Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Dargo · 03-20-2003, 08:50 AM

It's interesting how much faith Christians put into prayer. A few hundred years ago Americans and Europeans prayed a lot more than they do today, yet life expectancy was much lower back then.

An extremely ill child in Japan has a much better chance of recovering than the child of a poor but devoutly Christian African family. The Christian family will pray for their sick child as will all their friends, yet the Japanese child will have much better odds of living without a single pray for healing. If prayer really works, why would this be true?

Aethari · 03-20-2003, 09:24 AM

Probably because the damned clever Japanese figured out a way to make a cute electronic replica of God.

But, seriously, as apparant as this conflict might be to you, it really isn't a difficulty under the believer's worldview. God works in mysterious ways. For all we know, "life through modern medicine" might turn out to be an eternally worse fate than "death with prayer." The theological skepiticism card is always waiting to be played.

~Aethari

Majestyk · 03-20-2003, 09:28 AM

The devout that put their faith in God will either recover, in order to continue to serve God's will on earth, or not recover, being called to God's side to receive their reward in heaven.

The heathen that recovers thru the application of medical science is merely delaying their entry into hell.

xian · 03-20-2003, 10:55 AM

prayer is more for the soul...less for the body.

modern medicine is much more effective than prayer for healing the body, but helpless to heal the soul :

hezekiah jones · 03-20-2003, 11:01 AM

Originally posted by xian
modern medicine is much more effective than prayer for healing the body, but helpless to heal the soul

So the mood disorders related to chemical imbalances that are effectively treated with medication are afflictions of the body or the "soul"?

xian · 03-20-2003, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hezekiah jones
Originally posted by xian
modern medicine is much more effective than prayer for healing the body, but helpless to heal the soul

So the mood disorders related to chemical imbalances that are effectively treated with medication are afflictions of the body or the "soul"?

drugs effect the body.

Yellum Notnef · 03-20-2003, 11:25 AM

Whats a "soul"?

xian · 03-20-2003, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fenton Mulley
Whats a "soul"?

the immaterial part of a human being that I believe exists. If this immaterial component of a human being does not exist, then obviously prayer will do nothing. But one thing is for certain: medicine cannot help you in this regard.

Paul2 · 03-20-2003, 12:05 PM

what does this soul do?

xian · 03-20-2003, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul2
what does this soul do?

how should I know what it "does?" I believe that it exists based upon the evidence of my own existence.

What is evidence, other than data filtered by our perceptions?

My own existence is more than enough evidence for me- though my existence is certainly not good evidence for you.

03-20-2003, 08:50 AM	#1
Dargo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 713	Believers: Why is modern medicine so much more effective than prayer? It's interesting how much faith Christians put into prayer. A few hundred years ago Americans and Europeans prayed a lot more than they do today, yet life expectancy was much lower back then. An extremely ill child in Japan has a much better chance of recovering than the child of a poor but devoutly Christian African family. The Christian family will pray for their sick child as will all their friends, yet the Japanese child will have much better odds of living without a single pray for healing. If prayer really works, why would this be true?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

03-20-2003, 09:24 AM	#2
Aethari Veteran Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 1,635	Probably because the damned clever Japanese figured out a way to make a cute electronic replica of God. But, seriously, as apparant as this conflict might be to you, it really isn't a difficulty under the believer's worldview. God works in mysterious ways. For all we know, "life through modern medicine" might turn out to be an eternally worse fate than "death with prayer." The theological skepiticism card is always waiting to be played. ~Aethari

03-20-2003, 09:28 AM	#3
Majestyk Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 2,846	The devout that put their faith in God will either recover, in order to continue to serve God's will on earth, or not recover, being called to God's side to receive their reward in heaven. The heathen that recovers thru the application of medical science is merely delaying their entry into hell.

03-20-2003, 10:55 AM	#4
xian Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Earth Posts: 378	prayer is more for the soul...less for the body. modern medicine is much more effective than prayer for healing the body, but helpless to heal the soul :

03-20-2003, 11:01 AM	#5
hezekiah jones Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: WI Posts: 4,357	Originally posted by xian modern medicine is much more effective than prayer for healing the body, but helpless to heal the soul So the mood disorders related to chemical imbalances that are effectively treated with medication are afflictions of the body or the "soul"?

03-20-2003, 11:25 AM	#7
Yellum Notnef Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Gone Posts: 4,676	Whats a "soul"?

03-20-2003, 12:05 PM	#9
Paul2 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,088	what does this soul do?

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.