Don't Pray for me please...

[Jaylen Brit 0]

This isn't Jay btw... It's Len... I'm too lazy to log her off and log in :-)

If I suddenly need prayers due to medical problems... please, don't pray for me... I don't want any higher complications then necessary :-)

http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/03/30/praye...y.ap/index.html

Study: Prayer doesn't affect heart patients

Thursday, March 30, 2006; Posted: 2:26 p.m. EST (19:26 GMT)

NEW YORK (AP) -- In the largest study of its kind, researchers found that having people pray for heart bypass surgery patients had no effect on their recovery. In fact, patients who knew they were being prayed for had a slightly higher rate of complications.

Researchers emphasized their work does not address whether God exists or answers prayers made on another's behalf. The study can only look for an effect from prayers offered as part of the research, they said.

They also said they had no explanation for the higher complication rate in patients who knew they were being prayed for, in comparison to patients who only knew it was possible prayers were being said for them.

The work, which followed about 1,800 patients at six medical centers, was financed by the Templeton Foundation, which supports research into science and religion. It will appear in the American Heart Journal.

Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard Medical School and other scientists tested the effect of having three Christian groups pray for particular patients, starting the night before surgery and continuing for two weeks. The volunteers prayed for "a successful surgery with a quick, healthy recovery and no complications" for specific patients, for whom they were given the first name and first initial of the last name.

The patients, meanwhile, were split into three groups of about 600 apiece: those who knew they were being prayed for, those who were prayed for but only knew it was a possibility, and those who weren't prayed for but were told it was a possibility.

The researchers did not ask patients or their families and friends to alter any plans they had for prayer, saying such a step would have been unethical and impractical.

The study looked for any complications within 30 days of the surgery. Results showed no effect of prayer on complication-free recovery. But 59 percent of the patients who knew they were being prayed for developed a complication, versus 52 percent of those who were told it was just a possibility.

Dr. Harold G. Koenig, director of the Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health at the Duke University Medical Center, who did not take part in the study, said the results did not surprise him.

"There are no scientific grounds to expect a result and there are no real theological grounds to expect a result either," he said.

Science, he said, "is not designed to study the supernatural."

[Mirorgate 0]

So if the one that does the asking hasn't an idea of who does the offering, is the outcome the same? Does the asking for the one differ in anyway the changing of the process? Or does the original intent still remain the sins of the past?

But as to your supposition: Ok.

[almaty 19]

Len, you witty rascal

[isleta521 5]

Ok, I still hope the best for you though. Hope wishing the best for you does not give you any complications.

[Traviesa 0]

I heard about this, but heard it the opposite way-that those who were being prayed for, even the segment who didn't know it, did better, but that was a study on cancer patients. Did anyone hear about that? I can't remember where I heard it...

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

done. I was already planning on not praying for you anyways.

[chocolaterie 0]

I heard of a similar study but it was done for plants.. the plants that were prayed for grew much faster and taller than the other group. But I don't think God would want us to scientifically prove whether or not s/he/it exists.

[raphael7546 0]

Well I dunno bought heart patients but I'm a Cancer Surviver and when I had my last Operation, the Surgeon and his nurse came in before they put me out and said " Mind if we pray for you?" I was kinda shocked that they wanted to do this but I said " Hey go ahead, it couldn't hurt!"

Well , I'm here and Cancer free so ya never know that little prayer mighta done the trick.

Lily

[mercuryroad 0]

Reminds me of a song...

"I won't say a little prayer for you....forever and ever"

It's catchy.....

Edited March 31, 2006 by mercuryroad

[isleta521 5]

Well I dunno bought heart patients but I'm a Cancer Surviver and when I had my last Operation, the Surgeon and his nurse came in before they put me out and said " Mind if we pray for you?" I was kinda shocked that they wanted to do this but I said " Hey go ahead, it couldn't hurt!"

Well , I'm here and Cancer free so ya never know that little prayer mighta done the trick.

Lily

[Cassie 8]

well, let's see...

I had a stroke that paralyzed my left side -- if you looked at me now, you wouldn't know it

my mom's blood was 50 % cancer cells a mere year ago -- she is now in remission

my friend Angela was diagnosed with stage 5 skin cancer (a very rare kind) and was told she wouldn't last past Christmas 2005 -- she was declared cancer free this past week

I can go on and on about the many people that I know that have been extensively prayed over and for during their illnesses and have been healed. But hey, that's just me

[Jasman0717 9]

[eau_xplain 2]

You pray because you believe. If you believe, then you understand how prayer works.

If you don't believe but pray, then there will be a lot of times you will not understand the way your prayer is answered.

If you don't believe and don't pray, then it doesn't really matter, does it?

[faith 0]

well, let's see...

I had a stroke that paralyzed my left side -- if you looked at me now, you wouldn't know it

my mom's blood was 50 % cancer cells a mere year ago -- she is now in remission

my friend Angela was diagnosed with stage 5 skin cancer (a very rare kind) and was told she wouldn't last past Christmas 2005 -- she was declared cancer free this past week

I can go on and on about the many people that I know that have been extensively prayed over and for during their illnesses and have been healed. But hey, that's just me

I can name tons of people that were prayed for but the prayers didn't work.....

Or tons of people who were healed just fine without prayer.

It's all the power of suggestion and of the mind. If you think something is going to help you, and you believe in it enough it may help you.

[almaty 19]

sister faith is right on with that answer psychologically...