing the operation that everything is under control. Just think, if the doctor told me that someone is praying for me just before they cut me open, my faith in that doctor would be greatly diminished. Another is anxiety of the believer who wants the study to be successful so they are worried that if they have any complications it would hurt the study and they would have failed god or something along those lines.
The thing about study is it's never ending... one successful experiment can often open up 100 more questions that need to be examined and tested.
2006-11-25 07:54:33 · answer #1 · answered by ChooseRealityPLEASE 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Prayer is garbage and a complete waste of time.
2006-11-25 07:30:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
actually i think u have it reversed. its been proven, or so they say, that when someone is prayed for, they have a greater chance of recovery.
i do know that theyres a science around it, that has yet to be discovered or understood.
2006-11-25 07:32:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
post your question in a more provocative way or you won't get as many hits as my prayer question did .
2006-11-25 07:37:22 · answer #4 · answered by jsjmlj 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋