Re: prayer & healing

Okay -- okay, folks! Points taken. I've heard from a number of you
that you do act on this exhortation -- perhaps I'm a heathen for
doubting! It isn't that I or my church opposes this or questions the
efficacy of prayer & laying on of hands for physical healing -- we just
haven't done it in my recent memory.

Part of my impetus for pursuing this is that I think most western
Christians are already comfortable with a duality of explanation in this
arena. I.e. we don't have difficulty with the concept of God
miraculously healing somebody either directly or through a doctor -- or
in "ordinary" ways with or without medical intervention. We accept that
both can be genuine non-exclusive explanations even of the same event (I
think; -- if I presume too much of your acceptance, I trust I'll hear
about it). We need not insist on the "duality" as ontologically
descriptive of reality -- but more descriptive of our interpretation or
understanding of it. Perhaps our ease of accepting this in the world of
medicine could provide some insight in how we (as a wider body of
Christians) could reduce our collective attachment to the warfare model
between science and faith.

--merv

Robert Schneider wrote:

> At my parish, St. Luke's Episcopal, we have the laying on of hands and
> anointing for healing every Wednesday at the conclusion of the noon
> Eucharist. Not only does the priest lay her hands upon the person
> asking for healing, but everyone in attendance also forms a chain of
> hands to enclose the person with our common prayer. It is a moving
> experience to be touched by so many hands in prayer.
>
> Bob
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carol or John Burgeson"
> <burgytwo@juno.com>
> To: <asa@lists.calvin.edu>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 11:48 AM
> Subject: prayer & healing
>
>
>> Mervin wrote: "Just out of curiosity: how many of you have ever gone
>> to the elders
>> of your church when you were sick and had them lay hands on you, etc.
>> as instructed? "
>>
>> This is a regular happening at our Presbyterian (PCUSA) church in
>> Durango. It happen about 4x a year as a special meeting after
>> service; it
>> also happens as needed.
>>
>> Both my wife and I, as well as some of our children, have done this,
>> both
>> as Presbyterians and in other denominations. Not as a regular thing; not
>> as a "last resort either.
>>
>> Burgy
>>
>
>
>
>
Received on Tue Apr 4 22:01:30 2006