I watched with interest an ABC news report about a study on the effect of prayer on recovering heart patients.  They proved scientifically that it not only didn't work, but those who were prayed for actually did worse!  Now before anyone throws stones at me, hear the rest.  The commentator on ABC, the doc (can't remember his name), pointed out that the experiement design left open an important element that limited the conclusion.  The experiement had 3 groups: those who knew they were being prayed for, those who were prayed for but only knew it was a possibility, and those who weren't prayed for but were told it was a possibility.  However, here's a critical element: those praying and the target patients themselves were unknown to each other.  3 Christian groups did the praying.  The doc on ABC said something to the effect that he knows prayer by family helps the person, but this study didn't address that at all.

I find these results only somewhat surprising.  If anyone saw one of my other posts about the mechanism of prayer being dependent on (quantum) interconnectedness (i.e. fabric of one's soul/existance being intertwined with others'), this study fits perfectly with the lottery prayer and the world peace prayer - there is too little connection to allow them to work properly.  I look forward to other studies which examine the prayer efficacy of those one knows and is connected to.

Now, why would the prayer patients actually do worse?  In a study involving 1800 patients, randomness should be accounted for - the results were 59% of those knowing they were prayed for did worse, while only 52% of the "possibility" group did worse.    I did notice the praying groups were told to pray for a certain result.  I wonder if this is an ineffective or even detrimental approach?  (I'm not prone to praying, excuse the ignorance here).  Is a better approach to pray for god's protection and assistance in general, rather than ask for a specific result? 

here's the ABC/wire article: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=1786644

Hi Bud S I dont really know what to say about prayers not working for those heart patients. Its sad really to think some of them must have had faith in the fact that there prayers were going to be answered .

I saw this religious programme on television a few days ago. This preacher was sayings prayers for the sick people . I thought he was alright until he asked them to sign up for so many dollars a month to pay for this book and also tryed to tell them if they had this book ,there life would change over night and things would get better. I thought what a liar he was and he was trying to gain money off sick and vunerable people.

Ive always beleived in the power of prayer but thats my personal opinion . Its got me through the bad times in my life. God bless juditha

I think the reasons the prayers didnt help some of the heart patients is because god had decided it was their time to come back home to him ,sad as it may seem but i truly believe when god says its time then it is time in every sense of the word ,i know in my heart that god decides when our time on earth is finished ,i know he will take me when it is time for me to go i could be the healthiest woman on earth but if god wants me back home then being the healthiest dosent matter at all its down to our lord and only our lord i feel very strongly that this is a fact deanna

Hey bud...

I dont believe praying does anything much, i once had a collegue teacher who's wife was dieing of cancer, and the church organised a 1 hour pray session, were 15,000 people attended... and she died.

If people wanna help someone get well, they should do it, burning a few callories.. keeping a persons fighting spirit strong. Keeping them positive.

These things out weigh any mumbled words, in submission to a higher power.

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I see the wisdom in this.  One of the reasons I don't pray much is that I'm never sure what to ask for.  Maybe "saving" them from death is going to cause endless pain for everyone?  Maybe a pain-free passing is the best thing?  I usually end up asking for "whatevers best" and that sounds silly, because that's what's going to happen anyway!  What can I say, I'm a baffoon when it comes to praying.