Research on Intercessory Prayer: Theoretical and Methodological Considerations.

J Relig Health

Post-graduation Program of Psychology, PUCRS, Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Published: December 2017

Belief in the healing power of prayer is found in various religious traditions. Spiritually grounded clinical interventions, such as intercessory prayer (IP), need to be understood in a broader sense. This essay features the IP trials, observing the controversial relationship between inconsistent results and allegedly inadequate methods and theoretical hypothesis. A survey of the literature was conducted including publications indexed until September 2013, focusing on the trials developed in the field and on the critics about the methodological design. Recent meta-analyses and multicenter studies found inconclusive results in the investigation of IP. Clinical trials on IP present some methodological difficulties: The intervention is not fully controlled; the primary outcome is not properly defined; and the theoretical models seem inconsistent. The "non-local consciousness" model may be appropriate for studies of IP. Directions for future research: greater emphasis on the evaluation of the effectiveness of this intervention in animal models; selection of subjects and healers who have previous connection; considering the hypothesis of non-local consciousness in the study design.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10943-015-0172-9DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

intercessory prayer
8
prayer theoretical
4
theoretical methodological
4
methodological considerations
4
considerations belief
4
belief healing
4
healing power
4
power prayer
4
prayer religious
4
religious traditions
4

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!