
Faith healing is the belief that prayer and rituals can elicit divine intervention in spiritual and physical healing. While it is dismissed by scientists and philosophers as pseudoscience, faith healing has existed for thousands of years and is still practised by Christians, pagans, and other spiritual healers.
Faith healing is often associated with the ministry of biblical figures such as Elijah, Jesus, and Paul. In the Bible, Jesus is quoted as saying, Your faith has made you well (ESV) or Your faith has healed you (NIV) to a number of people he healed.
While faith healing is not supported by scientific evidence, some studies have shown that it can have a positive impact on physical and mental health. However, critics argue that this can be attributed to the placebo effect or spontaneous remission.
Faith healing is a controversial topic, with some arguing that it should not be used as a replacement for modern medicine. There have been cases where people have died or suffered serious harm due to relying solely on faith healing instead of seeking medical treatment.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Definition of faith | Utter trust in God and his will |
Faith as a gift | Conversion faith, continuing faith, charismatic faith |
Faith and healing | Faith is crucial to healing but not always necessary |
Faith and God's will | God's will takes precedence over faith |
Faith and prayer | Prayer is an expression of faith |
Faith and works | Faith without works is dead |
Faith and science | Scientists dismiss faith healing as pseudoscience |
What You'll Learn
- Faith healing is not dependent on empirical evidence
- Faith healing is considered pseudoscience by scientists and philosophers
- Faith healing can be classified as a spiritual, supernatural, or paranormal topic
- Faith healing can be a pathway to healing, not the cause of it
- Faith healing is not a right, but an expression of divine mercy
Faith healing is not dependent on empirical evidence
Faith healing is the belief that prayer and gestures such as the laying on of hands can elicit divine intervention in spiritual and physical healing. Believers assert that the healing of disease and disability can be brought about by religious faith through prayer or other rituals that can stimulate a divine presence and power.
However, religious belief in divine intervention does not depend on empirical evidence of an evidence-based outcome achieved via faith healing. The American Cancer Society states that "available scientific evidence does not support claims that faith healing can actually cure physical ailments".
Virtually all scientists and philosophers dismiss faith healing as pseudoscience. Critics reply that claims of medical cures should be tested scientifically because, although faith in the supernatural is not usually considered to be the purview of science, claims of reproducible effects are nevertheless subject to scientific investigation.
A review in 1954 investigated spiritual healing, therapeutic touch, and faith healing. Of the hundred cases reviewed, none revealed that the healer's intervention alone resulted in any improvement or cure of a measurable organic disability.
Believers in faith healing assert that it makes no scientific claims and thus should be treated as a matter of faith that is not testable by science.
Faith healing is considered pseudoscience by scientists and philosophers
Faith healing is the practice of prayer and gestures, such as the laying on of hands, that are believed to elicit divine intervention in spiritual and physical healing. Believers assert that the healing of disease and disability can be brought about by religious faith through prayer or other rituals that can stimulate a divine presence and power. However, faith healing is considered pseudoscience by scientists and philosophers.
Virtually all scientists and philosophers dismiss faith healing as pseudoscience. Scientists and doctors generally find that faith healing lacks biological plausibility or epistemic warrant, which is one of the criteria used to judge whether clinical research is ethical and financially justified. A Cochrane review of intercessory prayer found that "although some of the results of individual studies suggest a positive effect of intercessory prayer, the majority do not". The authors concluded that they were "not convinced that further trials of this intervention should be undertaken".
The American Cancer Society states that "available scientific evidence does not support claims that faith healing can actually cure physical ailments". It adds that "death, disability, and other unwanted outcomes have occurred when faith healing was elected instead of medical care for serious injuries or illnesses". When parents have practiced faith healing but not medical care, many children have died that otherwise would have been expected to live. Similar results are found in adults.
Believers assert that faith healing makes no scientific claims and thus should be treated as a matter of faith that is not testable by science. Critics reply that claims of medical cures should be tested scientifically because, although faith in the supernatural is not in itself usually considered to be the purview of science, claims of reproducible effects are nevertheless subject to scientific investigation.
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Faith healing can be classified as a spiritual, supernatural, or paranormal topic
Faith healing is considered a pseudoscience by scientists and philosophers, and there is little empirical evidence to support claims of physical healing through faith. However, some scientists have acknowledged the existence of the "placebo effect", where the power of belief can lead to pain relief and other forms of symptomatic alleviation.
There are different types of faith that play a role in healing: conversion faith, continuing faith, and charismatic faith. Conversion faith is the faith that leads to justification and salvation. Continuing faith is the daily exercise of faith, where believers look to God with confidence to act in their lives. Charismatic faith is spontaneous and is believed to enable the more supernatural activities of God.
The role of faith in healing can vary. Sometimes, it is the faith of the person needing healing that is instrumental, while other times it is the faith of a friend or family member, or even the faith of the person praying for the healing. In some cases, faith does not seem to play a role at all, and healing occurs simply through an act of God's will.
While faith healing has existed for thousands of years, its popularity has waned in modern times due to the advancement of evidence-based medicine. However, some still advocate for its benefits, arguing that faith can instill confidence and positively impact health outcomes.
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Faith healing can be a pathway to healing, not the cause of it
Faith healing is the belief that prayer and gestures, such as the laying on of hands, can elicit divine intervention in spiritual and physical healing. This is especially prominent in Christian practice, with many interpreting the Bible, particularly the New Testament, as teaching belief in faith healing.
Faith healing is considered a pseudoscience by virtually all scientists and philosophers, and there is no empirical evidence to support claims that it can cure physical ailments. However, faith healing can be a pathway to healing, not the cause of it.
Christian physician Reginald B. Cherry, for instance, views faith healing as a pathway to healing, where God uses both the natural and supernatural to heal. Similarly, Pentecostal writer Wilfred Graves Jr. sees the healing of the body as a physical expression of salvation.
Even those who believe in faith healing acknowledge that it does not always bring about the desired healing. They caution against allowing enthusiasm for faith healing to stir up false hopes, and that healing may come later or even in eternity, not in one's lifetime.
The Bible also provides examples of faith healing being separate from an individual's faith. Jesus, for instance, healed a man with no faith who was chosen out of mercy, and another man who had no faith in Jesus and only knew he had been healed later.
While faith healing may provide comfort and hope, it can also cause tremendous harm if used as the sole treatment for serious illnesses. It is important to distinguish between faith healing as a pathway to healing and faith healing as the sole cause of healing. Relying solely on faith healing can lead to negative health outcomes, as seen in cases where treatable illnesses have resulted in death due to the exclusion of modern medical techniques.
Therefore, while faith healing can be a pathway to healing by providing comfort and hope, it is not the cause of healing itself. The power to heal ultimately rests with the Healer, and seeking appropriate medical care alongside faith healing is crucial to ensuring positive health outcomes.
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Faith healing is not a right, but an expression of divine mercy
Faith healing is a controversial topic, with scientists and doctors generally dismissing it as pseudoscience. However, a significant number of people, especially Christians, believe in its power. Faith healing is the practice of prayer and rituals, such as laying on of hands, that are believed to elicit divine intervention in spiritual and physical healing. While some claim that faith can cure various illnesses and injuries, critics argue that it lacks biological plausibility and epistemic warrant.
The degree of faith one has is often associated with healing in the context of faith healing. This idea is reflected in the biblical quote, "According to your faith be it to you" (Matthew 9:29). However, it is essential to understand that faith healing is not a right but an expression of divine mercy. This means that healing is not something that can be demanded or expected as a right. Instead, it is a gift from a merciful and compassionate God.
The Bible presents faith healing as subject to the will of God rather than the faith or actions of the individual. For instance, in the story of the bleeding woman in Matthew 9, Mark 5, and Luke 8, Jesus heals the woman because of her faith, but he also emphasizes that it is God's grace and mercy that bring about healing. Similarly, in the story of the blind beggar in Luke 18, Jesus heals the man and says, "Your faith has healed you," but it is God's power and will that ultimately bring about the healing.
The role of faith in healing is complex and multifaceted. Sometimes, the faith of the person needing healing is instrumental, while other times it is the faith of a friend or family member. On certain occasions, faith does not seem to play a role at all, and God heals through a sovereign act of His will. However, in most cases, Jesus healed people because of someone's faith.
While faith can be a powerful factor in healing, it is not the only factor. Other elements, such as the will of God, the individual's spiritual need, and the faith of those praying for the sick, also come into play. Ultimately, healing is not contingent upon the degree of one's faith but upon the Healer, who acts out of divine mercy and compassion.
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Frequently asked questions
Faith healing is the practice of prayer and gestures such as laying on of hands, believed by some to elicit divine intervention in spiritual and physical healing. Faith healing is often associated with Christianity, but it is also practised by pagans, Wiccans, druids, and other spiritual healers.
While faith healing has existed for thousands of years, it has grown less popular in recent years as modern medicine has proven to be more effective. The scientific community is generally sceptical of faith healing, and there is little empirical evidence to support claims that it can cure physical ailments. However, some studies have shown that faith healing can have positive effects, which may be attributed to the placebo effect or spontaneous healing.
In the Bible, Jesus often links faith and healing. For example, in Matthew 9:22, Jesus heals a woman with an issue of blood and says, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease" (ESV). In other instances, Jesus heals people who have little or no faith, showing that healing is ultimately an act of God's grace and will. While faith can play a role in healing, it is not a guarantee, and Christians are encouraged to seek medical care in addition to prayer.