What do you think of the study that says prayer doesn't work?

Question

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/health/31pray.html?ei=5090&en=4ecf3383e5b00000&ex=1301461200&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

Minister: they didn't ask you because it wasn't a survey. It was a controlled scientific study

"advocate" is a "big" word?

Answer 1

I think it's right on the money. it's a proven fact prayer doesn't work. however, some people like to think it does when something good happens to someone. they don't understand that human kindness, coincidence, and a number of other causal events play a role in good things happening.

Answer 2

I believe that prayer, while you have serious unrepented sin in your life, will not work. Then again, there have been times on earth where a bus, on the way back from a church outing, crashed and nearly killed everyone aboard, and that a non-believer's house was spared in a tornado, which killed his neighbor, a devout Christian.

It's really mysterious, that sometimes if you are a Christian, you still get cancer and die, It happens the other way, too, that if you are a non-religious person, you can win the lottery.

A Christian author's opinion on the matter was simple. Even Jesus, himself, suffered and died. Jesus, God incarnate, had pain, had sorrow, and experienced death. Of course, He did it for you, me, and everyone!! So even a great, sinless man like Jesus, the ONLY sinless human who ever, and shall ever walk the earth, had something bad happen to him. He even asked God if there is another way besides the crucifixion he was going to go through, which is a prayer, in a way, and God told him no. So in reality, His prayer was not answered, in a way which he would have wanted.

Answer 3

I find it rather silly. Why would anyone want to prove that praying for someone "works" or "doesn't work"? Prayer is not a magic potion. It is a request brought before God by people of faith. It is ultimately God's responsibility to do whatever His will is concerning any person.We send our prayers and trust that He will deal with the situation perfectly because He is God. These people may have not lived through the surgery if not for prayers. Did anyone consider this?

Answer 4

Well, finally, an original question (Can you say sar-casm ?)!

Actually, I think those researchers need to read the studies which advocate prayer. And yes, even a Christian knows big words like 'advocate' .

May God bless you all the way to the truth.

Answer 5

Prayer only helps the pray-er. Everyone needs a way to cope with the things that they cannot control. Some use prayer.

Answer 6

I say they are wrong. I know for a FACT that prayer works. It has worked for me, my family and many others. Obviously, the person who conducted the study doesn't believe in the power of prayer.

Answer 7

I don't know. Prayer has at least a 50/50 chance of helping you pass the SAT or ACT!

Studying would also help!

Answer 8

i have seen other studies that say the opposite
the studies i have seen have been from members of the society of psychical research
these people are scientists , skeptics and researchers with great credentials
so who is right , who is wrong ... we may never know
there will always be opposing sides saying different things

Answer 9

i think if we're honest we all know many prayers that haven't worked. people are either afraid to admit it as it will make them look less spiritual or else they've had good luck , some things have gone their way and they attribute it to prayer.

Answer 10

If Praying dont work then how did George Bush become President.