I am a man of faith. All I know is that a year and a half ago, it was discovered by "accident" that I had a thoracic aortic aneurism. It was discovered by "accident" that I had a bad aortic valve. It is a miracle to me that I did not die as a week before I had done some strenuous hiking in the Cascades. It is a miracle to me that one of the best heart surgeons in the country had decided to open up an advanced heart center in a small town hospital six months previously. It is a miracle to me that I had just found a church where healing prayer was an important part of church life and faith and that 10 people I did not know laid their hands on me and the pastor anointed me with healing oil. I only know that I went into surgery with the knowledge that I could die, but either way I was in the hands of God which brought me deep spiritual peace. Yes, the surgeon corrected the aneurism problem (and a bad heart valve), but I believe God surely guided his hand. Merry Christmas; Happy Chanukah, and a blessed New Year.
Chris Hinnenof PA5:39PM December 24, 2008
"she trusted her doctors to choose the best treatment. But she credits her survival to another source. "I believe God heard my prayers and that he healed me," says the retired human resource specialist from Accokeek, Md., who is now cancer free." ... "It's about time doctors realized that God is the true healer here."
In countries where medical help is virtually unavailable, even highly devout Christian communities, suffer terribled diseases, illnesses and death. Perhaps God is punishing them for not having medical care?
Quite frankly this woman is undeserving of the care she received. The arrogance, stupidity and dire lack of respect for medical science religious people afford themselves is truly shocking.
Dawkins notes:
"[Pope John Paul II] suffered an assassination attempt in Rome, and attributed his survival to intervention by Our Lady of Fatima: 'A maternal hand guided the bullet'. One cannot help but wonder why she didn't guide it to miss him altogether. Others might think the team of surgeons who operated on him for six hours deserved at least a share of the credit. But perhaps their hands too were maternally guided. The relevant point is that it wasn't just Our Lady, who in the Pope's opinion guided the bullet, but specifically Our Lady of Fatima. Presumably Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Guadeloupe, Our Lady of Medjugorje, Our Lady of Akita, Our Lady of Zeitoun, Our Lady of Garabandal, and Our Lady of Knock, were busy on other errands at the time."
If American Christians want to put their faith in the terrifying prejudicies and superstitions of Iron Age men they are welcome to do so, but perhaps they ought to have the courage of their convictions and eschew medical science altogether. We'll soon see who is the 'true healer here'.
Ianof NV2:14AM December 24, 2008
There is no specific word to say no to this. As people are born all are from the starting trained by either by parents or other near and dear or those who adopted the child. Automatically he or she is taught about the culture what the elders follow. But as the child grows he or she gets influenced by the personalities surrounding them mat be come believer or nonbeliever in god.
But one thing is sure the prayer for some few moments keeps the person away from his or her thoughts. And it may give relaxation the mind and body. Specially foe ailing personal it is good to workout on meditation for some time of the life rather than just idling and fearing about inevitable.
The way we have born we may have to face the death bed one day. Then why to fear about that and make all the mental and physical problems. Just think that whatever we have done is to the best of our knowledge, to our limited mind there are still unknown knowledge for which we have no clue but we proceed towards unravelling that truth what is that life and death. what that makes us to life and what it makes us to die. of course some say that having breath is life and losing the breath is death. but it is only physical quantity. It is yet to be explored, there are so many people who tried before and lots of people who may try to explore in future. It is never ending process as far as the life is there on this earth.
Those who explored have written so many stories, epics and there are legends of tales about it. It is all entire HIS-STORY/HER-STORY. It is now about those who have ruled or kings or personal. it is all about a principled way of life that can ensure virtuousness & righteousness on this earth. History also shows that there number of people who have born when ever there are more antisocial on this earth. The same history also shows there are kings or rulers those who have spread terror with their own mechanisms, this because all these elements of antisocial or supported by these rulers for their selfish motives. That is what I meant is when ever there is undemocratic rulers there came some revolution, people came up and thrown those undemocratic rulers and antisocial and restored peace, harmony ans serenity on this earth.The person who does this is always called as Messiah or god or messenger of god.
If a person gets some solace by praying to the god, it keeps the mind away from that fear of death, then the brain may struggle for survival. each and every body those who pray are praying for that god who can take everybody to the path of that virtuous & righteous, but people do not have the courage to say that what is right or wrong due to their own feelings of getting rejected and humiliated by those antisocial elements, who are aided by ruling machinery.
Let us all pray to that path finder to lead us to that path
Let us all plead to that Jesus to lead us that person
Let us all kneel to that Allah to give us light to see that person
Let us all bow to that Ram-Krishna to give us wisdom to follow that
Let us all bow to that wisdom of LIGHT that makes every life
Let us all bow to that Ultimate Magnetism that makes this Universe
Let us all bow to that Power that combines Light and Magnetism
D.Bheemeswar12:46AM December 24, 2008
Being a medical doctor as well as doctor of alternative medicine, I strongly believe that religion and faith are an important part of health and healing.
My comments are based on hundreds of cases I have personally seen and having observed that patients who do not have much faith in medicine or their treatment or their doctor do not get well.
Obviously medicine alone does not do the job. It is the combination of medicine, prayers or faith which helps the healing process.
For hundreds of years, the relationship between faith and healing was practiced and respected. Unfortunately the 20th century medicine and so called modern philosophy on health changed it all.
I see a significant positive change in the medical field, both within the medical providers as well as within the consumers and society-at-large, in spite of the overwhelming efforts and advertising of the pharmaceutical industry to the contrary.
Shakil A. Khan MD, HD, NDof MI5:56PM December 23, 2008
The answer is simple. Read a book titled "The Future to an Illusion", the Author was Sigmund Freud, the book was published in 1953. Within this book you will find the true answer so the issue and its place will be clear to all.
Gwazdos
Gwazdosof ME3:47PM December 23, 2008
YES! It isn't so much a matter of 'what' religion, it is a matter of faith, that "Our Creator" will keep HIS hands on those of the doctors to help heal us!
I know Faith works, I have experienced it! I feel sorry for, and will pray for those of you who do not have faith in "Our Creator!"
of 3:09PM December 23, 2008
> What leads the woman to believe that she is so special in the eyes of her deity that she is singled out to be cured?
Narcissism
Chris Benton1:03PM December 23, 2008
All the hard work by the Doctors who cured her, totally ignored, not a word of thanks.
I wonder who she will running to if she finds she has cancer again?
Stuart11:46AM December 23, 2008
Getting hung up on 'RELIGION' only limits an understanding of humans looking for balance in their lives. Few will argue with the the human need for food, self esteem, procreation, and being part of a social structure. Humans understand elements out side of basic needs, they often feel there is more than the seen and touched. Spiritual elements often balance lives and balanced persons have lives with meaning. Life with meaning is a life well lived and good health is a positive outcome of this. Attacking elements that can be positive for many is thought to expose the negative in the attacker. Good health is an indicator of balance. Many persons choose no religion, and have very positive lives, and good health. Many are spiritual and embrace positive balanced lives, and enjoy good health. When catastrophic illness comes to a person who has meaning and purpose the outcome is often much better than a person who has less balance and anger in their life.
Frank Abairof 11:12AM December 23, 2008
What leads the woman to believe that she is so special in the eyes of her deity that she is singled out to be cured?
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Chris Hinnen of PA 5:39PM December 24, 2008
Ian of NV 2:14AM December 24, 2008
D.Bheemeswar 12:46AM December 24, 2008
Shakil A. Khan MD, HD, ND of MI 5:56PM December 23, 2008
Gwazdos of ME 3:47PM December 23, 2008
of 3:09PM December 23, 2008
Chris Benton 1:03PM December 23, 2008
Stuart 11:46AM December 23, 2008
Frank Abair of 11:12AM December 23, 2008
Chris Hughes 6:11AM December 23, 2008