RE: virus: "... faith is one of the world's great evils"

zaimoni@ksu.edu
Wed, 11 Jun 1997 12:58:44 -0500 (CDT)


On Wed, 12 Mar 1997, Wade T.Smith wrote:

> >How do you explain the scientifically proven fact that prayer improves the
> >health of suffering patients who are unaware of the prayer?
>
> This series of experiments is highly suspect both to protocol and to
> outcome.

'Inherently suspect' in protocol?

> Within the 'scientific community' this has not been proved, there have
> indeed not been adequately structured trials.
>
> However, the act of prayer as placebo and comforter, and such comfort
> producing palliative effects _has_ been shown.

Considering that the placebo effect has a nontrivial chance of equalling
morphine as a painkiller [about 30%]....

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