Testing Prayer: Science and Healing

384 Pages·2012·11.546 MB·English

by  Candy Gunther Brown

TESTING PRAYER

TESTING PRAYER
Science and Healing
(cid:2)
CANDY GUNTHER BROWN
Harvard University Press
Cambridge, Massachusetts
London, En gland
2012
Copyright © 2012 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Brown, Candy Gunther.
Testing prayer : science and healing / Candy Gunther Brown.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 978- 0- 674- 06467- 6 (alk. paper)
1. Spiritual healing— Pentecostal churches. 2. Toronto blessing. I. Title.
BR1644.7.B76 2012
234'.131—dc23
2011041928
With love and gratitude
for my husband, Josh, and daughters, Katrina and Sarah

Contents
Abbreviations ix
Introduction: Th e Magisteria of Science and Religion 1
1. From Toronto Blessing to Global Awakening: Healing and
the Spread of Pentecostal- Charismatic Networks 21
2. Why Are Biomedical Tests of Prayer Controversial? 64
3. Are Healing Claims Documented? 99
4. How Do Suff erers Perceive Healing Prayer? 155
5. Can Health Outcomes of Prayer Be Mea sured? 194
6. Do Healing Experiences Produce Lasting Eff ects? 234
Conclusion: What Science Can Show about Prayer 275
Appendix: Healing Survey 293
Notes 299
Ac know ledg ments 351
Index 353

Abbreviations
AN ambient noise
ANGA Apostolic Network of Global Awakening
CABG coronary artery bypass graft
CAM complementary and alternative medicine
CDC Centers for Disease Control
BERA brainstem evoked response audiometry
dBHL decibels hearing level
dBSPL decibels sound pressure level
GA Global Awakening
GPCH Global Pentecostal and Charismatic Healing
HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
IAHR International Association of Healing Rooms
IM Iris Ministries
IMT international ministry trip
IP intercessory prayer
IR interaction ritual
MRSA methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
MS multiple sclerosis
NIHR National Institute for Healthcare Research
NOMA nonoverlapping magisteria
PIH Partners in Harvest
PIP proximal intercessory prayer
PTA pure- tone average
RCT randomized controlled trial
x Abbreviations
SMJ Southern Medical Journal
STEP Study of the Th erapeutic Eff ects of Intercessory Prayer
STEPP Study of the Th erapeutic Eff ects of Proximal Intercessory Prayer
TACF Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship
TAV Toronto Airport Vineyard
TMJ temporomandibular joint disorder
WCDN World Christian Doctors Network