If there are new control group studies (not anecdotal reports) on the effect of prayer on health I'd love to get a reference. The older ones I know show no benefical effect on the balance of the evidence of all studies.

The placebo effect is much overrated and less general than we'd love to believe. A recent metaanalysis about it showed that it is nil with binary outcomes, very weak to nonexistant with 'hard' (physiological etc.) success variables and strong only with 'weak' (e.g., subjective report of improvement) outcome variables. Undoubtedly there is a strong placebo effect on felt pain. In sum, placebo works but only on a subgroup of indications.

SINSULL, I wish your relations all the best and even a wonder. In one sense I also do believe in wonders: Positive outcomes against all odds with no ready explanation.

Wolfgang