faith healing - Christian faith healing, Proposed sociobiological basis, Criticism, Ethical issues when conventional treatment is refused
The alleviation of physical and mental ailments by the prayer of a healer relying on a higher source (usually, the power of God) working in response to faith. Known in several religions, the practice is now a major feature of Christian pentecostal and charismatic movements, often accompanied by the laying on of the healer's hands, usually in the context of worship. Critics assert that, even when apparently effective, it is difficult to ascribe healing to the action of the higher source, because so little is currently understood by medical science about the effects of psychological attitudes upon the body's biochemistry.
Christian faith healing
The term is sometimes used in reference to the belief of some Christians who hold that God heals people through the power of the Holy Spirit, often involving the "laying on of hands". Those who hold to this belief do not usually use the term "faith healing" in reference to the practice;
Faith healing is often reported by Catholics as the result of intercessory prayer of a saint or a person with the gift of healing.
Many people who resort to faith healing do so in cases of otherwise incurable disease.
The predominant view among supporters of faith healing is that medical treatment should be sought whenever necessary, and that the two are not incompatible (believing that God can heal both supernaturally and through modern medical practice). However, there is an extreme view that teaches seeking medical treatment constitutes a "lack of faith" in supernatural healing.
The term "faith healing" is occasionally used in connection with Christian Science, though its adherents maintain its practice of healing is methodical and does not rest on faith alone, but also on an intimate understanding of God's law.
Proposed sociobiological basis
Some argue that faith healing may have a basis in sociobiology where evolution conferred survival advantage over the several million years of human pre-history to those tribes that had shamans who were thought to possess powers of healing by virtue of having undergone a neurological transformation whose symptoms are similar to kundalini.
In the UK and British Commonwealth countries, "spiritual healing" is used generically to designate healing by prayer, mental intent and/or the laying-on of hands, both within religious practitioner frameworks and in the secular community - where spiritual healing could include healing as taught and practiced by the National Federation of Spiritual Healers (UK), Reiki, IRECA method, Therapeutic Touch, Healing Touch, and dozens of other related practices.
Criticism
Faith healing has not scientifically been proven effective. Its practitioners can only cite anecdotal evidence of cases where it has been successful, ignoring the far more numerous cases where the patient dies despite the efforts of faith healing.
Prominent 1980's-era faith healer and televangelist Peter Popoff was publicly exposed by noted skeptic James Randi working together with popular TV host Johnny Carson, when it was discovered that the apparent healing miracles and prophetic acts performed by Popoff were in fact part of an elaborately stage-managed setup including planting of audience members and broadcasts to an in-ear radio receiver.
Ethical issues when conventional treatment is refused
Faith healing can pose serious ethical problems for medical professionals when parents decline or refuse traditional medical care for their children. Advocates of conventional medicine argue studies have shown faith healing no more effective than a placebo, making it unethical to rely on, though advocates of spiritual healing argue there exist methodical and bias issues.
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