Being Mindful of Religion when Healing

Something to keep in mind when helping others heal is being mindful of their spiritual / religious orientation, and that their wishes are considered (rather than having some kind of healing foisted upon them).

I just posted a blog entry about today’s news story about the $2.8 million prayer study results that showed some people actually got worse when prayed for at:

http://cynthialarson.zaadz.com/blog

I’d love to know your thoughts on this hot topic!

lots of love,
Cynthia
____________________
http://realityshifters.com/
Create Your Best Reality!

Re: Being Mindful of Religion when Healing

They should have spend that  $2.8 million to the homeless people.

That is my honest opinion. If this is really what people worry about it is even worse the I thought! My advice would be follow your heart, be in contact with the Divine.

What in my humble opinion is more important is to stress out that prayer should always be a part of other treatments. I am very worried if people go for 100 % believe the universe will heal them.

But OK this is my opinion and I agree with you I am too curious what others think about this subject!

Leendert 

Re: Being Mindful of Religion when Healing

I think that healing is available to all of us, no matter what religion we profess to belong to.  Like love, healing occurs on many different levels.  $2.8 million dollars cannot prove nor disprove healing that may occur on other than physical levels.  My mother passed away from cancer 3 years ago.  Over the last 6 years of her life, I saw her change from being shy, anti-social, afraid to speak up for herself to a more confident person.  She worked on getting over her resentments and anger that she felt she held toward others.  She opened herself up to new ideas for healing and being.  When she died, all who knew and loved her felt she had experienced a huge healing of her psyche, even though the cancer in her body was too far gone for doctors to change.  She actively participated in a prayer group that I had organized, not praying for herself, but for others, that they might heal or that her prayers might be a comfort to them.  She learned to be selfless, brave, and positive at one of the lowest points in her life.  I think prayers are a form of sending pure energy, with or without intention attached, and that because we are all a part of the energy field, there is an effect.  How could there not be.  Just because science cannot prove something, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.  Sound familiar?  Love to know all your thoughts on this!

Re: Being Mindful of Religion when Healing

Cynthia, I think you make a great point.  On a similar note, we should try to be mindful of religion when receiving healing wishes.  I am not a Christian, and it used to be that when my family said they would pray for me, all I heard was their foisting of religion, but in time I've come to realize that they're expressing their love in the way that's most meaningful to them, and I try to accept it as a gift.

Similarly, my family often sends prayer requests or asks me to pray for people in the family.  I usually say I will keep them in my thoughts, and I do, or I practice Tonglen with them in mind.  Other times, I simply agree to pray for them.  Though prayer, strictly speaking, is not something I consider myself to do, I want to communicate that I'm offering love the best way I know how.

Re: Being Mindful of Religion when Healing

OK thought about it a little more, how can we deal with this? I was raised an atheist, so I used to reject all that came close to religion. So Yes, you might have a point. It just makes me sad that the minds of people work like this! I want your healing but only if it is the right colour and flavour…..???? Well, it might be more complicated then that…..

I still “feel” the money could have been used for other goals, but then again nothing happens for nothing and maybe we should think of a way to address people on their own spiritual level as high or as low as it can get. If I write a prayer I do this 200% intuitively, so it is hard for me to alter that. Do you understand? How do I bargain with the intuitive thought and my mind judging if it will be on the right level, who am I to judge that, I am getting myself in a more complicated corner now, but WTH, I need your guys help to deal with this, or else it will be a loose end thread. 

But how do we speak  to people if they believe in nothing? 

I am puzzled what to do with this, confused……so Help people suggestions please?!

Thanks do for this post because it got me puzzled, and I like that….now I cannot rest before we have a solution for this potential problem



…..L

Re: Being Mindful of Religion when Healing

L………………..

I understand your frustration. I have a very similar confusing problem.

I help moderate a Christian Depression group online. I joined the group about 3 years ago when I was seeking support. I got better and then became a moderator to continue to give and get support. I love the group and I love the people.

Problem is that in the last year I have stopped labeling myself a Christian. I have not stopped seeking Jesus knowledge but I don’t follow the complete doctrine if that is even possible since it seems to change from denomination to denomination.

I have told this to the owner of the group but she still see’s me as being a big support of the group and doesnt mind me staying.

My compassion for “the depressed” is no less since changing my faith, but somehow I feel like I am being fake when I try to be supportive and this holds me back from being supportive. Jesus would have me love and be compassionate……….and I truly am….I know their pain. But I don’t believe that one should do nothing on their own to get healthy and depend on God only.

I stumble with this and have thought about leaving the group………..but I cannot leave the people. So I agree that this issue needs much attention……………..because the main point after all is ……………..caring………love and support. That is central to all of us…..is it not?

Heidi

Re: Being Mindful of Religion when Healing

Scientific Studies: one of the worst things happening today in science is called ‘statistical studies’. Statistical studies are very useful- and they are very misused. What statistical studies are good for is identifying where there MIGHT be a link between a potential cause and effect. Statistical studies are not actually SCIENCE in that they do not have a hypothesis with a testable and reduplicable outcome.

We don’t actually have much information here: just that in SOME cases, cases where prayer was performed got worse. I highly doubt there was a scientific link between the prayer and the worsening. There may be a statistical link- but statistical significance is usually greater than 2% deviation! Also- what are the chances that 2 MILLION dollars were spent by a profitable or corporate foundation to study this subject? What are the chances that their studies, if performed, were performed in a clean and scientific manner without attempts to predjudice the outcome? Pretty low.

To summarize, toss away your fears. Statsitical studies don’t MEAN anything without actual scientific determination, we were not given enough data to determine if this study was even valid, or real, really done, or done properly.

Given the study to analyze- all facts and figures, I might change my mind. Otherwise, this is just a rumour or pseudo-science gossip.

Keep praying!

Love,
David Wahid

Re: Being Mindful of Religion when Healing

I forgot to agree with Cynthia’s main point: respecting people’s wishes and religious beliefs is paramount. Telling a Catholic that you are going to pray a Buddhist prayer for them- probably not wise. Praying a Buddhist prayer for them at home anyway- certainly can’t hurt.

Love,
David Wahid

Re: Being Mindful of Religion when Healing

Thanks for this post Cynthia….I think it was.  I am a Christian in the sense that I follow the teachings of Jesus.  I am also many other things and have had many experiences that do not fall within “traditional” Christianity.  I am open to all that brings about connectedness with other souls.  Having trained in Christian Healing Touch, I was reminded that “healing” is different than curing.  Someone wrote about their mother having cancer and the many changes that happened in her life that were positive, even though her body eventually was overcome by the disease.  In praying for others, I would suggest that acting as a channel of Divine Love, we can direct healing thoughts or prayers to them.  I believe we can visualize the diseased cells being carried out of their bodies or the pain being relieved…we can do this for ourselves as well.  I do not believe, that we can ask for an outcome, however, for who are we to know which outcome will truly bring about the healing that is required for them or those around them.  In the end, we really don't need studies to tell us results do we.  I would agree with others that a person worsening or getting better probably has nothing to do with prayers, but healing happens and we may never know what shape it has taken.  This is the part that requires faith I guess.

Re: Being Mindful of Religion when Healing

Re: Being Mindful of Religion when Healing

Beautifully said, Bonnie. Thank you!

Re: Being Mindful of Religion when Healing

First to Hariculate,

Dear one, I am aware of your concerns. I am a member of a Christian Church, & there have been times when I felt ‘fake’ just stepping through the church doorway, but I know in the depth of my being that I am not a fake because I am a lover of the Beloved Eternal. Also, I feel that the essential teachings of Jesus are sourced in the Eternal, and that is my center as well.

It helps also that our Pastor tells Buddhist, Jewish, & Sufi stories & that the congregation has attracted many people of different religious backgrounds.

I have come to see that my notion of fake-ness has come more from cultural conditioning, and 100’s of years of Biblical distortions, rather than my falsely represented religious beliefs; besides they know I strongly lean towards “All” rather than one tradition.

So I enter into prayers, songs, & discussions from this perspective of All-ness & I have stopped feeling any reason to do otherwise.

Dear Wahid,

About the stats. When I first heard of it my mouth uttered PHOOY! I have witnessed the remarkable changes towards love & compassion, deepening & deepening in meditators & prayer groups. With all that compassion & deep heart caring in the wind I do not accept for a second that this will cause harm.

In Spirit,
Arpana/Peggy

Re: Being Mindful of Religion when Healing

Peggy, Sorry I havn't been in the pods lately.

Thank you so much for sharing.  I am glad to know that I am not the only one that has ever felt fake.  While well knowing that I really do feel a connection with “Something”….

I have been helping in the group more now and opportunities have finally come up for me to be able to be online at home.  I stomped my foot and said to myself “Hey I do care and I do follow after Jesus who preached 'love & compassion' above all else.”  I AM NOT FAKE!!!

Ok good that feels really good…..

Thanks Peggy!

Heidi