Jerry Falwell makes an empirically testable claim about god answering prayer. This blogger challenges Christians to either conduct a controlled experiment on the subject or produce one that has already been performed.
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
If Prayer Worked ---
The Atheist Revolution blog has posted on the true effects of prayer. To quote: "If you truly believe that prayer works - works in the sense that your god intervenes in your life - why do you not behave as if you believed it?"
Retroactive Prayer
John Loftus has re-posted on the strange phenomenon of believing that god can answer prayers retroactively. This blogger can hear the popping of the synapses within the brains of people who try to use this twisted logic in support of the concept of prayer. Really, if you had never heard of god or prayer and a believer presented this opinion to you, would you put any credence in either one?
Scientific Validation Of Prayer?
Hector Avalos has written an essay on whether science can prove that prayer works. It contains a fairly in depth look at the subject of prayer in general, as well as specifically addresses this question.
(h/t to John Loftus)
(h/t to John Loftus)
Effects Of Prayer And Faith
Steven Novella has posted on what is known about the effects of prayer and faith.
The Problem Of Natural Evil
Jerry Coyne has posted on the evil of earthquakes, and more.
This situation is emotionally troubling and elicits feelings of empathy. However, as a non-theist, I at least do not have to deal with the dissonance of trying to reconcile this, and similar events, with an all-loving, all-powerful god. For you theists, good luck with that.
Generic Prayer
A survey of Christian websites reveal an almost universal distain for prayer to a “generic” god, as they pray to a “particular” God. There can be no such thing as a “generic” god. How could you possible embody all beliefs in a single word? Thus, the only group of people that a “generic” god would appeal to seems to be those who are not particularly religious but are “spiritual”.
It is well-known that most of those who are promoting prayer in public settings are evangelical and fundamental Christians. You generally do not hear “Moderate” Christians or members of non-Christian religions calling for formal group public prayer.
“Generic prayer” may violate the “Lemon Test”. To be constitutional, a statute must have "a secular legislative purpose," it must have principal effects which neither advance nor inhibit religion, and it must not foster "an excessive government entanglement with religion."
“Generic prayer” is divisive, is “watered down prayer” to a religious person and it may be illegal. Why do it?
Addendum: In the Board of Education of Kiryas Joel Village School District v. Grumet (1994), Justic David Souter, writing for the majority, concluded the “government should not prefer one religion to another, or religion to irreligion”.
Alt Med - Prayer (17 of 20)
An extensive internet search reveals that well-controlled studies have failed to support prayer as being helpful in controlling the course of any disease or injury.
Summary:
Any positive effects of prayer are probably the result of the placebo effect.
Prayer should not substitute for scientific medical care.
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