Intercessory Prayer

Intercessory prayer has provoked a great deal controversy in regards to whether it should be practiced in conjunction with medicine. Researchers have conducted numerous studies investigating the effects of intercessory prayer; however, the data are inconclusive as to whether it can help or hinder the healing process. New treatments or methods of treatment must first demonstrate their efficacy and safety prior to being implemented in practice. Focusing on intercessory prayer, measuring a prescribed dose and the effects on alleviating symptoms is impossible. Studies fail to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of intercessory prayer; therefore, it should not be condoned in medical practice until such claims are established.

Personal prayer has shown promise in many cases. Results can be attributed to the placebo effect, which has shown validity through research. Intercessory prayer differs from personal prayer in two ways: the patient is not actively praying, and second the patient is not aware he or she is receiving prayer. One person prays for the benefit of another, and the prayer would be to aid in recovery from illness.

The mind and body connection is a very complex relationship; nonetheless, studying this is even more complicated. It remains undeniable that the mind and body share a multifaceted bond between each other. Understanding this stretches beyond the current understanding of science, to something that may never be fully explained. Methods in which this connection can be effectively measured are currently undefined to members of the scientific community. To measure a dose of intercessory prayer is impossible; furthermore, measuring the effectiveness of a dose received is unfeasible. An assertion that prayer is the actual cause eliciting the response to a patient's recovery is preposterous, but these claims are made frequently, with no fundamental understanding of the affiliation.

Recently, intercessory prayer has become a topic of interest, with very little conclusive evidence supporting its use in medicine. Researchers in various fields have conducted many studies; however, the results are inconclusive regarding whether intercessory prayer can aid or impair recovery. While few studies demonstrate the effectiveness of intercessory prayer, others show ineffectiveness and or negative effects on healing. In Benson's "Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP) in cardiac bypass patients: a multicenter randomized trial of uncertainty and certainty of receiving intercessory prayer.", researchers formed three randomized groups encompassing six hospitals. Groups one and two were informed they may or may not receive intercessory prayer; conversely, only one of those groups actually received prayer. The third group was informed they would receive intercessory prayer, and did. The data revealed a similar outcome in the two groups that were unaware as to whether prayer was going to be provided. The patients that received prayer exhibited a 52% occurrence of complications post coronary artery bypass graft surgery while, consequently, of patients that did not receive prayer only 51% had an occurrence of complications post surgery. Group three containing patients that were informed they would receive intercessory prayer, and did, had the highest incidence of post procedure complications at 59%. Conclusions drawn from the study state "Intercessory prayer itself had no effect on complication-free recover