This is a follow-up to my previous post on the (lack of) benefits of prayer.
I am going to share three anecdotes: a Christian’s, an atheist’s, and one from a Silva Method practitioner. Then I will provide one possible interpretation of the anecdotal evidence. I know it isn’t the only possible interpretation, but I think it’s a valid candidate.
1. A Christian’s anecdote
Some years ago, I lived a few doors down from a man with a hunched back. He received a faith healing. His back was still hunched afterwards, but the healing was real; it made a significant difference in his daily life.
Here’s how it happened, from my perspective.
A faith healer came to town. I went, mostly because it was a big event in the small town I was living in at the time.
Near the end of the service, as expected, the minister invited people forward for prayer. I saw the man with the hunched back go forward.
I knew there was no fakery going on here: this was my neighbour. I said, “Lord, you know I’m sceptical about faith healers; but if you heal this guy, you’ll make a believer out of me.”
After he received prayer, he returned to his seat. Nothing had changed, as far as I could see. But I asked him about it a few days later.
This was his testimony: he was pain-free for the first time in years. The pain used to be chronic, and severe enough to wake him up at night. He was always shifting around, trying to get comfortable in bed, but it was impossible. But now he was sleeping through the night, and he was thrilled by it.
I spoke to him again a few months later. He confirmed that the pain was still gone.
Psychosomatic? Maybe. Or maybe there was a physical change — I have no way of knowing. But the relief from pain was real, and it happened when the faith healer prayed for him.
The appropriate thing to say in this context? — Praise the Lord!
2. An atheist’s anecdote
This anecdote was shared by a commenter on another blog.
“My mother — an atheist from a family of atheists — waited just over 10 years before having the operation that she was told was needed to save her life.
“Despite her atrocious lifestyle, and high stress factors, she made it through those 10 years without prayers.
“Following a major screw-up in the surgery, the break-up of her marriage immediately afterwards, and some fairly substantial life changes, she has not only recovered far better than the doctors expected, but went off and got herself a job 5 years ago — her first job in 30 years. She is now having a pretty healthy & happy life. All without prayers for God to intervene.”
