Some researchers spent $2.4 million trying to test the power of prayer. In the largest scientific test of its kind, they concluded that heart surgery patients showed no benefit when strangers prayed for their recovery.
In the name of God, how can anyone allow $2.4 million, that could go to charitable causes or other important projects for the greater good, be wasted on such ridiculousness. Of what value did they envision for there research before they flushed $2.4 million down the toilet, more money than most people see in a lifetime.
Firstly, how does prayer work? Do we assume that prayers are being addressed to God or do we assume that our mental thoughts can heal physical bodies? Let's assume the former so I don't have to waste your time and my time discussing the latter. So if prayer is being addressed to God, then wouldn't the effectiveness of your prayer depend upon your religion? For example, let us say, for argument's sake, that the one true God is the God of the Jews, wouldn't the prayers of a devout Muslim or Christian be less effective.
Secondly, do we assume that God perforce must always act as we pray for him to act? Does prayer have that power? Even if we assume that prayer theoretically has such a power, to change God's will, would that not depend upon the merits of the individual and/or the intensity and fervor of the prayer. The study asked total strangers to pray on the patient's behalf. How much feeling and meaning did the stranger put into his prayer for the patient? Did the study also take into account the moral and ethical values of each stranger praying on behalf of the patient? A prayer is not physical. A prayer is not accomplished by merely saying words or think thoughts. Prayer by definition is spiritual, metaphysical and deeply emotional. It is not 500 milligrams of ibuprofen.
Thirdly, even if the person who claims to be praying is actually thinking the thoughts he or she claims, or feels in his or her heart what he or she is saying, how can you scientifically test the effectiveness of a prayer? How can you create a controlled environment? Perhaps, there are hundreds of people who hate the patient and when they heard of the patient's heart condition, they curse him and wish he dies. Perhaps the family members are praying for the patient's death so they can collect the inheritance.
Finally, who is to say whether a prayer was effective or ineffective? Even if the patient died, perhaps the prayer was very effective. Perhaps the patient experienced less suffering or perhaps it provided the patient with atonement for sins. Perhaps the value of prayer is for the one who prays, that he or she should elevate themselves spiritually and connect to God. The condition of the patient and perhaps the death of the patient provides the opportunity for a person to pray and connect to God when they otherwise wouldn't.
God's decree of justice, his understanding of good and evil, his knowledge of what is best for individuals, families, communities and the entire world is zillions of times more perceptive than mine or any human beings comprehension. Perhaps a person is decreed to die, and no matter how much I want the person to live, God perceives the death of the individual as the most just or the best for all parties involved, perhaps even for the one who prays and for the patient. Perhaps the patient's mission on this Earth is over and he should not be held back from the heaven that awaits him or her even for another moment. This would be true for any situation and any prayer not just a prayer for a sick person.
I could go on and on, but I don't think there is a need to. I think you get the point! There is a place for science within Religion, but there is no place for religion in Science!
# posted by BFEEENTG @ 5:17 AM
