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Meta-Study finds God answers prayers?
September 26, 2008 by Anonymous, 1 year 8 weeks ago
Comment id: 32162
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A meta-study isn't a physical research project; it is essentially a review of numerous research studies on a particular topic.
Therefore a meta-study is only as reliable as the research studies it summarizes.
There has NEVER been a study that passes scientific muster (randomized/placebo-controlled/double-blind) which showed any healing effect of prayer.
There have been studies that claimed to do so, even one posted for two years on Columbia University's website. However, they have been proven to be FRAUDULENT studies. That is, the authors LIED. The authors now are in jail, dead, or under investigation.
So a meta-study that says "a comprehensive analysis of 17 major studies on the effects of intercessory prayer" found a "positive effect" is completely false, if those 17 studies were false.
and they were.