Creation & EvolutionForum for the discussion of this important topic. This forum is open to non-believers. There is a Christians-only forum in the Christians-only section too.
Christians use cancer as a sign god heals because cancer can go into remission spontaneously. Many times without prayer. So it begs the question. How do you tell if the cancer spontaneously went into remission while coincidentally they were also praying for the cancer to go away... vs prayer curing cancer.
Originally Posted by Pete Harcoff
What healing miracles? Every example I've seen can be explained by natural causes (i.e. person's immune system, cancer going into remission, etc).
... Very coincidental natural causes ...
Originally Posted by MoonLancer
I will become a christian if you show me god biologically healing (ie regenerating) the limb of a person through prayer alone.
Originally Posted by Pete Harcoff
A real miracle would be something like an amputee regrowing a limb, but strangely that never seems to happen...
I have never seen a claim that god heals that was not anecdotal in nature and lacking in detail and evidence. There is no evidence that shows prayer has a cause and effect relationship with healing.
We've got an alleged event from the 17th century (back when they burned people suspected of witchcraft), a Bible quote, and an anecdotal news article.
Not very impressive.
__________________ Creationism has not made a single contribution to agriculture, medicine, conservation, forestry, pathology, or any other applied area of biology. Creationism has yielded no classifications, no biogeographies, no underlying mechanisms, no unifying concepts with which to study organisms or life. - Botanical Society of America's Statement on Evolution
Prayer benifits the person who prays, no one else, it works a little like confession, it make the person feel better, if prayer, confession or religion can make a person feel better then it's doing it's job because that's all they are about, making a body feel good.
I guess things should be assessed this way in science, it's more when it overspills into one's predominant thought, like 'everything I feel and think is just chemical reactions and nerve impulses' and asserting that there can't be things like a soul.
You say that it is necessary in science... then you vacillate. Why?
Originally Posted by catzrfluffy
Certain healing miracles? Near death experiences where people see and hear things they couldn't have if they were still in their body?
Anectodal and no such incidence has been shown to be a miracle (ie without a natural explanation).
Originally Posted by catzrfluffy
... Very coincidental natural causes ...
What is coincidential... that such "miracles" are so rare?
Originally Posted by catzrfluffy
There are some studies that suggest prayer does,
They sometimes have a placebol effect. I believe that studies show, however, that when others pray for a patient and the patient is ignorant of such prayers, that they have no effect.
__________________ “The biblical story of the perfect and finished creation from which human beings fell into sin is pre-Darwinian mythology and post-Darwinian nonsense." -Bishop John Shelby Spong
"It is not the obligation of the State to reconcile various faiths with reality. Do it yourself." -Atomweaver
"We have designed our civilization based on science and technology and at the same time arranged things so that almost no one understands anything at all about science and technology. This is a clear prescription for disaster."
- Carl Sagan (Demon Haunted World)
But sorry, I am leaving this section of the forum, I know when perhaps not to waste my time. God bless you all.
Are you telling me that the highly regarded scientific source "ChristianAnswers.net" said that the bible is historically accurate? Well, I'm really surprised.
But sorry, I am leaving this section of the forum, I know when perhaps not to waste my time. God bless you all.
For the life of Jesus Christ, what has passed down to us are only small segments of His life here on earth. Much is missing and a whole lot is incomplete and very biased through the religious lens of those who wrote down what did get passed down.
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__________________
The Universe is a communion of subjects, not a collection of objects - Thomas Berry
The most excellent being in the universe is the universe itself. - Thomas Berry
eww, Sorry about that. That was my bad. I should of known better then to bring a Loaded, Projectile firing weapon on my last trip through time.
From now on, Tazers for my only defensive weapon.
__________________ John Lennon--"I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now? Reality leaves a lot to the imagination."
I've been to Wonderland once too often...... one can no longer tell the difference betwix me and the Hatter!
God bless you all. 
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