Georgiansilver wrote: The point I was trying to make is "Aren't both acceptable?" Should we not all accept good thoughts AND prayers... why is Christian prayer the one that is criticised?"

Maybe because one is completely neutral and one is couched in a belief system that might be incompatible with someone else's belief system or lack of? I'll accept that they're both essentially well-meaning but I won't accept that they are the same, because they're not. If they are the same, what's the point in prayer in this scenario? Why not just wish someone well or give out good thoughts?

It's also a little disingenuous to aliken a thread about good thoughts, well-wishing and prayers and the situation with the actual story in the article. Threads on here are actively soliciting these things, whereas the prayers in the article are unsolicited and, quite literally, uncalled for.


Our local hospital has people going in to spend time with the patients who claim to be able to give healing.... one of them uses stones/crystals as a medium for this...... stones have NO power as they are inert..... scientific fact.... so why is this allowed....

I've absolutely no idea, sorry. You may have me confused for a departmental manager at your hospital. I don't work there and have no idea about the hospital policy!


Miraculous healings from God are documented..... yes even in the Bible which I personally believe is God inspired........ so you please explain to me why something that science rules out can be allowed where healing from God which is documented isn't..............

No offence and again, I have religious beliefs too and I'm interested in Forteana &c., but - as far as I'm aware - the jury is actually still out on religious healing. In my first post on this thread, I acknowledged the power of positive thinking in recovery which is said to be a factor but attributing it to religious miracles and the like is something else entirely.

I know of various cases of scenarios where healing miracles - whether it's 'psychic surgery' or laying on of hands or more commonly prayer - are said to have taken place but the idea of the Bible as proof in this scenario is a tricky one. The idea of proof of God/miracles &c. in a book "inspired" by God creates a theological feedback loop.