[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Title:Discussions from a Christian Perspective
Notice:Prostitutes and tax collectors welcome!
Moderator:CSC32::J_CHRISTIE
Created:Mon Sep 17 1990
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1362
Total number of notes:61362

832.0. "The Subject Is Prayer" by CSC32::J_CHRISTIE (On loan from God) Wed Jan 26 1994 01:07

USA TODAY had a very interesting article on prayer in December of last
year.  I think it's encouraging when a major publication such as this one
devotes space to the subject of prayer.

The following are a few excepts:

"Even though almost 90% of Americans say they pray, 'they're not all doing
the same thing,' says Margaret Poloma, a University of Akron (Ohio) sociology
professor.

But personal differences don't seem to affect the results of studies showing
prayer can promote healing.

Her research has identified four types of prayer, many people use more than one.

o Colloquial.  Talking to God in your own words, about such things as your
  worries or what you feel thankful for.

o Petitionary.  This type can also be in your own words, but involves, 'asking
  God for very specific material things,' including healing for you or someone
  else.

o Ritualistic.  Memorizing or reading a prayer from a book, such as saying
  the Lord's Prayer, or reciting the rosary.

o Meditative.  This involves, 'moving beyond words, just being still and being
  aware of God's presence,' Paloma says."

Shalom,
Richard

T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
832.1well saidTNPUBS::PAINTERPlanet CrayonWed Jan 26 1994 14:404
    
    Thanks for entering that, Richard.  That's excellent.
    
    Cindy
832.2more on prayerCSC32::J_CHRISTIEOn loan from GodWed Jan 26 1994 18:5021
More from the same article (.0):

"'There's no justification whatsoever for saying one particular spin on
God works and others don't,' says Larry Dossey, a physician who discusses
this research in 'Healing Words: The Power of Prayer and the Practice of
Medicine,' (Harper, San Francisco, $22).

Dossey believes Americans 'need to expand our thoughts of what prayer might
be,' and not confine it just to the idea of 'talking out loud to a male cosmic
parent figure who prefers to be addressed in English.'

'People are all over the ballpark on this, and ought to be,' adds Dossey.
'I meditate at home, on a mountain...I go sit and try to enter a space of 
emptiness and silence, and try not to use words.'

He uses the term 'prayerfulness' to describe the state of mind he believes
is the common thread in all beneficial prayer: 'It emphasizes feelings of
empathy, connectedness, caring and compassion, instead of emphasizing one's
personal spin on religiosity.'"


832.3notPACKED::COLLIS::JACKSONDCU fees? NO!!!Wed Jan 26 1994 19:303
Re:  .2

Sounds like a fundamentalist.  :-)
832.4I value your opinionCSC32::J_CHRISTIEI'm 2 sexy 4 my chairWed Feb 09 1994 23:399
    Cindy Painter,
    
    	I know you're busy, but I a put a New York Times article on
    healing prayer and scientific testing in the U.S. Mail a couple
    of days ago.  I'd like to hear your thoughts after reading it.
    
    Your cousin,
    Richard
    
832.5Focus of Life magazineCSC32::J_CHRISTIEPacifist HellcatSat Mar 05 1994 01:277
    The issue of Life magazine on the supermarket stands today has as
    its cover story - Prayer: How America talks to God.  I was short
    of cash, otherwise I might have picked up a copy.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    
832.6NOW news magazine examines prayerCSC32::J_CHRISTIEPacifist HellcatTue Mar 29 1994 22:2410
    On Wednesday evening (or is it tonight?), the NBC news magazine NOW
    (with Tom "swallows his L's" Brokaw and Katy "Don't call me perky"
    Couric) will be airing a segment on prayer, including scientific
    evidence that it can save your life.
    
    Check local listings for time and channel.  Better check the day, too.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard

832.7BIGQ::SILVAMemories.....Tue Mar 29 1994 22:318


	Richard, NOW is on Wednesdays. Dateline is on Tuesdays. I watch
Dateline, but rarely ever watch NOW.


Glen
832.8CSC32::J_CHRISTIEPacifist HellcatTue Mar 29 1994 22:367
    .7 Glen,
    
    	Thanks.  I was afraid of missing it.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    
832.9religion and science working together...eventuallyTNPUBS::PAINTERPlanet CrayonThu Mar 31 1994 15:4718
    
    Richard,
    
    I watched it last night.  What a great piece!  Larry Dossey is great. 
    It's difficult bringing science and religion together, and he is truly
    a pioneer.  I've read some of his articles in various magazines I
    subscribe to.  (And hope also to sit down and read the article that you
    sent too!)  
    
    I especially liked the 'humanized' as opposed to 'sterilized' hospital 
    setting that exists in the hospital they showed.  Complete with a grand
    piano in a beautiful sitting area...so unlike any other hospital I've
    ever seen.
    
    Thanks for the pointer, Richard.
    
    Cindy
              
832.10CSC32::J_CHRISTIEPacifist HellcatThu Mar 31 1994 17:4211
    .9  Cousin C. V. Painter,
    
    Yes!  A hospital that is truly hospitable!
    
    It's amazing to me that Dossey has so many opponents since surveys
    indicate such a large number of people claim to believe in and practice
    some form of prayer.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    
832.11CSLALL::HENDERSONjust a closer walk with theeThu Mar 31 1994 17:4611


 What did Dossey have to say about prayer (I couldn't watch the show)?






 Jim
832.12CSC32::J_CHRISTIEPacifist HellcatThu Mar 31 1994 22:0912
	When I served as chaplain at Penrose Hospital, I used to go down
each hall and "sweep" the floor with prayer before visiting any patients
on that floor.

	Don't understand why, but things just seemed to go better during
my visits when I did than when I didn't.  When I didn't "sweep" first,
the visits tended to be more awkward, strained, impersonal, and
superficial.

Shalom,
Richard

832.13CSC32::J_CHRISTIEPacifist HellcatThu Mar 31 1994 22:4817
.11 by Jim Henderson

Dr. Dossey, M.D., proposes prayer in addition to traditional medicine.  Dossey
prays before making his hospital rounds and claims it has made a difference.

He cites evidence of a 1988 study where half the population of patients
in the study were prayed for and the other half wasn't.  Neither the
patients nor the doctors knew who was and who wasn't being prayed for.

The patients who were prayed for had fewer complications, required less
pain relief, and healed faster than those who didn't.  Mind you, prayer
was not 100% effective, but as Dossey says, "Name one therapy that does
work 100% of the time."  He has yet to get an answer.

Shalom,
Richard

832.14JUPITR::HILDEBRANTI'm the NRAFri Apr 01 1994 13:075
    I was very ill for the last 10 weeks. I only started to heal when I
    started some "serious" prayer. The doctors didn't know what was wrong,
    but...I'm here today feeling fine and I'll tell you...prayer works.
    
    Marc H.