GIVEN that she was/had already healed well before (-at least- 10 weeks) the
prayers of healing were applied, why not interpret this is a run-of-the-mill
spontaneous remission followed by an intensely emotional experience that
broke through her deeply ingrained living-with-osteoporosis/arthritis
behavioral and thought habits? (Unless we wish to apply backward-in-time
causation, which seems conceivable [especially theistically], but not part
cause-and-effect as we normally evaluate it.)
I certainly don't mean to suggest that we shouldn't praise God for healing,
nor is it obvious that God -wasn't- either supernaturally involved or
directly responsible for the healing. I'm just pointing out the apparent
evidential/causal peculiarities here.
One big question: how often do "spontaneous remissions" happen with these
conditions? Is it unheard of? or 20% of the time? 1%? n%? If it's
either unheard of or only happens when folks are prayed for, obviously, then
the case for miraculous healing seems stronger. Otherwise, the evidence
seems less conclusive.
Right?
(An aside: this seems relevant to the miracles, continuity, and evolution
discussion, but let's remember that this is fundamentally an evolution
discussion group.)
--John
-----Original Message-----
From: evolution-owner@udomo2.calvin.edu
[mailto:evolution-owner@udomo2.calvin.edu]On Behalf Of Gary Collins
Sent: Monday, May 18, 1998 3:30 AM
To: evolution@calvin.edu; grmorton@waymark.net
Subject: Re: the atheist question
....
A week ago last Sunday (10th May) a woman was being prayed for, for
healing. I didn't catch everything that went on, as I was at the back
of the hall, and being of somewhat short stature didn't get a good view..
Suddenly she started shrieking (that's the best word I can use to describe
it) and laughing, and running around the room. We were told she had been
healed of osteo-arthritis..
Last Sunday (17th) we got a more complete picture of what had happened,
as she was called up to the front to give testimony. Also called up was
her former GP, who is also a church member. He had been her GP for about
10 years or so, until a year or two ago, when he changed surgeries..
He told us that, for as long as he had known her, she had suffered from
osteo-arthritis and osteoporosis..
She then told her own story: As the people were praying for her, placing
their hands on her back, she was feeling excruciating pain - so much so
that she almost asked them to stop praying. Then in an instant, all pain
had completely left her - that's when she started junping up and down
and running around. She told us that she had not been able to run for
twenty years..
During the week she had been to visit her current GP. Straight away, he
asked her, 'What's your story?' She was a bit taken aback, and told him
that she was a born-again Christian, and that she believed she had been
healed. The doctor said that he knew she had been.
He had copies of x-rays which clearly showed deformities in 2nd, 4th,
7th and 12th vertebrae. He had subsequently taken his own x-rays, and
they showed no trace of what had been there before.
One strange thing, which no-one can explain, is that those x-rays (ie
the ones that show the healing) were taken 12 weeks ago. She had
apparently been healed all that time, but was still feeling the pain
until after she was prayed for on the 10th. She had been prayed for
on several occasions previously, but for some reason had to wait until
then to actually experience it..
Her new GP wrote across her medical notes, 'healed by a miracle,'
or words to that effect!
WE HAVE A MIGHTY GOD!!! Would such things be expected to happen if
Christ were not raised? Is there any other explanation?
....