Faith healing
Belief that prayer and rituals can cure illness through divine intervention.
Faith healing is the practice of prayer and gestures, such as laying on of hands, believed by some to elicit divine intervention in spiritual and physical healing, especially within Christianity. Believers assert that religious faith can cure disease and disability through prayer or other rituals, though many scientists and philosophers dismiss faith healing as pseudoscience, while some religious scientists and philosophers may hold differing views. The practice has been popular throughout history, with claims of curing blindness, deafness, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and many other conditions.
- scientific_consensus
- Dismissed as pseudoscience by many scientists and philosophers
Lore & Background
Faith healing is regarded as a Christian belief that God heals people through the power of the Holy Spirit, often involving the laying on of hands. It is also called supernatural healing, divine healing, and miracle healing. Healing in the Christian Bible is associated with the ministry of specific individuals, including Elijah, Jesus, and Paul of Tarsus. The New Testament relates that Jesus healed the sick and told his followers to do the same, and the apostle Paul believed healing is one of the special gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Roman Catholic Church recognizes two kinds of healing: one justified by science through medicine, and one justified by faith through divine grace interceded via prayer, laying on of hands, and anointing with oil.
Reader's Guide
Faith healing has been a persistent element of religious practice, particularly within Christianity, where it is seen as a sign of God's work and a privilege of accepting Jesus's redemption. However, the American Cancer Society states that available scientific evidence does not support claims that faith healing can actually cure physical ailments. Death, disability, and other unwanted outcomes have occurred when faith healing was elected instead of medical care for serious injuries or illnesses, especially among children whose parents chose faith healing over medical treatment. The Catholic Church carefully investigates alleged miracles attributed to prospective saints, and Pope Francis tightened rules on money and miracles in the canonization process. While many Americans believe in the power of prayer to cure, the practice remains controversial and is widely regarded by scientists as pseudoscience.
Did You Know?
- According to a 2004 Newsweek poll, 72 percent of Americans said they believe that praying to God can cure someone, even if science says the person has an incurable disease.
- The American Cancer Society states that 'available scientific evidence does not support claims that faith healing can actually cure physical ailments'.
- When parents have practiced faith healing but not medical care, many children have died that otherwise would have been expected to live.
- In many contexts, 'spiritual healing' is used interchangeably with faith healing or involves seeking divine intervention, though some traditions emphasize divine energy rather than direct intervention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is faith healing in a religious context?
Faith healing is a practice in which believers use prayer, gestures like laying on of hands, or other rituals to call upon divine power for spiritual or physical recovery. It rests on the conviction that God can directly cure illness or disability through the faith of the person praying.
Which religion is faith healing most closely associated with?
Although healing rituals appear across many traditions, faith healing is most prominently linked to Christianity. It has been a recurring feature of Christian worship and community life throughout history.
What kinds of conditions have people claimed to cure through faith healing?
Over the centuries, believers have reported cures ranging from blindness and deafness to serious diseases such as cancer and HIV/AIDS. These claims cover both spiritual ailments and severe physical conditions.
Do scientists recognize faith healing as a valid medical treatment?
Virtually all scientists and philosophers dismiss faith healing as pseudoscience rather than a legitimate medical intervention. No accepted scientific evidence supports the idea that prayer or ritual gestures produce measurable physiological cures.
What is the American Cancer Society's stance on faith healing?
The American Cancer Society does not endorse faith healing as a replacement for evidence-based medical treatment. They encourage patients to pursue proven therapies while acknowledging that spiritual practices can provide emotional comfort.
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