From Scientific American:
It examined 1,800 patients undergoing heart-bypass surgery. On the eve of the operations, church groups began two weeks of praying for one set of patients. Each recipient had a praying contingent of about 70, none of whom knew the patient personally. The study found no differences in survival or complication rates compared with those who did not receive prayers. The only statistically significant blip appeared in a subgroup of patients who were prayed for and knew it. They experienced a higher rate of postsurgical heart arrhythmias (59 versus 52 percent of unaware subjects).
Some people said, in response to one of the last questions, that god answers all prayers, and sometimes the answer is no. These people weren't praying to win the lottery - they were praying to live a little bit longer, to not suffer more than they have already suffered. Why would god say no to every single one, and punish the ones who knew it?
2007-01-27 17:29:12 · 31 answers · asked by eri 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The three-year Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP), published in the April 4 American Heart Journal, was the largest-ever attempt to apply scientific methods to measure the influence of prayer on the well-being of another.
2007-01-27 17:29:45 · update #1
No.
2007-01-27 17:32:50 · answer #1 · answered by Zhukov 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I read it on the website. This is one study and it may have some flaws. See the entire report here:
http://www.ahjonline.com/article/PIIS0002870305006484/fulltext
I read some reports of other research before this one in which there was a positive difference in the patients being prayed for. It was also a different population of patients.
I think that in order to really do a good study one has to start with a group of people that are know to be successful at prayer. There is prayer and there is prayer. Some people pray with a negative attitude. They say "if it is God's will'. If they are going to bring God's will into it at all they should say "as it is in accordance with God's will" and believe that only good will come of their prayer. I also think the study should be first one in which the person being prayed for does not know and the ones not being prayed for do not know. In other word, do not tell the patient. That might be a problem with releases and consents, but there are ways around that. More research needs to be done.
2007-01-27 17:50:33 · answer #2 · answered by tonks_op 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The point of this study is to show that statistically prayer to God provides the same extra healing power as praying to a lucky horse shoe. Color me not impressed with God's ability to heal.
Call me when an Iraq War Veteran/Amputee's prayer that his arm or leg grows back is answered. When God restores a severed leg or arm, case closed! Christian win. Sign me up.
2007-01-27 18:01:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It depends on how you define "work". It doesn't work if both football teams in a game pray to win because only one can win and it won't work if everyone prays to win the lottery because that would not be possible. It may work if you are praying to get well but that does not necessarily mean that God has anything to do with it (if you do get well). It could mean that you are just relaxing yourself through your prayer, which in turn facilitates the healing process.
2007-01-27 17:40:49 · answer #4 · answered by tomleah_06 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First off, God does answer all prayers but He gives what is needed not what we want. It's His way, not ours.
For a prayer to go more our way, no guarantees though, we must believe it to come true with no doubts. That is a hard one. Not too many people can pray in this manner.
2007-01-27 17:40:49 · answer #5 · answered by Zoey 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We had a child in our church (about 11) who was diagnosed with cancer. He was flown out to Bethesda for chemotherapy, a few days later our church payed to fly out his family to be with him. During this time, we held prayer vigils and intercessory prayers along with it. Doctors couldn't figure it out... the symptoms were gone and he was flown back home with his family. During the time home he fell back into remission and his family requested to take him off life support. We continued to pray for him and his family, as the doctors said time and again...it's a miracle this child was still alive. He passed onto the Lord this morning. Perhaps God was giving them more time to be with their son, he was talking and asking mom and dad about God a few hours before he passed on. Amazing...an 11 year old child knew more about the love of God than grown adults.
We can't assume God says "no", because we will never understand his reason for wanting us. It may be a "yes" for a "welcome home"... God is love and this child knew it, to the moment he was taken. So it isn't really "punishment" knowing that God loves you, and people here are interceding for you. Science will never understand the ways of God, no matter how we try to rationalize it. The question is...do you love God?, and will you accept him?
2007-01-27 18:11:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God does not love any one of these groups more than the other. Those who lived hadn't completed thier earthly suffering therefore could not go to eternal life in heaven. those that died were ready for heaven. just like on 9/11 God did not love those who didn't get on the plane that morning any more than he loved those that did(as there were many that planned to get on, but for whatever reason didn't)
back on topic: those who knew they were being prayed for i suppose this coulda been a placebo type thing.
i find it hard to believe that absolutely everyone wasn't being prayed for by someone. anyway I'm pretty sure God listens to us and loves us equally. and all prayre is is talking to God.
2007-01-27 17:51:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
sounds like they were asking God to be a stuntman, praying for one group and not the other? was there love in that? was there respect in that? God doesn't answer prayer to prove His existence. The only sign they will get is the sign of Jonah. If they don't believe the truth on God's terms they're out of luck.
2007-01-27 17:41:02 · answer #8 · answered by David P 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am curious about the people that would participate in this group. The praying people that is. I find it hard to have faith for a scientific study. The word says not to seek signs, or have faith in the world, so to have part in a study for some scientist to rip on Christianity seems odd to me.
2007-01-27 17:37:37 · answer #9 · answered by 2ndchhapteracts 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You've been hurt by some religious fanatic in your past.
I'm not religious nor do I not believe in god.
"Prayer" works only for me as a meditative mantra putting my brain into "Delta" wave pattern.
As for your theory...
...no one can prove or disprove the presents the Divine.
I have a question for you!
Why do you feel a need to dis-prove god.
Thank you for this question it really made me think.
Issa OneMore
2007-01-27 17:49:34 · answer #10 · answered by issaonemore 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's ridiculous. If there were a god and it were willing to intervene in people's lives, then it would already know what you want it to do. To suggest that when God gave your mother cancer he was ignorant of the fact that you didn't want her to have cancer, seems to me to be pretty blasphemous. Not that I care, being an atheist, but if you believe God is omniscient then why do you have to ask him for things?
2007-01-27 17:37:48 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋