For any of you in the area, tomorrow (Wednesday Nov. 3) I'll be debating God at noon and speaking on Weird Things at 7pm at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. For further information contact Professor Jack Rose at 208/236-4261 or by e-mail at rosewill@isu.edu
Here is the link to the piece on myself and skepticism in the Los Angeles Times magazine Sunday, by Patt Morrison:
http://www.latimes.com/news/timesmag/19991031/t000098583.html
http://www.latimes.com/news/columns/morrison/todays.topstory.htm
I have not had time to read the article yet, but here is the link to a new study claiming scientific evidence that intercessory prayer works. I cannot comment on this paper, but others in the past have been deeply flawed. For example, not controlling for the age and socioeconomic status of the patients (both of which influence recovery from disease and illness). Also, how do you prevent the patients in the control group from getting prayed for by their loved ones and family members? Do you write/phone the family members and say "now listen, this is a rigorous controlled scientific experiment we're conducting here and your guy is in the control group, so no praying for him for the next couple of weeks, okay?" Yeah, right.
If any of you have read this article and have comments please send them to me and I'll post them to this group.
Here's the article link:
A Randomized, Controlled Trial of the Effects of Remote, Intercessory Prayer on Outcomes in Patients Admitted to the Coronary Care Unit
William S. Harris, PhD; Manohar Gowda, MD;
Jerry W. KoJames H. O'Keefe, MD;
Ben D. McCallister, MD
Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 159 No. 19, October 25, 1999.
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/issues/v159n19/full/ioi90043.html
It concludes:
Remote, intercessory prayer was associated with lower CCU course scores. This result suggests that prayer may be an effective adjunct to standard medical care.
This just in from the heartland of America, Kansas, who could really use a good dose of skepticism:
Hi! I am the organizer of a brand new group which promotes both atheism and skepticism, the Heartland Humanists. We are looking at affiliating with national organizations and was wondering if the Skeptics Society have group memberships and what the cost/benefits might be. We want to support your endeavors and would be happy to supply your literature/information at all our meetings. We are interested in letting people know about us so would like to be posted on your website (we will link to you) and have an invitation to join mailed to your subscribers.
Jo Ann Mooney, Organizer
Heartland Humanists
P.O. Box 24022
Shawnee Mission, KS 66283-0022
913-432-8660
http://www.heartlandhumanists.uni.cc/