Comments on: Scientific Conclusion: Prayer Doesn’t Work – Part 2

By: Andrew Bernardin

Andrew Bernardin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:50:42 +0000

Savannah – When does an anomalous event (very unlikely) become a miracle? If a basketball player says a prayer before making a shot from half-court, then hits it, does this make it a miracle? Or was this simply an unlikely event? What about the person who was in a relatively minor automobile accident, is prayed over, and dies: was this, too, a miracle?

By: Savannah

Savannah — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 01:20:20 +0000

I would like you all to consider Don Piper when saying that prayer does not work. This man sustained fatal injuries, and biologically/scientifically speaking, the man should not be alive and walking around right now; biologically, he should be either dead, brain-dead, or in a wheelchair.
Just because science doesn’t want to support a certain idea, doesn’t necessarily mean that would be the definitive answer.
Look at the reports of common farmer’s and astronomer’s seeing falling stars, aka meteorites, burning up as they fall through the sky. The scientific community laughed at the thought of stars leaving space and coming into Earths atmosphere for years. Even after Barringer’s crater was found, the idea of meteorites was still mocked.
I also notice that this makes no mention of neurologist(scientist), Dr. Andy Newberg, whom has been studying prayers effect on the brain for over 10yrs.

By: Bran

Bran — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 21:45:58 +0000

I think that all of the studies were flawed, in that they used a condition that people regularly heal from with the aid of modern medicine. I personally did a quick thought experiment that disproves prayer. Has anyone, in history, magically had a limb regenerate? Or their herpes cured? Or actually been cured of ANYTHING without the aid of medicine? Of course not. End of thought experiment. End of story. Prayer doesn’t work, period, because there is nothing out there to pray to.

By: David

David — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:57:02 +0000

There was a recent (2006) study showing that prayer had no effect on those recovering from heart surgery. In fact it made things worse for those who knew they were being prayed for, probably due to increased stress at them knowing how serious the condition was.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/health/31pray.html

Further if prayer really worked, like say as well as penicillin did, then we would not need penicillin. Or surgery or any of these things. Since prayer should be a cure-all. We should just be able to rely on God to heal these people but it just doesn’t work. God never heals any amputees as well, because limbs do not miraculously regenerate.

By: Pamela Dodd

Pamela Dodd — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:28:33 +0000

I can agree with you there, Harrington. Putting what I’d call good vibes out can ease the mind and reduce stress considerably. However, when those prayers are being sent to a supernatural being like God to fix things or watch over or take care of (or smite) people, I draw the line.

By: Harrington Witherspoon

Harrington Witherspoon — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:10:37 +0000

most of us do not pray for healing; we pray for peace of mind in dealing with the issue. that can be a great gift to not have to deal with the stress of the issue. secondly, we pray for physicians with the skill sets we need at the time we need them.