Friday, April 01, 2005
Yes Virginia, There Really Are Miracles
SmartChristian links to this MSNBC article about the role of prayer in healing.
I thought "Men were from Mars and Women were from Venus," but I had no idea that Christians were from out of this world. I am of a mixed mind here. The demonization of Christian faith is largely political in nature. As faith becomes increasingly associated with politcal views, those with opposite political views will increasingly naysay faith. That is not necessarily a good development.
However, I cannot say I think the changes that are happening to our society are a bad thing. I think we need to be very,very careful that we do not make the same mistake our political opponents do. We cannot confuse our faith with our politics. One influences the other, but they are very distinct things.
"There?s virtually no evidence about the personal benefits of prayer. Certainly lots of people find it rewarding, but there's very little evidence about any health benefits," says Dr. Richard P. Sloan, associate professor of psychiatry and director of behavioral medicine at Columbia University.The MSNBC piece is not quite as breathless as the Boston Globe Piece that was so much fun in Hugh Hewitt world last Tuesday, as chronicled by Radioblogger, but it nonetheless just does not quite get this whole religion thing.
I thought "Men were from Mars and Women were from Venus," but I had no idea that Christians were from out of this world. I am of a mixed mind here. The demonization of Christian faith is largely political in nature. As faith becomes increasingly associated with politcal views, those with opposite political views will increasingly naysay faith. That is not necessarily a good development.
However, I cannot say I think the changes that are happening to our society are a bad thing. I think we need to be very,very careful that we do not make the same mistake our political opponents do. We cannot confuse our faith with our politics. One influences the other, but they are very distinct things.
