Healing Power Of Prayer - Case Of Gabby Mathis

Can prayer heal? Sociologist Wendy Cadge found that the first ever scientific research into this controversial subject was published back in 1965. Between then and 2006 there were 18 similar studies published in English. In short, the result of the studies is that there is no definitive result. It turned into a ping-pong between scientists who find evidence that prayer can heal, and then the next team finds "no evidence of any benefit" of prayer.

We have to keep in mind that medicine in general is a hotly contested area of research. About 1/3 of all major medical research in the last 15 years was subsequently challenged. (http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/07/13/2255243&tid=99&tid=14).

And more detailed overview at http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/07/13/2255243&tid=99&tid=14 of 49 "highly cited original clinical research studies"

All of the above refers to "mainstream" medical research. Nothing to do with prayer or anything similar. This begs the question - if scientists can't agree on over 30% of major medical research results - then what do we really know? How trustable is the rest?

In each case - family of Gabby Mathis has no doubts. Web is abuzz about the 8 year old Gabby Mathis who was hit by a car while riding her bike on Sunday, June 14th. By the time she arrived to hospital, her brain was bleeding. Doctor's prognoses were bleak.

Dave Schrader, host of a local radio show about the paranormal, heard about the Gabby and asked his listeners to pray for the girl. The message went out on air and also via his myspace page.

Result? By next Tuesday, little Gabby was awake and acting like nothing was wrong. It made it into the news, and here is some of it:

Would you believe that Dave's show is called "DarknessRadio" ?
His myspace is at http://www.myspace.com/thedarknight