Faith Healing (1) False Beliefs and True Faith
Dale Neuman, aged 47, was convicted of second degree murder because he refused to call for a doctor when his 11 year old daughter became ill and eventually comatosed. She had undiagnosed diabetes. This American man and his wife face many years in prison because of their mistake. When the child became very ill, unable to walk, talk, eat or drink, the parents opted to continue praying for their daughters recovery instead of taking her to the hospital. Mr. Neuman, who had once studied to be a Pentecostal minister, said that he believed God would heal his daughter and that he did not expect her to die. He told the court,
“If I go to the doctor, I am not believing what he said he would do. ”
However, the Attorney General told the jurors that Mr.Neuman was “overwhelmed by pride” in his interpretation of the Bible and selfishly let Madeline die as a test of a faith. Doctors testified that Madeleine would have had a good chance of survival if she had received medical care. Mr. Neuman’s defence lawyer told the court that Mr. Newman sincerely believed that praying would heal his daughter. He was administering faith healing. He thought it was working.”
This tragic case is an example of what can go wrong when the Bible’s message is misunderstood.
Investigations of Christian healing
Louis Rose was a British psychiatrist who investigated many cases of faith healing. He corresponded with many patients and healers and sought confirmation from their doctors. In 1971 he wrote a book on faith healing. In this he concluded, “I have been unsuccessful. After nearly 20 years of work I have yet to find one “miracle cure”; and without that (or, alternatively, massive statistics which others must provide ) I cannot be convinced of the efficacy of what is commonly termed faith healing.” i
William Nolen was an American surgeon who also set about investigating claims of spiritual healing. After attending the healing service led by Katherine Kuhlman, the prominent Christian healer in the 1960s and 1970s he obtained the names of twenty five people who had been “miraculously healed”. Although there were some symptomatic healings he found nobody had been cured of organic disease. One woman who had cancer in her spine was told to remove her brace and run across across the stage. The following day she developed severe back pain when her spine collapsed. She died four months later. Dr. Nolan wrote a book entitled “Healing: A Doctor In Search of a Miracle” in which he describes his investigations into the claims of several faith healers.ii
The Rev. Ralph DiOrio was a Roman catholic priest who led very popular healing services. In 1987 a science writer. Eugene Emery, Jr, attended one of these services and obtained the details of nine who had had the in pronounced healed. In addition Ralph DiOrio provided the details of 10 others who had been healed through Ralph DiOrio’s ministry. Mr. Emery wrote up his investigations in a Christian magazine and concluded that none of the 19 individuals had been cured.iii
James Randi was a professional magician who set about investigating some of the apparent miracles that contemporary “healers” were performing. It is a damning book in which he describes how many healers had become very famous and rich through fraudulent claims and techniques. On one occasion he investigated Peter Popoff, a healing evangelist. In a large auditorium Mr. Popoff would call a people up to the front and would tell the audience the problem. He sometimes knew the row or seat number that the person was sitting in. God told him this information. However James Randi noted that this healer wore a small hearing aid. He wondered if this might be connected to a radio receiver. He therefore returned with a radio scanner. His suspicions were confirmed. His wife was relaying to him relevant information that had been gleaned from members of the audience as they entered the hall. On a television programme, that Johnny Carson show, Randi exposed what was going on. He first showed a video clip of Randi interacting with a member of the audience. He then replayed the video with Mrs Popoff’s voice superimposed as she relayed relevant information. Randy also exposed another evangelist W. V. Grant who was able to call out to people by name as well as described their problem. Grant obtained this information from letters that people had written to him. He used to mix with the audience prior to the show and so obtained people’s names. Grant used crib sheets to aid his deception. After one performance, Randi obtained a set of these notes from the rubbish bin! Randi also discovered that some of those who had gone forward had given false names and false diagnoses.
Dr. Stephen Barrett also attended some of Grants healing services. He noted that the subjects were typically “slain in the spirit” and fell backwards into the arms of Grant’s assistance. One elderly lady did not want to fall backwards that Grant pushed his fingers into her neck so hard that she could not remain standing. Dr. Barrett also witnessed a man limp up onto the stage. The audience was told that one of his next was shorter than the other. Grant supposedly “lengthened” the man’s leg. Prior to the show Dr. Barrett had noted that this man was one of Grant’s assistance and had walked normally.iv
These may be extreme cases. Why do such Christian healers feel pressurised into using fraudulent techniques and a gross exaggeration? It must be because they are not confident of their own healing powers. If Jesus was very happy to have the results of his healings verified by independent authorities and our hospitals have to audit their results, shouldn’t Christians, who of all people stand up for truth and integrity, not want an honest audit of their claims. Such excesses do great harm to the church and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
What is the Gospel?
Recently I was in a London bus sitting next to the Nigerian. I was returning from an evangelistic talk to a new group of first year students. The Nigerian asked me what I had told them. I explained that I had talked about Jesus, and the significance of his death to pay them for the penalty of our sin. “Did you not tell them about healing?” After this we had a fascinating conversations. He thought that the Bible’s message was about healing. He dismissed my talk about sin and forgiveness. He thought the church’s emphasis should be on healing. The conversation shifted onto what sort of healings he had seen. He admitted that he had never seen the dead raised but confidently affirmed that could this is being done by those who have faith. I asked him if people who have had a leg amputated could expect to have this restored. “Oh yes” he confidently replied. Similarly he assured me that babies born with the stunted arms because of Thalidomide could have them restored. Again he had never witnessed this himself.
Just a few days earlier, a nurse was explaining to a group of doctors why she felt it was important that patients should be offered prayer for healing. “If only the patients believed in Jesus they could be healed,” she explained. She gave us the above verses as authority for saying this.
There is clearly a conflict here. How can staff suggest to patients who are vulnerable that extraordinary supernatural healings are occurring today when there is no evidence for this. I have been told,
“You cannot see the healings because you do not have faith.”
The problem with this view is that it puts faith in a different realm to evidence. The bible does not support such a dichotomy. God made all of us with the same senses. ?When we become Christians we do not gain an extra sense. The ability to be duped is not a spiritual gift.
The consistent message of the Bible is that,
“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
The bible’s message years that Jesus entered this world in order to die on that cross. Therefore he bore the penalty for the sins of those who trust in him. If we do not belong to God’s one and only son then we are neither forgiven nor can we experience the power of god spirit to enable us to live as god wants.
A little while ago I was phoned by a national newspaper reporter as he had seen an article in ‘Triple Helix’, the magazine of the Christian Medical Fellowship in which it was suggested that doctors were in a good position to share the Christian gospel with their patients. He implied that many are concerned about this. This is understandable if he feels that the gospel involves physical healing. This is why we must be clear that the gospel does not promise organic healing, and with the evidence available it is wrong for people to suggest this. There is definitely great peace and satisfaction in knowing that we’re forgiven and had been accepted by God into his own family and this may well have physical implications. For a dying person to know that they have been accepted by their heavenly Father who is waiting for them is wonderful news. Although God is God and can therefore do anything he wishes, such as create a world and put humans in it, the evidence is that he is not widely involved in organic healings today. There are many doctors in the Christian Medical fellowship who were committed to an omnipotent god. The god they believe in can heal, but the evidence is lacking it is doing this today. He is however very active in changing people’s lives. Selfish godless people are finding there is great power available to live a godly life when they turned to Christ.
“What do you think?” the reporter asked.
In reply I reminded him that in the annual ‘State of Health of the Nation’ report, given by Professor Calman (then Chief Medical Officer) a few years ago, health was defined in terms of being well physically, mentally and spiritually. All three are interlinked closely. I then suggested that whether we should talk about spiritual matters to a patient should be controlled by three questions. These questions also apply to any other clinical matter we are thinking of discussing with them. The reply to all three should be in the affirmative if we are to go ahead.
Is it likely to be helpful to this individual?
Is it helpful to society?
Is it true?
Unfortunately time is limited to answer each of these in depth but let us briefly look at them.
Does having a faith help individuals?
Dr Monty Barker, in his Templeton Lectures challenged the sceptics on the question to look at the scientific evidence. He concluded that there are great benefits for individuals who have a real faith. He showed that regular worshippers live longer because of a reduction of heart attacks and strokes. He also found significant mental health benefits.v
Dr Harold Koenig studied 87 hospital patients who were depressed as well as suffering from organic conditions such as heart disease and strokes. In his report in the American Journal of Psychiatry in 1998 it was reported that the stronger an elderly persons religious beliefs, the faster they recovered from their depression. This benefit was independent of medical intervention and quality of life issues.
A study looking at almost 4000 elderly people in North Carolina found that those who attended religious services regularly were 28% less likely to die during the study than others, even after controlling for other risk factors. This benefit was so strong that it was equal to that of not smoking cigarettes.
Another new book by Chamberlain and Hallvi gives a scholarly overview of the hundreds of scientific papers on the relationship between faith and well-being, both in the physical and psychology realms. They looked carefully at the significance of ‘observer bias’ but they still came to the same conclusions as Dr Barker,
“Fully 80% of psychological research on religion and health conclude that a strong faith is advantageous.”
“The scientific evidence convincingly demonstrates that the natural by-product of ‘religion realised’ is longer life, less illness, better physical and mental health, more marital stability, less divorce, less suicide and less abuse of alcohol and other substances.”
They quote Professor Dale Matthews, Professor of Medicine at Georgetown who also argues strongly for the soundness of the ‘faith factor’ when he analysed hundreds of different researchers studies.
The head of psychiatry at a Scottish university said,
“If my patients could be assured of forgiveness, half of them could go home tomorrow.”
The psychiatrist C. J. Jung wrote towards the end of his lifetime,
“During the past thirty years, men from every civilised country in the world have come to me for consultation. Among all my mature patients there was not one whose problem did not spring from a lack of religious world outlook. I can assure you that each of them had become ill because they had not that which only a living religion can give to a man, and not one of them will recover fully unless he regains the religious view of life.”
People do to know the true explanation and answer to life in order to have a full, satisfying existence.
It has been said that if there is a therapy that statistically gives a 5% advantage to patients, then this should be discussed with patients. On this basis having a clear faith, that people are really committed to, is clearly advantageous to them and on this basis should be mentioned.
Does having a faith help society?
Western societies are now seeing the effects of ‘self-centred’ religion. Where there is no belief in a supreme God, to whom we must answer selfishness takes over. Family break-ups and all the consequences of this increase. Litigation goes out of control as people seek their rights whilst neglecting their duties. Care of the elderly and chronically sick becomes a real problem as less and less families see these family members as their responsibility. AIDS becomes common in societies where sexual promiscuity is widespread. The increased use of drugs and alcohol suggest a widespread dissatisfaction in society. Statistically those with a firm faith have lower blood pressure, less depression and anxiety, stronger immune systems and cost the health care system less than people less religiously involved – there are real economic advantages for a society with a widespread faith.
Few people have realised that the word ‘integrity’ has an opposite. It is ‘dis-integrity’ or ‘disintegration’. When individuals cease to be concerned about doing what is right before God, and behave with themselves as their ‘God’, then their personal life will tend to begin to disintegrate. Next their family and social life is affected and eventually the nations life is influenced. When a society looses a strong religious faith then the laws of that society have to become firmer and hasher. Consequently a loss of faith opens the door to totalitarian governments.
Kindness for others is the fruit of a faith, selfishness is the result of a loss of faith. Such kindness helps society run better.
People have experienced Christian Healing
This is undoubtedly true. Many have been ‘bowled over’, experienced strange feelings, known relief of pain during healing services or when prayed for individually. Are we to discount this as Christian healing? Surely not. I have met many who have been helped in this way. And doesn’t the Bible urge church elders too pray for those who are sick?
Healing services are common to all creeds, and the same criticisms could be placed at there doors also. They are also unable to heal the amputated leg or stunted Thalidomide arm. Their healers also avoid or at least keep away from the seriously ill, the geriatric wards, the congenitally stunted and the like. They also find that they can help symptoms but not organic disease. I once read one survey that suggested that Fijian Magic was very effective. There for the healer would often pommel be painful area. Suddenly blood would appear and some times a stone. This magic was very affective at relieving symptoms. The healers work conjurers who secretly partnered sachets of chickens blood and stones. Faith in the healer is very therapeutic.
The placebo effect
If psychologist went for a walk with his for your old daughter. He warned her about the stinging nettles, but to reassure her he also told her about dock leaves. He said,
“If you get stung, then we’ll rub the bad place with a dock leaf and it will very soon be better.”
Ten minutes later his daughter had walked into some stinging nettles so he reassured her that the dock leaf would cure her. He then played a trick on her. He picked a dock leaf but said to his daughter,
“Oh dear, I can’t see the dock leaf anywhere. However, here is a dandelion leaf. I wonder if that will work. I’m afraid it probably won’t. Dandelions are not the same as dock leaves. They just aren’t so magic.”
He rubbed his daughter’s leg with the dock leaf which his daughter thought was a dandelion leaf.
“Ow, daddy, it’s a no better, it still hurts. It’s getting worse.”
The rash certainly looked as bad as ever.
“Let’s see if we can find a proper dock leaf.”
They looked for some more.
“Ah, her is just what we need. This should work.”
Her father picked the dandelion leaf, witch’s daughter thought was a dock leave and rubbed the foot again.
“How does it feel now?”
“Well, a little bit better.”
“But the rash is going away.” Indeed the rash was settling.
“It does feel better.” And within a couple of minutes there was no rash to show.
Yet dock leaf magic is purely placebo magic. Dock leaves have no pharmacologically relevant properties, any more than dandelion leaves to. Their power depends on nothing other than the reputation we have acquired over the centuries. The old English name is docce, which sounds like the Latin doctor, hence doctor leaf. It is providential that they often grow close together.vii.
Could this be an explanation for the benefits found from spiritual healers? Symptoms can be helped but not organic disease.
We are then brought back to the Bible. Jesus certainly performed extraordinary miracles. The dead were raised, and the really were dead. The paralysed walked, the blind saw. The apostles themselves, at least in their early ministry, also performed extraordinary organic healings. Jesus taught us that the Bible is the word of god. It should be there’ll by which we live there. The only question is how we should understand what is written the next article will deal with this.
i Rose L. Faith healing. Baltimore: penguin books, 1971
ii Nole W Healing: A Doctor in Search of a Miracle. New York 1974, Random house Inc
iii Emery CE. Are they really cured? Providence Sunday Journal Magazine, January 15, 1989
iv Stephen Barrett, ‘Some thoughts about Faith Healing’ http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/faith.html
v Montagu Barker, ‘Psychology, Religion and Mental Health’ Rutherford House 2000
vi Theodore Chamberlain and Christopher Hall, ‘Realized Religion’, Templeton Foundation Press 2000
vii Great Expectations: The Evolutionary Psychology of Faith-healing and the Placebo Effect. In “Psychology at the Turn of the Millennium, volume 2: Social, Developmental, and Clinical Perspectives, Ed Claes von Hofsted and Lars Bäckman, pp225-46, Hove:Psychology Press, 2002
