Can Positive Thoughts Help Heal Another Person? (NPR - All Things Considered)

[Dover]

Ninety percent of Americans say they pray — for their health, or their love life or their final exams. But does prayer do any good?

For decades, scientists have tried to test the power of prayer and positive thinking, with mixed results. Now some scientists are fording new — and controversial — territory.

- cont'd

Read or listen to the rest here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104351710

[elleng]

1. One's own attitude is certainly helpful in 'healing,'

as it may lessen stress.

[latebloomer]

2. Very interesting, Dover, thanks for posting it

I personally feel that our thoughts can affect other people, but it's nice to see that scientific research is being done on the subject.

:hi:

[Quantess]

3. I would bet that praying for one's own health is effective.

You don't even need to be religious to believe that.

Praying for someone else's health is a different matter.

[Orrex]

4. I metaphorically pray that my bill won't bankrupt me. Does that count?

[Why Syzygy]

5. Guaranteed not to metaphorically bankrupt you! nt

[semillama]

6. What a horrible thing

To be bankrupt of metaphors. Why, it's be like . .. well, something.

[Orrex]

7. Well, I never metaphors I didn't like

Metaphors be with you.

[Why Syzygy]

9. .

:rofl:

[omega minimo]

10. Metaphorical prayers only work on metaphorical bills

:hi:

[uppityperson]

13. You send a weird argumentative pm then block me from answering.

wow. Very progressive of you

[trotsky]

8. A study not too long ago showed a negative effect.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16569567

CONCLUSIONS: Intercessory prayer itself had no effect on complication-free recovery from CABG, but certainty of receiving intercessory prayer was associated with a higher incidence of complications.

[Mamacrat]

11. Other studies?

Are there other similar studies? Also, I wonder what the specific percentages were regarding those who were uncertain as to whether they received prayer or not. They lumped those two together in their results.

[light in august]

15. Way to be a Debbie Downer...

x(


Does your wife bring you to parties?

[uppityperson]

17. only made it to 4 this time, speaking of debbie downers

[Mamacrat]

12. How God Changes Your Brain

The book How God Changes Your Brain looks interesting. And now that I've looked it up again for you I see it's on Kindle now, so I'm going to order the sample now!

Edit to add: I've read (and believe it's true) that forcing yourself to smile can make you feel better. I'm wondering if some of us who have "non-smiley" faces without actually smiling should have plastic surgery to turn up the corners so we'd be happier all the time! (I am partly serious.) I've often wondered about people who seem so full of the spirit, as I think they call it. Are they just predisposed to feeling that way, maybe even because of the placement of muscles in their faces?

I see that your article has a link to one that mentions that book: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104310443

[dropkickpa]

14. 90%? I question that number

Seems a bit high to me.

I just kill chickens for the loa when I need something.

[stevebreeze]

16. I used to pray to God to make me rich, then I realized God doesn't work that way

Now I steal what I want and pray for forgiveness.
Emo Phillips

[Name removed]

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