The power of prayer. Is it real? Does it work? Am I instantly banished to hell for asking the question?
There was a prayer study several years back that claimed to prove that intercessory prayer works. Please note the word “intercessory”, which is a prayer done on someone else’s behalf. This is an important distinction, as the subject itself is a difficult one, if not impossible, to subject to scientific study because of the immense variables. Long story short, that first study was shown later to have actually proved that intercessory prayer had NEGATIVE affects, not positive. This came out later in the peer review process of the study, which concluded that the results had been skewed to arrive at a pre-determined outcome that the results did not support (which is of course contrary to the entire scientific process).
What I find interesting is that when those initial prayer study results were released, they were heralded on the internet as proof of the power of prayer. But yet a couple years later when it was shown the study results had been a fraud, THAT fact was mysteriously silent. I have heard that prayer study mentioned many times in church circles as proof of the power of prayer, but when I bring up the fact that the study had since been shown to be false the normal response is “Well, what does science know anyway.” This is a classic form of positive attribution. Positive attribution is where we have a predetermined belief, and we only see what supports that belief instead of the whole of information around us. It is a normal human condition, and one that we all fall prey to in one form or another.
At the same time another prayer study was in process. It was a more in depth study over a ten year period. The results of this study were much anticipated and you can read about it in the New York Times Prayer Study article. In short, the study showed that intercessory prayer actually had negative results on those with life threatening illnesses.
Three points to emphasize:
- This study was done specifically on INTERCESSORY PRAYER, not on “prayer” as a whole.
- This study is fairly recent and still needs to go through a healthy peer review process for validation.
- Even the head of the Skeptic’s Society, Michael Shermer, has pointed out the many pitfalls and variables that make doing a definitive study on the subject of prayer very improbable.
But yet even knowing all of this there is the side of faith and the Christian walk that has a very different perspective. I like reading, and I like having all the information. But when you are in a crunch, it can be very empowering to know that people are praying for you. In fact, it can be the single element to give you the personal strength to carry on. Is the prayer actually working, or is it just the fact that you know they are praying for you?
I have a small group that prays for me on a regular basis. They are my Prayer Warriors. In my darkest times they were some of the few that stood by my side. Their specialty is prayer – it’s what they do, it’s what they whole heartedly believe in. When I need to pierce the veil to break through and challenge myself, they are the ones I turn to.
I had the experience today where in passing I shared a fairly significant event with one of them. They were very excited and shared with me their specific prayer from a week ago. It was very specific, no Nostradamus-style vagueness in it. And it timed with a specific event that occurred within a week after their prayers.
Is this positive attribution on my part? Maybe I’m just seeing what I want to see. I guess I go back to one of my favorite statements: “I do not believe in prayer, and am constantly amazed at how well it works.” Being a skeptic does not change my reverence for the things I do not understand, or diminish my amazement at the experience of the walk of faith.
My whole post can be condensed to this: You may know what you know and know it well. But when you come across a dark time in your walk, where will you turn? Who’s arms will embrace you when all have left your side? Remember those in prayer when you are strong, so they can remember you when the roles are reversed.
Thank you to my Prayer Warriors. You are my most prized gift.