It's long been my belief that there's a direct, intrinsic connection between prayer and healing. Although the healing prayer group in which I'd participated for so many years is now defunct, I continue to believe in the healing power of those prayers. And of course I'm far from alone in this.
Recently, FoIB Holly R sent along this interesting article that discusses the link between health care and spirituality:
"Dr. Christina Puchalski is familiar with death ... Several years ago, [she] went into a checkup with a patient previously diagnosed with a terminal illness ... We’d gotten to the heart of the visit, and it wasn’t about the medication or the pain. The real issue was the bereavement and the fear of losing each other.”
And it's not really about religious faith, per se: the focus is primarily on one's “search for ultimate meaning.”
I recall a few years ago, a dear friend (who, perhaps not coincidentally, was the founder of our own healing prayer group) was scheduled for a procedure. Like me, he was also Jewish, and his Christian doctor asked if it would be alright if they could pray together. Of course my friend immediately agreed, and everything went well (which may or may not have had anything to do with the prayers, but they certainly did no harm).
In fact, this practice appears to be more widespread than one might believe:
"In 1998, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) published a report called the Medical School Objectives Project, which included sections on spirituality."
Kudos (and prayers sent).
Recently, FoIB Holly R sent along this interesting article that discusses the link between health care and spirituality:
"Dr. Christina Puchalski is familiar with death ... Several years ago, [she] went into a checkup with a patient previously diagnosed with a terminal illness ... We’d gotten to the heart of the visit, and it wasn’t about the medication or the pain. The real issue was the bereavement and the fear of losing each other.”
And it's not really about religious faith, per se: the focus is primarily on one's “search for ultimate meaning.”
I recall a few years ago, a dear friend (who, perhaps not coincidentally, was the founder of our own healing prayer group) was scheduled for a procedure. Like me, he was also Jewish, and his Christian doctor asked if it would be alright if they could pray together. Of course my friend immediately agreed, and everything went well (which may or may not have had anything to do with the prayers, but they certainly did no harm).
In fact, this practice appears to be more widespread than one might believe:
"In 1998, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) published a report called the Medical School Objectives Project, which included sections on spirituality."
Kudos (and prayers sent).