I posted something a few weeks ago about science embracing the
supernatural. Today I saw another story supporting my prediction that
science will eventually embrace what we currently consider to be
supernatural (but not from a `Christian' perspective).
Apparently research on the effect of healing prayer (or `intentionality'
as science likes to call it) is making a bit of a splash.
In some of the tests they have people pray from a remote distance to
avoid any positive effects from actual physical contact. The experiments
are a little bit hard to manage though (e.g. it is difficult to ensure
that nobody prays for the control group). Some of the funding seems to come
from HMOs (God works cheaper than doctors). Some critics have charged
that the procedures are a little too biased toward the judeo-christian
religions (perhaps experiments similar to 1 Kings 18 will be needed).
Maybe the result of the experiments will demonstrate that there is some
kind of effectiveness to prayer. My mom (who keeps passing me articles
on this topic) thinks this would be great, but I am not so sure.
For one thing, if the result of the experiment is positive, it will only
be seen to validate that prayer itself is effective. *I* think prayer
is absolutely powerless. The healing comes through the graciousness
of God in response to prayer, not the prayer itself.
But what will happen if the results of the experiments are
quite positive? Then science will have objectively observed something
not explained by current theories. I am sure that the void will not
persist for too long before some paradigm shifts to provide a
mechanistic explanation. Perhaps some of the theories about the
nature of consciousness will be malleable enough to demystify the phenomena.
Of course Science enters into the issue also. One Scientist was quoted in
today's WSJ article as saying that he would sue any doctor that prayed
for him for malpractice. I expect that this Scientist will be less
concerned when he realizes that the `prayer' being studied doesn't
necessarily involve God.
--DaveP.S. Ironically, my wife has found herself working in this field.She is an R.N. but took off years and years to raise our boys. Recentlyshe started working as a `parish nurse' for local congregations. The jobinvolves public health stuff (blood pressure and whatnot), but also prayerand spiritual counseling. The local program is sponsored by the catholichospital she used to work for, but maybe she is ahead of the curve.Perhaps the HMOs will be hiring for such positions before long.