16 Comments
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Ranjit K. Sharma's avatar

Insightful and amusing, your article had me smirking more than once, as it bounced between theism and atheism!

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Isha Yiras Hashem's avatar

As always, thank you Ranjit!

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CSW's avatar

I love this article and I love Isha Yiras Hashem!

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Isha Yiras Hashem's avatar

I love you too!

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Batia's avatar

Great article. Love your sabotage of the scientific study by praying for the control group.

I feel it's important to note that prayer does not work by itself. Prayer is not a magic spell: Abracadabra, wave a magic wand, and the desired result appears. Prayer -- specifically, the aspect of prayer highlighted in this post -- is the act of petitioning Gd for a desired outcome. Gd is the one who actually affects change in the person's earthly condition.

Gd decides whether the patient will live or die. Gd guides the body's healing process. Gd guides the surgeons' hands and the doctors' thoughts.

As such, a person better be praying to the true Gd, the One who actually has power.

I'm doubtful that the studies accounted for that.

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Isha Yiras Hashem's avatar

Rebbetzin Fastag agrees with you, I think, and is writing a follow up to address this.

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Harold Landa's avatar

In my professional life, I have never claimed credit for any cure, especially for spectacular successes. While I am expertly aware of the processes involved in treating my patients, it is HKBH that created those conditions and the statistical probabilities of recovery or cure.

It’s just ‘easier’ to see it in spectacular cases (e.g. 20 yr+ survivor of stage IV lung cancer). The sore throats, bronchitis and pneumonias? Large temptation to claim responsibility, I am always mindful that I am just a שליח.

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Isha Yiras Hashem's avatar

Good for you! Honored that you commented.

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ASL's avatar

Loved it! You take concepts straight into the real world. I find it very interesting that they actually had scientific studies on whether prayer helps.

I also love that Reb. Fastag reads it and adds comments at the end :)

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Isha Yiras Hashem's avatar

Thanks so much for your comment!

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Ash's avatar

Great article!. Loved it

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Isha Yiras Hashem's avatar

Thank you!

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Liba's avatar

This is your best! Hilarious and and serious!

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Isha Yiras Hashem's avatar

Thanks Liba!

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Shaikh Kamruzzaman's avatar

Thank you for a reminder through a nice article.

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Isha Yiras Hashem's avatar

I subscribed to you as well.

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