I wonder, were the tests double-blind?

Were some patients told that they were being prayed for and actually not, as a placebo?

I remember in 2002 when there was a spot on TBN about prayer and it's "proven results" Don't ask why I was watching TBN, I guess I wanted to laugh at the lady with pink hair and bad Tammy Faye eye-lashes.

Anyway, I remember thinking "What happens if there is mass prayer for something negative to another person, or people refuse to pray?" I thought that maybe in some warped way, the people who prayed the wrong way or not at all could be possibly sued or held liable for someone's misfortune all because of prayer.

A bit far fetched, but if we continue on this road of "over correction"...Who knows?

Prayer science is absolute garbage!

I agree Ricky. And we have no idea what people pray for. While many people pray for another's well being, alot of people pray only for selfish reasons. Even "Thank God" seems more an expression of relief than an actual thank you to a higher being. And when prayers don't work, we hear people say it was "God's will."

So while Americans pray for their President and their troops, Iraqi's are praying for their lives and for mercy. Who's prayer's are being listened to? Obviously, not all...

I ride the subway daily in NYC - if there is no terror attack, is it because there one person holding rosary beads or reading a prayer book? If we are attacked will it be because there was only one?

How ironic that this flim-flam artist should be exposed by someone named Flamm.

Bob Park's one-page weekly newsletter What's New ( http://www.aps.org/WN/ ) is a must-read for anyone interested in keeping abreast of junk science and science policy/funding issues. (You can sign up with the American Physical Society for a free subscription here: http://lists.apsmsgs.org/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=whatsnew ) Here's what Bob had to say on this subject back in June and July of this year:

http://www.aps.org/WN/WN04/wn060404.cfm#3

http://www.aps.org/WN/WN04/wn070204.cfm#4

I think it's all interesting and I wonder too like what Anon said. Who does God answer? I do pray myself and believe in higher beings etc. and have seen results but I don't know if it was meant to happen or if my prayer helped and/or just coinicidence that I prayed and it happened? I remember when I was younger growing up learning that God answers prayers when you're ready for them. From what I know about Gods and/or Goddesses that they can't intervine in our lives without us asking. I just think it's a big mystery and we may never know how it works until we die.

I think a many of people think posture has a lot to do with prayer. Standing, knelling, laying prostrate. Which has little to do with the with the posture of ones heart. When I approach God in prayer I must acknowledge that he is. And when I make my requests I must believe he will answer according to his infinite love and wisdom. Where by I am able to be at peace leting God be God. Without assuming I would be a better God than he and being disapointed in his reply. Prayer cannot lend it's self to scientific study because the heart of man always desires 'more' than peace with God.