Research on Prayer and its effects?

Another thread got me interested in this.

Does anyone have any good links about the possible effects of prayer and if it works or not? I'm looking for some solid information, if it's even possible to research such a thing.

Not really, I still don't have a billion dollars. :(

I prayed for another job and I just got one today:Dgamefan67

I'm pretty sure there are some studies out there. All I know is from my own personal experiences, prayer has worked for me. Although I'm also sure that there are many who will claim it has all been a coincidenceand I'm fine with that.

[QUOTE="gamefan67"]I prayed for another job and I just got one today:Dxaos

Simply put, prayer whether effective or not (meaning whether or not the entity you pray to is real or not and therefore your prayer being something that is real), can work much like placebo drugs work.

They can create certain "delusions" (not in the traditional sense, hence the quotes) that are beneficial psychologically.

I prayed for another job and I just got one today:Dgamefan67

I'm pretty certain the effects are purely psychological. :|

[QUOTE="xaos"][QUOTE="rawsavon"]There has been research that showed the positive effects of prayer...I forget where, I am sorry...saw it when I was in school and had more access to that stuff -believers will say that it is because God answers prayers -non believers will say that it comes from positive thinking, self fulfilling prophecy, etc. I do not want to debate the why...just saying that it is out there, and the results I saw had an overall positive correlation between prayer and the desired outcomerawsavon

Wouldn't you suggest that this is what we call the 'File Drawer' problem in the publishing of psychological studies? It's certainly relevant in this instance, alongside any other studies within the broader realm of paranormal psychology.

im sure it works like a sugar pill. a placebo effect.

[QUOTE="rawsavon"][QUOTE="xaos"] That's why the study I linked to above used a double blind method on intercessory prayer, and it found no linkage between being prayed for and health outcomes.poptart

Wouldn't you suggest that this is what we call the 'File Drawer' problem in the publishing of psychological studies? It's certainly relevant in this instance, alongside any other studies within the broader realm of paranormal psychology.

Possibly...probably
One of the many problems with this "science"
You will almost always find an equal amount of studies supporting each side in psychology (anything that was not proven 50 years ago, anyways)
-also one of the many reasons I did not pursue a PhD

It works.

I have often prayed for things that couldn't have happened otherwise, with at times it being the same way for which I was praying for. Things like that CAN'T be a coincidence. It's all faith, which I have. :)

It works.

I have often prayed for things that couldn't have happened otherwise, with at times it being the same way for which I was praying for. Things like that CAN'T be a coincidence. It's all faith, which I have. :)

[QUOTE="Zeromus1337"]

It works.

I have often prayed for things that couldn't have happened otherwise, with at times it being the same way for which I was praying for. Things like that CAN'T be a coincidence. It's all faith, which I have. :)

rawsavon

Ah, true. Well, it's all faith. I don't think studies can actually disprove and/or prove prayer, since it's all faith, which is a necessary component. My mistake.

[QUOTE="rawsavon"][QUOTE="Zeromus1337"]

It works.

I have often prayed for things that couldn't have happened otherwise, with at times it being the same way for which I was praying for. Things like that CAN'T be a coincidence. It's all faith, which I have. :)

Ah, true. Well, it's all faith. I don't think studies can actually disprove and/or prove prayer, since it's all faith, which is a necessary component. My mistake.

There was one conducted by the American Heart Journal in 2006; a double blind experiment with about 1200 with cardiac bypass patients.

About half were told they'd be receiving the prayers of an unknown congregation, the other half were not told. The study concluded the prayer had no impact, in fact the group told they were receiving prayers did slightly worse.

Of course, this proves basically nothing.

There was one conducted by the American Heart Journal in 2006; a double blind experiment with about 1200 with cardiac bypass patients.

About half were told they'd be receiving the prayers of an unknown congregation, the other half were not told. The study concluded the prayer had no impact, in fact the group told they were receiving prayers did slightly worse.

Of course, this proves basically nothing.

Danm_999

That is not a very good one IMO
-no way of knowing if the sick people believed in prayer
-if I told a bunch of atheists that people were praying for them it would have no effect (probably make them mad)
-also, no one was actually praying

Study needs to involve
1. actual prayer
2. people that believe in the power of prayer
3. people that do not
4. prayer by the individual
5. prayer by many (congregation)
6. control for each
...etc.
needs to be a massive study to conclude anything meaningful

[QUOTE="Danm_999"]

There was one conducted by the American Heart Journal in 2006; a double blind experiment with about 1200 with cardiac bypass patients.

About half were told they'd be receiving the prayers of an unknown congregation, the other half were not told. The study concluded the prayer had no impact, in fact the group told they were receiving prayers did slightly worse.

Of course, this proves basically nothing.

rawsavon

That is not a very good one IMO
-no way of knowing if the sick people believed in prayer
-if I told a bunch of atheists that people were praying for them it would have no effect (probably make them mad)
-also, no one was actually praying

Study needs to involve
1. actual prayer
2. people that believe in the power of prayer
3. people that do not
4. prayer by the individual
5. prayer by many (congregation)
6. control for each
...etc.
needs to be a massive study to conclude anything meaningful

The study sought to examine the empirical impacts prayer had on patients. In that regard, its design was fine.

Spending any more money on this is a waste of time honestly, because you can't mix science and religion like this. Even if every single study 100% conclusively proved prayer had no impact on health, or success, or whatever the intention of the prayer is, the cause of this cannot be ascertained. God may not exist, therefore there will never be any positive result. God may exist, but may not want prayer quantified.

These prayers tests are honestly a waste of time, and only serve to waste money and inflame debate.

[QUOTE="rawsavon"]

[QUOTE="Danm_999"]

There was one conducted by the American Heart Journal in 2006; a double blind experiment with about 1200 with cardiac bypass patients.

About half were told they'd be receiving the prayers of an unknown congregation, the other half were not told. The study concluded the prayer had no impact, in fact the group told they were receiving prayers did slightly worse.

Of course, this proves basically nothing.

Danm_999

That is not a very good one IMO
-no way of knowing if the sick people believed in prayer
-if I told a bunch of atheists that people were praying for them it would have no effect (probably make them mad)
-also, no one was actually praying

Study needs to involve
1. actual prayer
2. people that believe in the power of prayer
3. people that do not
4. prayer by the individual
5. prayer by many (congregation)
6. control for each
...etc.
needs to be a massive study to conclude anything meaningful

The study sought to examine the empirical impacts prayer had on patients. In that regard, its design was fine.

Spending any more money on this is a waste of time honestly, because you can't mix science and religion like this. Even if every single study 100% conclusively proved prayer had no impact on health, or success, or whatever the intention of the prayer is, the cause of this cannot be ascertained. God may not exist, therefore there will never be any positive result. God may exist, but may not want prayer quantified.

These prayers tests are honestly a waste of time, and only serve to waste money and inflame debate.

1. you are right...nothing will prove/disprove God...the whole point is that it is a faith thing
2. Tax $$$ should not be used
3. But I have no problem with private universities/institutes using their money however they want
4. debate is not a bad thing IMO...but it too often dissolves into worse things

5. I still don't see how that study worked though
-there was no actual prayer...they were just told that people were praying

5. I still don't see how that study worked though
-there was no actual prayer...they were just told that people were praying

rawsavon

1. you are right...nothing will prove/disprove God...the whole point is that it is a faith thing rawsavon

[QUOTE="rawsavon"]5. I still don't see how that study worked though
-there was no actual prayer...they were just told that people were praying

Danm_999

ok...I misunderstood
I thought they just told them that people would be praying for them

[QUOTE="rawsavon"]1. you are right...nothing will prove/disprove God...the whole point is that it is a faith thing Danm_999

[QUOTE="Danm_999"]

[QUOTE="rawsavon"]5. I still don't see how that study worked though
-there was no actual prayer...they were just told that people were praying

rawsavon

ok...I misunderstood
I thought they just told them that people would be praying for them

Nah, these guys actually thought they could catch God with his pants down. They weren't content with just a placebo effect :P

Danm_999

Nice one :D