The thread If Prayers go unanswered. . . ? raised some questions in my mind, and I would be grateful for input from people who have researched these areas more than myself Probably most who post here would qualify!
Pink Sasquatch mentioned the Placebo effect in message 64, and also noted that
There have been reports that religious activity improves health (specifically praying for one's own health alone or with others. .
(my emphasis on the word alone)
Then in message 101, Pink writes:
Clinical studies have been published demonstrating a positive effect of prayer on outcome, when the person whose outcome was in question was aware of the prayer or took part in the prayer.
In order to separate natural from supernatural effects, studies were set up where the patient and medical staff did not know who was being prayed for. In these studies no legitimate significant difference has been found yet.
So in what way is the Placebo effect a natural effect? True, knowing that people care enough to pray for you, or that a doctor has given you medicine to cure you, can make an unhappy person feel better. But is it also natural that serious illnesses can be mitigated and/or cured by such things? What is known of the mechanism that would bring this about?
And, since the effect is measurable and accepted, is it logical to cultivate faith in a benevolent, and all-powerful God (or spirit(s), or whatever else), if only for improved mental/emotional and physical health?
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