Prayer and Healing

The link between prayer and healing has been probed endlessly overtime. The medical profession has never fully accepted spiritual intervention in the therapeutic process. The lack of a tangible and scientifically verifiable process can be credited for this. However, it is beyond reasonable doubt that devout individuals are more medically wholesome. This has been viewed consequential to habits associated with religion like abstaining from alcohol, smoking and illegitimate sex. Additionally, religious persons have exemplified better mental and psychological health characterized by reduced occurrences of depression, suicide and hypertension. In view of this, spiritual intervention through prayer is a positive enhancement of the medical therapeutic process.

Doctor Laurence Johnston, in his article Science of Prayer and Healing, subtly argues there is benefit in integrating prayer in healing (Laurence, 2011). He is rather emphatic on the pre-conditions of a healthy mind, rested spirit and positive emotions for medical curative measures to be more efficient. Prayer affects attitude consequently the mental health of a patient. According to him, the presence of skeptics stems from the inability to understand fully prayer’s role in the therapeutic process. Never the less, after that acknowledgment scientific validated proof indicates influence of prayer on growth of lower life forms. Exposure to this kind of research shapes the proponent nature of Doctor Laurence. All facts considered, since prayer has not proved to have any negative consequences on healing, the small discrepancy in scientific validation does not warrant its total alleviation from the therapeutic process.

Previous scientific verification resulting from research that indicated curative enhancement via prayers has been disputed. Questions on prejudicial nature and medical proficiency of the researchers have been raised as seen in the article by Leon Jarrof titled questioning prayers (Leon, 2004). In such an instance, where a research done by the Columbian University personnel has its credibility disputed, there are traces of biasness noted. It is apparent that studies supporting prayer’s importance in the curative processes are questioned more than the disapproving few. However, centuries of human existence have seen people seek divine healing through prayers and as characteristic of man, if a practice is not fore bearing it is discarded with time. This has not been the case with prayer offering for healing.

Rob Stein writing for the Washington post exemplifies numerous researches indicating the strong belief in prayer for healing amidst the American population (Stein, 2006). Apart from the fact the majority of the American public are deeply convicted on this, scientific research further validates the therapeutic effects of intercessory prayer where heart patients improved remarkably as anonymous intercessory prayers were made as compared to others who were not interceded for. Majority of the medical and scientific professions are prejudicial towards such researches consequently they (researches) are heavily scrutinized for any discrepancy. Despite that majority eventually, arrive at the same conclusion of prayer benefiting healing whether personal or intercessory. An old adage frustrates most of the skeptics for it states that if the supernatural were size enough for man to understand, then it would not be supernatural (Williams, 1999). This view is widely recognized and embraced in the religious circles therefore perpetuating belief in prayer for healing. The American population is fascinated by the prayer in healing idiom as indicated by the books on the subject sold (Williams, 1999). Never the less, praying should be incorporated into curative processes given the overwhelming evidence regardless of whether science comprehends the process.

References

Kolar, R. (2011). Does God Heal Today? Healingscripture.com. Retrieved from http://www.healingscripture.com/

Laurence, J. (2011). The Science of Prayer and Healing. Healing therapies. Retrieved from

http://www.healingtherapies.info/prayer_and_healing.htm

Leon, J. (2004). Questioning Healing Prayer. Times. Retrieved from

http://www.time.com/time/columnist/jaroff/article/0,9565,660053,00.html

Science daily. (2009). The Healing Power of Prayer. Science Daily. Retrieved from

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090617154401.htm

Stein, R. (2006). Researchers Look at Prayer and Healing. Washington Post. Retrieved from

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-

Williams, D. (1999). Scientific Research of Prayer: Can the Power of Prayer Be Proven? Retrieved from dyn/content/article/2006/03/23/AR2006032302177.html?referrer=emailarticle