Prayer

[Huggy Bear]

Prayer does no good unless it's backed by belief.

A placebo does no good unless it's backed by belief.

What's the common denominator? So that study is nonsense unless it can determine the amount of faith a subject possesses, which is not something that is quantifiable by science.

There was several american churches doing all the praying so it's safe to say there was a lot of belief involved. Plus, again, it was funded by the bloody Templeton Foundation.

Uhm You seem to be under the impression that this was atheist scientists praying for atheist patients...

*emphasis mine*

No, it's not safe to say that...

Matthew 17
14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief:

Even Jesus's own disciples failed due to unbelief.

So again your study is nonsense unless it can determine the amount of faith a subject possesses, which is not something that is quantifiable by science.