Studies on prayer

The Christian Post reporter Stoyan Zaimov wrote:Double-blind prayer experiments: where people pray for others with terminal illness. Habermas admitted that most such experiments have not worked, but the three that he knows of that have indeed worked were cases of orthodox-Christians praying for the sick.[1]

The Christian Post reporter Stoyan Zaimov wrote:

“  |  Double-blind prayer experiments: where people pray for others with terminal illness. Habermas admitted that most such experiments have not worked, but the three that he knows of that have indeed worked were cases of orthodox-Christians praying for the sick.[2] |  ”

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According to the American Cancer Society:

“  |  According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 69% of cancer patients say they pray for their health. A recent study published in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, suggests a link between religious or spiritual beliefs and better physical health reported among patients with cancer.[3] |  ”

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The New Testament indicates to Christians: "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." - James 5:1 (NASB).

In Acts 19: 13-17 the Bible declares concerning miracles:

“  |  And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.[4] |  ”

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In the Old Testament Elijah, who performed great miracles, taunted the prophets of Baal when there false god did not answer their prayer (1 Kings 20- 40).

## Contents

* 1 Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer
* 2 Praying atheists
* 3 See also
* 4 External links
* 5 Notes

## Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer[edit]

A medical journal article entitled Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP) in cardiac bypass patients: a multicenter randomized trial of uncertainty and certainty of receiving intercessory prayer was published in 2006 in the American Heart Journal.[5]

Using unsound reasoning, atheist apologists often cite this study to attempt to show that prayer is ineffectual. As can be seen above, however, prayer and performing the miraculous is dependent on the type of person/person engaged in the activity.

Furthermore, by failing to cite Dr. Habermas's studies/argument above, atheist apologists are engaging in the fallacy of exclusion (see also: Atheism and logical fallacies).

## Praying atheists[edit]

The Huffington Post reported in an article entitled Atheist Prayer: Religious Activity Not Uncommon Among Nonbelievers: "Among atheists and agnostics, 14 percent of said religion was "somewhat important" in their lives, while 17 percent said they took part in daily, weekly or monthly prayer."[6]

## See also[edit]

* Irreligion and recovery from illnesses
* Atheism and miracles

## External links[edit]

* Atheist surprised when God answered his prayer, Christianity Today

* Atheist prayer experiment - Atheists prayed that God would reveal Himself to them (videos)

## Notes[edit]

1. ↑ Christian Apologist: 10 Reasons for the Fall of Atheism by Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post, October 14, 2013
2. ↑ Christian Apologist: 10 Reasons for the Fall of Atheism by Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post, October 14, 2013
3. ↑ Study: Cancer Patients with Strong Religious or Spiritual Beliefs Report Better Health, American Cancer Society
4. ↑ Acts 19: 13-17, Bible, ESV version
5. ↑ Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP) in cardiac bypass patients: a multicenter randomized trial of uncertainty and certainty of receiving intercessory prayer, Am Heart J. 2006 Apr;151(4):934-42.
6. ↑ Atheist Prayer: Religious Activity Not Uncommon Among Nonbelievers, Huffington Post, 06/26/2013