tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765009237184862809.post5758445282447511566..comments2023-12-25T23:31:45.817-05:00Comments on General Psychology: Does God Answer Prayer?Pratt Psychologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00628779524005457672noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765009237184862809.post-58692658083361665612010-02-08T13:00:41.505-05:002010-02-08T13:00:41.505-05:00I agree with you, Zoe, and had the same thoughts y...I agree with you, Zoe, and had the same thoughts you expressed as I was reading your post. My initial thought on the topic was that, yes, prayer could work, but not in a religious sense by any means (I am, however, a devout atheist). I could 100% believe that prayer works as a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. Especially this "intercessory prayer." If you know that someone is hoping for you to get better, so much so that they are looking to a higher power, I could definitely see that aiding in a positive outcome to an illness or dilemma, etc. whatever people pray for. It just seems like mind games really. Well, the whole concept of God does. It's just a means to make people feel better, and well, if it does, then more power to 'em, I suppose.alliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04771888841023647659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765009237184862809.post-42675869441913336112010-02-08T10:01:50.378-05:002010-02-08T10:01:50.378-05:00There is a constant need to “prove” or “validate” ...There is a constant need to “prove” or “validate” religious matters of prayer and practice. This article in the Times interviews Psychiatrist, Dr. Robert Klitzman, whom brought up his intern period, recalling a senior psychiatrist saying to a patient that he would “pray for” her. He was skeptical of this, especially because overall doctors seem to be less religious than their patients. Dr. Klitzman brings up that a life changing element, like a death in the family or an illness can cause one to reconsider their religious beliefs. Personally I think that religion in general gives a sense of purpose to a person, some kind of hope or belonging to something larger than their individual person. If through prayer someone is to find comfort in a hard period of their life, then so be it. As long as their beliefs are not forced upon anyone else, are not harmful or even affecting anyone else, what jurisdiction do we have over it? Dr. Klitzman reports, “Some doctors felt that prayer can directly alter the physical process of healing through God’s intervention. [Dr. Klitzman] My view is that prayer and faith give vital strength and motivation that can help patients cope and continue to fight.” I don’t know if a medical testing of prayer is even appropriate to measure effectiveness, maybe a measure of mood and ability to fight is more appropriate.<br /><br />link to article: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/24/prayer-faith-and-doctors/?scp=5&sq=prayer%20studies&st=cseejosephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08944350768458165238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765009237184862809.post-21370386290526719502010-02-08T08:06:52.940-05:002010-02-08T08:06:52.940-05:00Well to play devil's advocate, who is to say t...Well to play devil's advocate, who is to say that prayer is definately of a placebo effect? Hodge was not the only person who decided to challenge this subject. Although these studies are not publicly known because of controversy of religion, many studies have shown the effects of the belief of a higher being.In studies like Munson and Degelman's study on intercessory prayer, they show positive effects on the patients in comparison to those who dont believe in it. Being around that type of environment where ive seen both those who believe and dont believe in it, i have seen how intercessory prayer do make a difference. As a question to think about, if one was to believe that yoga can improve the body by channeling energy , whereas one who dont believe it but still get good results from it, wouldnt you consider that the energy of the exercise have some form of influence? What in that situation then should we dismiss the study of Hodge?Krishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12005284759792037479noreply@blogger.com