Faith healing

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{{pseudoscience}}
 
{{pseudoscience}}
'''Faith healing''' is the [[quack]] claim of curing disease, disorders or injuries through [[supernatural]] means. No evidence has ever been presented that faith healing has ever cured even something as basic as an ingrown toe nail, let alone HIV, cancer and paralysis. Faith healing is most closely linked to the [[televangelist]] who often use it to fleece millions of dollars from vulnerable people. Almost all of the major televangelist make faith healing a major component of their "services." [[Pat Robertson]] talks to God on his show the ''700 Club'' and announces miraculous and spontaneous healings right before asking for donations. [[Benny Hinn]]'s whole ministry is based around his "miraculous" healings with full blown stage shows where he brings up sick people and pushes them to the ground, screaming "be healed." Hinn also offers the chance to the television audience by placing his hands up in front of the camera and asking people to touch your hands to the screen and you will be healed. [[Peter Popoff]] had a neat trick of being able to announce the address of his <s>victims</s> <s>patients</s> <s>gullible peons</s> victims before "healing" them. He was able to bilk millions from his followers untill [[James Randi]] revealed that Popoff was using closed circuit radios to communicate with his wife instead of god. <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7BQKu0YP8Y James Randi busting Peter Popoff]</ref>.  
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'''Faith healing''' is the [[quack]] claim of curing disease, disorders or injuries through [[supernatural]] means. No evidence has ever been presented that faith healing has ever cured even something as basic as an ingrown toe nail, let alone HIV, cancer and paralysis. Faith healing is most closely linked to the [[televangelist]] who often use it to fleece millions of dollars from vulnerable people. Almost all of the major televangelist make faith healing a major component of their "services." [[Pat Robertson]] talks to God on his show the ''700 Club'' and announces miraculous and spontaneous healings right before asking for donations. Benny Hinn's whole ministry is based around his "miraculous" healings with full blown stage shows where he brings up sick people and pushes them to the ground, screaming "be healed." Hinn also offers the chance to the television audience by placing his hands up in front of the camera and asking people to touch your hands to the screen and you will be healed. Peter Popoff had a neat trick of being able to announce the address of his <s>victims</s> <s>patients</s> <s>gullible peons</s> victims before "healing" them. He was able to bilk millions from his followers untill [[James Randi]] revealed that Popoff was using closed circuit radios to communicate with his wife instead of god. <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7BQKu0YP8Y James Randi busting Peter Popoff]</ref>.  
  
 
Faith healing is also dotted across the landscape of [[alternative medicine]] with things like [[psychic surgery]] and [[Ayurvedic medicine]]. Occasionally faith healing pops up in the peer-reviewed literature usually focused around whether [[intercessory prayer]] for a patient can improve their health or recovery. While a few studies have shown an effect<ref>Byrd RC. Positive therapeutic effects of intercessory prayer in a coronary care unit population. South Med J 1988;81:826-9.</ref><ref>Harris WS, Gowda M, Kolb JW, Strychacz CP, Vacek JL, Jones PG, Forker A, O'Keefe JH, McCallister BD. A randomized, controlled trial of the effects of remote, intercessory prayer on outcomes in patients admitted to the coronary care unit. Arch Intern Med 1999;159:2273-8.</ref>, these studies have come under extensive criticism and most studies have shown a null effect or even that prayer can be detrimental!<ref>Aviles JM, Whelan SE, Hernke DA, Williams BA, Kenny KE, O'Fallon WM, Kopecky SL. Intercessory prayer and cardiovascular disease progression in a coronary care unit population: a randomized controlled trial. Mayo Clin Proc 2001;76:1192-8.</ref><ref>[http://www.slate.com/id/2139373/ The Deity in the Data]</ref>
 
Faith healing is also dotted across the landscape of [[alternative medicine]] with things like [[psychic surgery]] and [[Ayurvedic medicine]]. Occasionally faith healing pops up in the peer-reviewed literature usually focused around whether [[intercessory prayer]] for a patient can improve their health or recovery. While a few studies have shown an effect<ref>Byrd RC. Positive therapeutic effects of intercessory prayer in a coronary care unit population. South Med J 1988;81:826-9.</ref><ref>Harris WS, Gowda M, Kolb JW, Strychacz CP, Vacek JL, Jones PG, Forker A, O'Keefe JH, McCallister BD. A randomized, controlled trial of the effects of remote, intercessory prayer on outcomes in patients admitted to the coronary care unit. Arch Intern Med 1999;159:2273-8.</ref>, these studies have come under extensive criticism and most studies have shown a null effect or even that prayer can be detrimental!<ref>Aviles JM, Whelan SE, Hernke DA, Williams BA, Kenny KE, O'Fallon WM, Kopecky SL. Intercessory prayer and cardiovascular disease progression in a coronary care unit population: a randomized controlled trial. Mayo Clin Proc 2001;76:1192-8.</ref><ref>[http://www.slate.com/id/2139373/ The Deity in the Data]</ref>

Revision as of 15:56, 13 September 2007

Pseudoscience Alert
This topic is a pseudoscience, and is not accepted by the scientific community as a valid discipline.
Although it may use scientific terminology, it does not use scientific methodology.
Remember: just because it sounds right doesn't mean it's actually right.

Faith healing is the quack claim of curing disease, disorders or injuries through supernatural means. No evidence has ever been presented that faith healing has ever cured even something as basic as an ingrown toe nail, let alone HIV, cancer and paralysis. Faith healing is most closely linked to the televangelist who often use it to fleece millions of dollars from vulnerable people. Almost all of the major televangelist make faith healing a major component of their "services." Pat Robertson talks to God on his show the 700 Club and announces miraculous and spontaneous healings right before asking for donations. Benny Hinn's whole ministry is based around his "miraculous" healings with full blown stage shows where he brings up sick people and pushes them to the ground, screaming "be healed." Hinn also offers the chance to the television audience by placing his hands up in front of the camera and asking people to touch your hands to the screen and you will be healed. Peter Popoff had a neat trick of being able to announce the address of his victims patients gullible peons victims before "healing" them. He was able to bilk millions from his followers untill James Randi revealed that Popoff was using closed circuit radios to communicate with his wife instead of god. [1].

Faith healing is also dotted across the landscape of alternative medicine with things like psychic surgery and Ayurvedic medicine. Occasionally faith healing pops up in the peer-reviewed literature usually focused around whether intercessory prayer for a patient can improve their health or recovery. While a few studies have shown an effect[2][3], these studies have come under extensive criticism and most studies have shown a null effect or even that prayer can be detrimental![4][5]

References

  1. James Randi busting Peter Popoff
  2. Byrd RC. Positive therapeutic effects of intercessory prayer in a coronary care unit population. South Med J 1988;81:826-9.
  3. Harris WS, Gowda M, Kolb JW, Strychacz CP, Vacek JL, Jones PG, Forker A, O'Keefe JH, McCallister BD. A randomized, controlled trial of the effects of remote, intercessory prayer on outcomes in patients admitted to the coronary care unit. Arch Intern Med 1999;159:2273-8.
  4. Aviles JM, Whelan SE, Hernke DA, Williams BA, Kenny KE, O'Fallon WM, Kopecky SL. Intercessory prayer and cardiovascular disease progression in a coronary care unit population: a randomized controlled trial. Mayo Clin Proc 2001;76:1192-8.
  5. The Deity in the Data
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