| Does prayer work? |
Dale Neumann, a 47 years old Wisconsin man, was convicted in the March 23, 2008,
death of his daughter, Madeline, from undiagnosed diabetes. Prosecutors
contended he should have rushed the girl to a hospital because she couldn't walk,
talk, eat or drink. Instead, Madeline died on the floor of the family's rural Weston
home as people surrounded her and prayed.
Neumann testified Thursday that he believed God would heal his daughter and he
never expected her to die. God promises in the Bible to heal, he said.
SOURCE Wis. jury: Father guilty in prayer death case ROBERT IMRIE, Associated
Press August 1, 2009
death of his daughter, Madeline, from undiagnosed diabetes. Prosecutors
contended he should have rushed the girl to a hospital because she couldn't walk,
talk, eat or drink. Instead, Madeline died on the floor of the family's rural Weston
home as people surrounded her and prayed.
Neumann testified Thursday that he believed God would heal his daughter and he
never expected her to die. God promises in the Bible to heal, he said.
SOURCE Wis. jury: Father guilty in prayer death case ROBERT IMRIE, Associated
Press August 1, 2009
Carl Brent Worthington and Raylene Worthington, an Oregon couple, relied on
prayer instead of medical care were acquitted of manslaughter in the death of their
15-month-old daughter.
The jury convicted Carl Brent Worthington of criminal mistreatment, a misdemeanor
carrying a maximum sentence of a year in jail. The mother, Raylene Worthington,
was acquitted in the 2008 death of their daughter Ava.
Both had faced manslaughter charges, which could have carried a sentence of up
to six years in prison. The mother also was acquitted of criminal mistreatment.
The prosecution said Ava Worthington failed to flourish through most of her life
because of a cyst on her neck that impeded her breathing and eating, contributing
to her fatal pneumonia. She died on a Sunday evening after family and church
members prayed over her and anointed her with olive oil. The state medical
examiner said she could easily have been saved with antibiotics.
The Followers of Christ shuns conventional medicine in favor of faith healing. The
church has been in Oregon City since early in the 20th century. Its members, by
their own description and that of others, keep to themselves.
Oregon couple who treated sick daughter with prayer not medicine acquitted of
manslaughter The Associated Press Friday, July 24th 2009, 4:00 AM
prayer instead of medical care were acquitted of manslaughter in the death of their
15-month-old daughter.
The jury convicted Carl Brent Worthington of criminal mistreatment, a misdemeanor
carrying a maximum sentence of a year in jail. The mother, Raylene Worthington,
was acquitted in the 2008 death of their daughter Ava.
Both had faced manslaughter charges, which could have carried a sentence of up
to six years in prison. The mother also was acquitted of criminal mistreatment.
The prosecution said Ava Worthington failed to flourish through most of her life
because of a cyst on her neck that impeded her breathing and eating, contributing
to her fatal pneumonia. She died on a Sunday evening after family and church
members prayed over her and anointed her with olive oil. The state medical
examiner said she could easily have been saved with antibiotics.
The Followers of Christ shuns conventional medicine in favor of faith healing. The
church has been in Oregon City since early in the 20th century. Its members, by
their own description and that of others, keep to themselves.
Oregon couple who treated sick daughter with prayer not medicine acquitted of
manslaughter The Associated Press Friday, July 24th 2009, 4:00 AM
Collins Armah "Let us confront practical problems with practical
solutions. Let us give science and technology room to operate when it
calls for. Let us check ourselves as humans and do the right thing and
when what is needed to be done by us as humans are done; and such
misfortunes like road accidents keep happening, then we seek spiritual
interpretations."
Collins Armah Prayer camps and superstitious beliefs: A challenge to science
and technology in Africa Modernchana.com 24 Mar 2009
solutions. Let us give science and technology room to operate when it
calls for. Let us check ourselves as humans and do the right thing and
when what is needed to be done by us as humans are done; and such
misfortunes like road accidents keep happening, then we seek spiritual
interpretations."
Collins Armah Prayer camps and superstitious beliefs: A challenge to science
and technology in Africa Modernchana.com 24 Mar 2009
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Can Praying help a sick person's recovery? In a scientific study, praying from
strangers did not showed any benefits for heart surgery patients, And patients who
knew they were being prayed for had a slightly higher rate of complications.
However, this study could not address whether God exists or answers prayers made
on another's behalf. The study could look only for effects or benefits from the specific
prayers offered on sick people.
The study followed about 1,800 patients at six medical centers. The research team
tested the effect of having three Christian groups pray for particular patients, starting
the night before surgery and continuing for two weeks. The volunteers prayed for "a
successful surgery with a quick, healthy recovery and no complications" for specific
patients.
The patients were split into three groups: [1] those who knew they were being prayed
for, [2] those who were prayed for but only knew it was a possibility, and [3] those who
weren't prayed for but were told it was a possibility.
The study looked for any complications within 30 days of the surgery. Results showed
no effect of prayer on complication-free recovery. But among patients who did receive
prayers, 59 percent of the patients who knew they were being prayed for developed a
complication, versus 52 percent of those who were told it was just a possibility.
Reference Study fails to show healing power of prayer Reuters March 30, 2006
strangers did not showed any benefits for heart surgery patients, And patients who
knew they were being prayed for had a slightly higher rate of complications.
However, this study could not address whether God exists or answers prayers made
on another's behalf. The study could look only for effects or benefits from the specific
prayers offered on sick people.
The study followed about 1,800 patients at six medical centers. The research team
tested the effect of having three Christian groups pray for particular patients, starting
the night before surgery and continuing for two weeks. The volunteers prayed for "a
successful surgery with a quick, healthy recovery and no complications" for specific
patients.
The patients were split into three groups: [1] those who knew they were being prayed
for, [2] those who were prayed for but only knew it was a possibility, and [3] those who
weren't prayed for but were told it was a possibility.
The study looked for any complications within 30 days of the surgery. Results showed
no effect of prayer on complication-free recovery. But among patients who did receive
prayers, 59 percent of the patients who knew they were being prayed for developed a
complication, versus 52 percent of those who were told it was just a possibility.
Reference Study fails to show healing power of prayer Reuters March 30, 2006