Help: jumped on for seeking scientific proof of spiritual healing

[robvalue]

(Edited several times on reflection)

Thank you, I shall have a look.

I agree that if a study shows such thing, this is evidence for positive thinking, or at least thinking about something you consider positive. Which I certainly don't deny. The placebo effect is powerful.

It would suggest atheists need to step their game up in term of replicating that placebo effect through such things as positive thinking.

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However... interesting though it may be, I don't understand what practical use this has.

Belief is a state of mind, so an atheist cannot "choose" to become a theist anyway, so cannot gain this perceived benefit, at least not this way.

And I suppose the other way round, a theist would have to do everything they could to avoid critical thinking [in relation to their faith], in case it damaged their faith... which would have separate consequences.

It could however point to a lack of positive thinking in atheists.

Of course.... the situation blows my mind. What god has allowed your liver to break? And may allow you to die getting another one? Why is disease even a problem? But I digress :p