The Statistical Validity of Prayer
Statistics are valid to the extent that they measure something measurable.
Case in point is today’s report, which the media is trumping up to say, as today’s headlines say: Prayer does not heal the sick, study finds
Of course those perusing the headline will draw their conclusions from the headline itself. That’s because we assume science can provide all the answers. Certainly, good science can provide a lot of answers. However, bad science and badly designed studies prove nothing.
To wit, those who read the story will see that the study’s authors report that their study proved nothing (except for the fact that they have some money in their pocket):
But the study “did not move us forward or backward” in understanding the effects of prayer, admitted Dr Charles Bethea, one of the co-authors and a cardiologist at the Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. “Intercessory prayer under our restricted format had a neutral effect,” he said.
From a real simplistic perspective: Were all patients in the study groups equally sick with equal pre-existing lifestyles and habits? Was the prayer genuine? Does God answer prayers to meet our will or to bring about His own will? Hmmmm… gets fuzzier.
If I create a room in which an absolute temperature of zero Celsius is maintained, and I put a glass of pure water in it, it will freeze. I can control the room, the temperature, the water, and all the conditions of the study. As studies become less defined, with fewer and fewer controlled inputs, as this one is, the results become merely speculative.
God is God and faith in Him is our privilege. I continue to pray.
That the Deity is incomprehensible, and that we ought not to pry into and meddle with the things which have not been delivered to us by the holy Prophets, and Apostles, and Evangelists.
No one hath seen God at any time; the Only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him. The Deity, therefore, is ineffable and incomprehensible. For no one knoweth the Father, save the Son, nor the Son, save the Father. And the Holy Spirit, too, so knows the things of God as the spirit of the man knows the things that are in him. Moreover, after the first and blessed nature no one, not of men only, but even of supramundane powers, and the Cherubim, I say, and Seraphim themselves, has ever known God, save he to whom He revealed Himself.
God, however, did not leave us in absolute ignorance. For the knowledge of God’s existence has been implanted by Him in all by nature. This creation, too, and its maintenance, and its government, proclaim the majesty of the Divine nature. Moreover, by the Law and the Prophets in former times and afterwards by His Only-begotten Son, our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, He disclosed to us the knowledge of Himself as that was possible for us. All things, therefore, that have been delivered to us by Law and Prophets and Apostles and Evangelists we receive, and know, and honour, seeking for nothing beyond these. For God, being good, is the cause of all good, subject neither to envy nor to any passion. For envy is far removed from the Divine nature, which is both passionless and only good. As knowing all things, therefore, and providing for what is profitable for each, He revealed that which it was to our profit to know; but what we were unable to bear He kept secret. With these things let us be satisfied, and let us abide by them, not removing everlasting boundaries, nor overpassing the divine tradition.
An Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, John of Damascus, Book I, Chapter I
I put this article on my website as well. I find it lovely how for the most part Christians have stopped trying to disprove science while science continues to try to disprove faith.
Adam,
Some, who care so little about faith and religion, spend an awful lot of time dwelling on it, talking about it, and trying to sterotype it. Others who have not true faith look to find in it some magic they can capitalize on.
The world of universities, science and pseudo-science, and grant money is a funny place.
Also, do you have a blog? Let us know the address and I’ll consider it for my blogroll on the next update.
Thanks.
I have a confession to make. I am a seminarian at a protestant seminary right now, as you know I hope to be accepted to Savonarola Seminary for the fall. I recently did a presentation on the history, growth, doctrine, faith and future of the PNCC for my American Religious History course. I discussed the Old Catholic Utrecht Union for the purposes of explaining how Bishop Hodur was consecrated and how the PNCC is able to maintain valid apostolic orders. When I discussed the divorce between the PNCC and the Utrecht Union of Churches I made the statement (which i thought to be true) that there is no longer a juristiction of the Utrecht Church in the U.S. My teacher argued that there was a former student at the seminary who was ordained a priest, female, by a Catholic Church that is in union with Utrecht, the Catholic Church in America. THe discussion arose about the many different independent Catholic churches in our country. Well, I do not consider the PNCC to be part of this mail order bishop society of churches. I think i came off rudely, but the PNCC is different. ANyway on my blog I think i might have gotten a little nasty torwards the indy catholic movement and it was not christian of me. I did not name call or anything like that. I just question the motives of some of these churches. They all claim to be apostolic catholics, yet they have thrown Catholicism out the window for liberal views! The PNCC is not based on the ideals of women’s ordination and gay marriage and gay clergy. They are not a pro-choice church, etc. I feel that it is an injustice to include the PNCC with the likes of these liberal minded catholic churches. What do you think? If these indy churches had a message that they were passionate about, then why don’t they merge? I feel too often that it is a question of personal recognition and power on the part of these “bishops” who all claim aposotlic succession. Sorry to rant, but after i blogged my feelings i felt bad, but wanted to get the opinion of someone else from the PNCC. The PNCC is a gift to the Catholic people who struggled for recognition. THe PNCC has a rich history and I feel a very promising future. Our Bishops are elected, not home made! Just my feelings. Thanks for listening Deacon. I did want to share the exciting news that I will be attending Easter services at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Manchester New Hampshire this year! God’s peace be with you.
after reading my post i realize i meant to say some of these indy churches are not pro-life not pro-choice. At least i would hope the PNCC is a body of pro life christians.
To your last question: The PNCC is 100% pro-life.
Your previous comment captures the spirit of many of these so called ‘Churches’ in the two words you wrote: “liberal minded”.
This is where bodies that call themselves ‘Churches’ fail.
Catholic Christianity – true Christianity stands on Holy Scripture and Tradition. These are the two pillars that keep us firmly centered on Jesus Christ. Utrecht fell off these pillars when it decided to bend to the spirit of the age (ordaining women, blessing homosexual ‘unions’), actually negating the Declaration of Utrecht. The PNCC remained true to that declaration. We stand on the truth of the unified Church.
The current pope, Benedict, wrote in the Introduction to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (I’m paraphrasing) that planting ourselves in the fads of the day makes everything we say today stale/outdated tomorrow.
How true. Bending to what is popular today will not save us, make the Church bigger or stronger, facilitate more vocations, or help us reach the disaffected masses that intentionally stand outside the Body of Christ. The gate is narrow and the path is difficult. We are all called to become, to move toward the Kingdom.
Being liberal minded is a euphemism for being weak minded and self serving. It allows the dictates of our own conscience to trump the teaching of the Church. It allows us to fashion a Christ and a religion that suits our desires, not God’s desire for us. It is exactly what Judas did. In the end he was sorely disappointed and betrayed his master. “Better for him if he had never been born.”
The indy ‘Catholics’ have allowed themselves out of the path of repentance. They have allowed themselves to dress pretty and boast of titles, fashioning what they will. Matthew 23 lays out what will become of them.