Federal Government spends $2.3 Million to "study" Prayer

[GregD]

November 7, 2004
THE WAY WE LIVE NOW
The Other National Conversation
By JIM HOLT

The United States is a prayerful nation. Eight out of 10 Americans say they pray daily, or at least weekly. Only 9 percent say they never pray. The most commonly mentioned reasons for prayer, according to a 2002 Christian Science Monitor survey, are to seek guidance (cited by 62 percent of the prayerful), to give thanks or praise (54 percent) and to beg for forgiveness (47 percent). Some
Americans admit to asking specific favors from the deity they address, whether healing (45 percent) or something else (43 percent). According to a study by the National Institutes of Health, the use of prayer for healing easily outstrips other alternative medical therapies like acupuncture, yoga and massage.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/07/magazine/07WWLN.html?oref=login&oref=login&8br

[aquart]

1. Who got the contract?

[Liberal Veteran]

2. So let's have all the republicans pray themselves healthier...

...and leave the overworked doctors and nurses for those of us who believe in SCIENCE!

[nemo137]

4. you know, I've said it before, I'll say it again.

Not everyone who prays daily is a knuckle-dragging talibornagain. Some people pray for guidance for the doctors treating them, or simply offer thanks for the fact that there are doctors who work for them.

Just sayin'

[hobbit709]

3. If 8 out of 10 pray

Daily or weekly, why is it that 9 out of 10 people I know don't?