2007-12-06 00:09:29 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
When the disease takes over and the immune system is useless because they should have been taking antibiotics, or going trough treatments, rather than praying for a cure...
2007-12-06 01:21:58 · answer #1 · answered by clint 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If there is a "down side" it is only in terms of discomfort for the one praying. True, sincere prayer can lead to crises of repentance, when God holds up the mirror of Himself to reflect who we are. Prayer allows God into our situation to work with us, and we all need improvement!
I don't know anything about a "placebo" effect in prayer. Placebos are worthless fake medications given in medical trials. Prayer can be fake if that's your intention, but true prayer always brings blessing to the one praying, even if you don't get the answer you think you want. All contact with God is a blessing, whether it be a pleasant time or a time when He convicts you of sin and calls you to repent. His voice is always gentle but when He is right on the mark with you it can be an uncomfortable experience. But if you go with it and obey you're always glad you did.
2007-12-06 08:18:50 · answer #2 · answered by anna 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The placebo effect doesn't work with prayer. With prayer, a miracle is waited for and most often doesn't happen.
2007-12-06 08:14:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Well, the downside is that people use prayer in the wrong way. And are very often disappointed. Prayer is not to ask for favors. Prayer is to thank God for the blessings received.
Prayer is to thank God for carrying one though the bad times.
2007-12-06 08:16:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Prayer and Meditation both have psychological and Physical benefits. I suggest for everyone to do these things, whether they're Christian or some other religion, or no religion at all. (Obviously they wouldn't pray, but could still meditate on their day, etc)
2007-12-06 08:15:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
if you tell a guy in a hospital that a whole bunch of people are going to pray for him,
he is going to feel he has something very bad...and will not get better -
that is what a recent survey of the effect of prayer, appears to show -
the effect of prayers on people who did not know people were praying for them, was the same as for the people who had noone praying for them
the effect of prayers on people who knew people were praying for them...was bad -
2007-12-06 08:16:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
The downside is that some people feel that prayer is the only option and don't take action to get the desired result.
2007-12-06 08:15:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
Nothing if it works for the person praying.
A bit like homeopathic medicine, useless except as a placebo.
2007-12-06 08:14:55 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Actually, it has been shown that when hospital patients /know/ they are being prayed for that they are worse off. The theory being that it has kind of a negative-placebo affect; that they're so bad off they had to call in the prayer squad!
2007-12-06 08:12:53 · answer #9 · answered by Dashes 6 · 3⤊ 4⤋
I don't disagree that alot of people feel a sense of calmness after prayer and giving all their problems to someone (god) else to worry with. Heck I feel better everytime that I pawn my problems off on someone else to work on and deal with. Works great for me too.
2007-12-06 08:17:16 · answer #10 · answered by jbenishmlt 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋