NationStates Jolt Archive

Apparently a new study on whether intercessory prayer helps sick people shows it doesn't. I still say such a study is impossible. Where do you get a control group that nobody will pray for? I'm an atheist and I know members of my family would pray for me if I was sick.

Science and religion should each learn to stay out of the other's propper place.

Anyway, here's the link.

www.startribune.com/stories/484/5507502.html

Apparently a new study on whether intercessory prayer helps sick people shows it doesn't. I still say such a study is impossible. Where do you get a control group that nobody will pray for? I'm an atheist and I know members of my family would pray for me if I was sick.

Science and religion should each learn to stay out of the other's propper place.

Anyway, here's the link.

www.startribune.com/stories/484/5507502.html
Well you COULD get patients that have no friends or family

That or do not know about the accident

there's a line in mass every sunday which goes something like this:

'we pray for the sick...'

that covers everyone, whether they want it, like it or know about it or not. Whether it does anything or not isn't anyone's place to say, but i don't see how scientists could try to prove this one way or another. its like that experiment they did to see if a soul weighed anything by measuring someones weight as they were dying and when they were dead, or was that just a rumour i heard, like Maggie inventing Mr Whippy ice cream? (About the last one, all i could find out by googling was that it definately is a rumour, but can;t find whether there's any truth behind it or not...)

Yes, since all sick people are prayed for anyway, it's not like the results would change. I don't really have anything useful to add; it's been said already.

so what the reserch prove? god didn't cure dying people?
it is obvious. he didn't help stay alive in wars, natural disasteres or plagues. why he will care for one dying men?

anyway it better to trust the doctors. at least they had medicines that have been proven.

Prayer is hubris.

If He saved all the sick people, wouldn't overpopulation be an issue? Dying is a natural process that occurs to all of us, if He wills someone to stay alive then He will preserve them. It's kinda why one should end his/her prayer with "nevertheless, may Thine will, not mine, be done."

Guys, guys, before we go bashing anything, why not look at the metaphysical aspects of this theory?

While it is true that prayer itself has no effects on a person's condition, it should be noted that prayer can aid in patient morale and mental well being. Recieving communion while sick will not cure you, but perhaps the practice may provide a sense of comfort?

And it has been proven that a patient who has a positive outlook and mental state will help in his or her own recovery on a subconcious level, which will aid in the long run.

I can say this because I have experienced it. I was just recently released from the hospital, and recieved communion twice during that time. I'm not a particulary religious guy, but the practice itself helped me through the rough times.

"nevertheless, may Thine will, not mine, be done."

You'd think the omnipotent sky deity would understand and speak contemporary English, but apparently not. Shakespearean queen it is, then!

You'd think the omnipotent sky deity would understand and speak contemporary English, but apparently not. Shakespearean queen it is, then!



Shakespearean English > You :p

Guys, guys, before we go bashing anything, why not look at the metaphysical aspects of this theory?

While it is true that prayer itself has no effects on a person's condition, it should be noted that prayer can aid in patient morale and mental well being. Recieving communion while sick will not cure you, but perhaps the practice may provide a sense of comfort?

And it has been proven that a patient who has a positive outlook and mental state will help in his or her own recovery on a subconcious level, which will aid in the long run.

I can say this because I have experienced it. I was just recently released from the hospital, and recieved communion twice during that time. I'm not a particulary religious guy, but the practice itself helped me through the rough times.I don't know about those things, but I heard about reserches that prove that if you believe the medicine will help, there is more chances it will (even when the medicine replaced with fake one).

Shakespearean English > You :p

Was that supposed to be witty? Because you seem to have omitted the witty part. Or the part that made sense. But, it is you, so the pretence to sense flew out the window a long time ago...

I don't know about those things, but I heard about reserches that prove that if you believe the medicine will help, there is more chances it will (even when the medicine replaced with fake one).

It is called the Placebo Effect. In a nutshell; you believe you are recovering, you really recover.

There have been many studies and experiments to test the effect. The most famous is the use of the sugar pill and the real medicine (all had been told it was the real medicine). A great deal reported improvement, even those who took the placebo.

The problem is Placebo doesn't work on everyone.

I think we can safely say that those who recover due to "prayer treatment" do so because of the Placebo Effect. They believed that the prayer would help in their recovery, and so it did.

You'd think the omnipotent sky deity would understand and speak contemporary English, but apparently not. Shakespearean queen it is, then!


Hmmm, and apprently you can't understand religion, so who are you to talk?

Was that supposed to be witty? Because you seem to have omitted the witty part. Or the part that made sense. But, it is you, so the pretence to sense flew out the window a long time ago...

carefull, that might be flaming...

Hmmm, and apprently you can't understand religion, so who are you to talk?

Understanding Religion is easy. Understanding the additional sillyness that is speaking to ones deity in an antiquated and deprecated fashion is marginally more difficult.

Understanding Religion is easy. Understanding the additional sillyness that is speaking to ones deity in an antiquated and deprecated fashion is marginally more difficult.

It makes people happy, and provides them with comfort in their lives. This may not discribe you but it discribes many. You don't need to understand or like it, just respect the decisions that people have made, and move on.

Was that supposed to be witty? Because you seem to have omitted the witty part. Or the part that made sense. But, it is you, so the pretence to sense flew out the window a long time ago...



http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warriorshtm/jerk.htm

I probably just lost my right to report you for flaming, but it had to be said.

Hmmm, and apprently you can't understand religion, so who are you to talk?
Religion requires you to speak in king James era english?

Religion requires you to speak in king James era english?

Yes. Apparently it "makes people happy" to speak like thespians.

http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warriorshtm/jerk.htm

I probably just lost my right to report you for flaming, but it had to be said.

It would have actually been wonderful if you'd said anything of your own instead of expectedly relying on the wit of others.

Religion requires you to speak in king James era english?

No, it could be vernacular, or Latin if you're the traditional type.

Or...your own made up language if you want! I have yet to witness Sunday Mass in Klingon...

http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warriorshtm/jerk.htm

I probably just lost my right to report you for flaming, but it had to be said.
http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warriorshtm/deacon.htm

Anyways if we are done posting stereotypes that probably don’t fit each others personalities (at least real ones)... we will just all end up posting what we think of eachother rather then staying on topic

No, it could be vernacular, or Latin if you're the traditional type.

Or...your own made up language if you want! I have yet to witness Sunday Mass in Klingon...
That’s what I would figure but the way it was stated made it sound like that was what he was advocating lol

That’s what I would figure but the way it was stated made it sound like that was what he was advocating lol

Doesn't really matter to me, whatever rubs your Buddha. (NOTE: Intentional religious joke in religious thread)

No, it could be vernacular, or Latin if you're the traditional type.

Or...your own made up language if you want! I have yet to witness Sunday Mass in Klingon...

toH tlhIngan Hol DajatlhlaH 'e' DaneH'a'? (So you want to speak Klingon?)

Vavma' QI'tu'Daq quvjaj ponglIj... (Our Father, Who Art in Heaven, Hallowed Be Thy Name...)

and the reading will come from http://stfhe.jlcarroll.net/Klingon_BoM/1Ne4.html

Qapla'! :D

toH tlhIngan Hol DajatlhlaH 'e' DaneH'a'? (So you want to speak Klingon?)

Vavma' QI'tu'Daq quvjaj ponglIj... (Our Father, Who Art in Heaven, Hallowed Be Thy Name...)

and the reading will come from http://stfhe.jlcarroll.net/Klingon_BoM/1Ne4.html

Qapla'! :D
That is too geeky even for me lol

That is too geeky even for me lol



Live long and prosper (-.-)V


(It's ok, my mom is even more of a Trekkie than I :D )

Live long and prosper (-.-)V


(It's ok, my mom is even more of a Trekkie than I :D )
So is my dad :)