Does prayer help people who are sick? Please explain why you think yes or no.?

Answer 1

I answered this before, so I'm not going to waste time rewriting it.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Amy.M_5tv2rUahS6pXAncgrsy6IX?qid=1006052124460&show=7#profile-info-AA12118978

There is not one shred of evidence that proves prayer has any effect. Not one, not now, not ever. Moreover, if one wants to claim that prayer works, then one must admit the prayers of the 9/11 hijackers were answered, and not those of the people in the towers.

The "research" which claimed prayer worked was shown to be a fraud. The finagler counted the alleged "hits" but ignored many of the "misses".

In a more recent study, it was shown that patients who were prayed for died MORE than people who weren't.

Old saying: "Nothing works like prayer!"
Corollary: "Prayer works like nothing!"

Source(s):
http://www.sciencecases.org/prayer/prayer_notes.asp
http://www.valleyskeptic.com/Prayer_Study_Flawed_and_Fraud.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/health/31pray.html?ei=5088&en=4acf338be4900000&ex=1301461200&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=print


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Answer 2

There was an experiment done involving three groups of sick people.

The first group of was not prayed for. They got better.

The second group was not told they were prayed for. They got better.

The third group was told they were prayed for. They got worse.

To me, prayer could work by a placebo effect only if the sick person was the one doing the praying. However, there are several factors that could have altered results of that test.

Answer 3

God tells us to ask Him for anything that we need. Prayer is the way to just talk to God. So, yes. God is in control and if you ask Him, He will answer, if you truly believe in Him and have accepted His Son Jesus.The answer may be yes, no or, wait.

I am not telling you that He will always heal someone. His answer is that It may be that person's time to leave this earth. Which of course, is not a problem, but is a blessing for those who have accepted Jesus.

Even Paul had an affliction that God chose not to heal. We can't always know God's reasoning. But, I will assure you that His answer, what ever it may be, is for the best for those who love Him.

Answer 4

Yes. It can even cure cancer. I have seen it happen. One should always pray for the sick. There is a power in the universe that Christians call God, and power within the human mind. Jesus knew this and used it, and so can we.

Answer 5

Yes... if you are oppressed than asking God is the best way of solving your problems.
God is the one who as the power of every single matter. But you know that you shouldn't stop yourself from receiving professional human help... a wise Prophet said that we should tie our camel and then have faith that Allah that the camel will stay there.

Answer 6

Yes, of course it does help. God answers everyone's prayers.

Answer 7

prayers do not determine healing, God does. But, prayers are the door to asking

Answer 8

I think positive thoughts in any way help heal the mind, body and spirit. If you choose to call them "prayers" then I suppose so. I beleive positive thoughts help because our thoughts frequently become our words, our words become our actions, and our actions become our beliefs.

Answer 9

No. Psychologically, it might give the person a sense of strength or security, but this would be more of a placebo effect. It does not actually work. If it did, it would restore the limbs of amputees.

Statistically Analyze Prayer:
http://www.godisimaginary.com/i2.htm

Answer 10

Its biblical. All sincere prayers are answered, sometimes the answer in no, or not now.