A study published in the March edition of the Research on Social Work Practice journal found that God answers prayers. The study, conducted by David R. Hodge of Arizona State University, was a comprehensive analysis of 17 major studies on the effects of intercessory prayer among people with psychological or medical problems.
“Conducting a meta-analysis takes into account the entire body of empirical research on intercessory prayer. Using this procedure, we find that prayer offered on behalf of another yields positive results.”
Hodge argues that this study is important because it is all-inclusive and includes 17 different studies. He concludes that more research on the topic is warranted, and that praying for people with psychological or medical problems may help them recover. However, he says that this should only be used as supplemental therapy, and that cognitive therapy should be used for primary treatment.
I think this is a pretty remarkable study. First off, it is not some highly-targeted study where the researcher was seeking a particular goal, this came out of over a dozen studies. Secondly, it serves to reinforce our faith in God and his ability to work miracles. I’m sure we have all experienced some miracle in life, whether directly or indirectly, and this study helps to remind us that God is behind everything.
6 Comments
Interesting, religion and science working together. Cool post.
Interesting finding, though I wouldn’t take it too seriously yet, mostly due to conflicting findings.
The complications were theorized to be attributed to the extra stress.
@ Mikey Boom - thanks brother
@ Tony - thanks for sharing your finding that is pretty remarkable, what’s interesting is that the study I mentioned above deals largely with psychological problems, whereas the study you posted from WebMD was about patients scheduled for heart bypass surgery, and they each came to different conclusions. I wonder if this is some strange anomaly or if the success or failure of prayer therapy is dependent upon what illness the patient has; would be interesting to see further studies.
Web MD’s point is interesting because I would think that knowing someone is praying for you would have a positive effect on your health, rather than causing you stress. Assuming that, I would quesiton whether it was the prayer in itself, or the knowledge that someone is praying which was having the impact. But if the knowledge of the prayer is isolated, that supports the notion that it’s actually the prayer. Hmm, a religious skeptic converted…
@Jon - prayer could very well have a different effect depending on the condition. At least in part it’s in your own head, and psychological disfunction could shift that perception in either direction.
@Erika - Once again it might depend on the particular condition. Knowing that you are being prayed for is an increased expectancy to get better. If the said expectancy deviates from the normal course of action, the stress could result out of this difference.
I think that there were no significant differences between not being prayed for, and not knowing that prayer has happened.
@ Tony - I agree with your point on prayer creating an increased expectancy to get better, and that can also explain the differences between the study I posted and the one you did. People with psychological health problems typically lack the ability to think rationally, so knowing people are praying for them wouldn’t create the expectancy to get well that your average heart transplant surgery goer would have knowing that people were praying for him/her.