Faith healing

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Faith healing, also called divine healing or spiritual healing, is the use of spiritual means in treating disease, sometimes accompanied with the refusal of modern medical techniques. Critics, such as James Randi, say it is a quack practice in which the "healers" trick desperate people.^[1] As the supposed results of faith healing has never been substantiated it is the subject of controversy.

Contents 1 Christian faith healing 2 Healing evangelist 3 Proposed sociobiological basis 4 Theology 5 Ethical issues when conventional treatment is refused 6 References 7 See also 8 External links

[edit] 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; that expression is more often used descriptively by commentators outside of the faith movement in reference to the belief and 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. An example of a person reported to have the gift of healing is Blessed Brother Andre Besette, CSC, a Holy Cross Brother known as the "Miracle Man of Montreal". The Catholic Church requires one or two miracles for the canonization of a saint, depending on the case. These are most often cases of faith healing reported as resulting from that person's intercession.

Many people who resort to faith healing do so in cases of otherwise incurable disease. However, there are groups that believe in faith healing as the primary (if not sole) remedy for any health problem.

Faith healing has not scientifically been proven effective. What few controlled studies have been performed have evidenced no beneficial effect. 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. Doctors often ascribe any success to the placebo effect or to spontaneous remission: some people will heal with or without treatment, and it is generally natural to credit the most recent treatment for the cure (this logical fallacy is called post hoc ergo propter hoc).

[edit] Healing evangelist

Healing evangelist is an evangelist who presents the gospel with a demonstration of spiritual power and healing in tandem with a proclamation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.^{[citation needed]}

One of the first American healing evangelist to achieve prominence was Aimee Semple McPherson in the 1920's. Oral Roberts was the best known healing evangelist in the 1940's healing movement, although others like Jack Coe and A. A. Allen rode the wave of interest catalyzed by Roberts. Most travelled with large tents to hold mobile, open air crusades.

Another popular figure was Kathryn Kuhlman who gained fame in the 1950's and had a television program on CBS. Other healing evangelists developed a strong television presence, such as Ernest Angley in Akron, Ohio.

In the 1980s there was an influx in faith healers. Notably James Randi researched Peter Popoff who claimed to heal sick people and give personal details about their lives. Randi exposed the voice of God was really radio transmissions of Popoff's wife, Elizabeth, off-stage reading information which she and her aides had gathered from earlier conversation with members of the audience.^[1]

Modern healing evangelists include Benny Hinn, who based his work and model on Kuhlman. Hinn, like the others, was videotaped by hidden cameras and profiled on an episode CBC's The Fifth Estate over allegations of fraudulent activity.

John Wimber, leader of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship movement, and Richard Rossi. Rossi was unique for advertising his healing clinics through secular television and radio, thereby drawing a crowd of skeptics. He believed he could demonstrate and prove God's power to unbelievers through indisputable miracles. Rossi trained the audience to pray for the sick, in an effort to not be personality centered. This new model was in contrast to most faith healers who call the sick to the platform for the healing evangelist to cure them. Rossi also insisted on medical verification of healings and allowed secular television investigative journalists to test the healings for veracity. Rossi's ministry continues through Eternal Grace Church based in Hollywood, CA.

Other forms of hands-on healing are popular in aspects of the New Age movement, but do not involve the evangelistic element of the above personalities.

Scriptural texts used to support healing evangelism include John 14:12 and the Great Commission given in Mark 16, which says "these signs shall follow them that believe, in My Name they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover...." Critics respond that these verses do not appear in the earliest manuscripts.

[edit] Proposed sociobiological basis

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, Therapeutic Touch, Healing Touch, and dozens of other related practices.

[edit] Theology

In the Gospels, Jesus acknowledges the role of the doctor by saying "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick" Mark 2:17 [1] as a parable for his association with sinners in order to save them. Furthermore, the healing in the Gospels is referred to as a sign John 6:2 [2] to prove his divinity and instill belief John 4:48 [3]. When asked for miracles Jesus refuses Mat 12:38 [4]. In fact, if miracles can be performed consistently, then they are not miracles anymore, but can be explained through repeatable experiments [5]. Faith-healing is not for healthcare per se, it is a sign to believe. The role of the doctor is to treat the sick.

[edit] 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. In some countries, parents argue that constitutional guarantees of religious freedom include the right to rely on alternative healing to the exclusion of medical care. 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. Doctors as a rule consider it their duty to do everything that they can in the interests of the patient. In consequence, where they judge medical treatment necessary to save an individual's life or health, and balancing the question with legal and privacy concerns, they may act contrary to the patient's or parental preference. In 2000, a UK government ruling allowed a child to be treated by doctors against the parents' wishes.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Long Healing Prayer (Bahá'í Faith)
• Church of Christ, Scientist (Christian Science)

[edit] External links

• proposed legislation to limit the activities of faith healers
• The Association of Former Pentecostals a non-profit organization uniting former Pentecostals and Charismatics, many who believe that promises of "instant miracles" are a form of psychological or spiritual abuse.
• Skepdic article on Faith Healing