Healing power of prayer

Circle of Wellness
Spiritual

Are you a spiritual person? The answer, no matter who you are, is probably yes. This is because spirituality is an innate force. It manifests itself in ways that are as unique as we are.

"The spirit moves us all differently; it is revealed to each of us in varying contexts of belief. A spiritual experience for one person may be gazing awestruck over the edge of the Grand Canyon, feeling nature’s grandeur swallow up the small, discursive ramblings of the mind; for another, it may be a short daily prayer. Someone may find epiphany in the ordinary – ‘the universe in a grain of sand’; another in mystical experience that seems to pour down from on high; for yet another, true transcendence resides in a tender moment with a loved one."

So, now that you are identified as a spiritual person. Congratulations. Embrace your spirituality, and you will be healthier.

A great goal is to find the peace described by Dr. J. Russel, who defines spirituality as "a sense of meaning and purpose, love and relatedness, and a right relationship to the unknown and unknowable."

What will result from a spiritual state of mind? Mind-body healing has been documented for centuries. Today, however, studies are proving that spirituality has health-promoting qualities. While medicine today is, for the most part, rooted in science, the contemporary healthcare field has no choice but to adapt its thinking on the intangible spirit. In a review of over 1200 studies connecting religion and health, it was found that "the vast majority of these studies show a relationship between greater religious involvement and better mental health, better physical health, or lower use of health services." (Bensson)

Studies have shown that people who regularly attend spiritual services can, on average, add seven years to their lives! The difference in lifespan between those who attend spiritual gatherings and those who do not is as strong as the difference between the lifespan of non-smokers and smokers.

How could such a strong connection exist? Religious ceremonies provide an increase in friendships, and a close, supportive community. The rituals associated with different religions produce happy reminders of past years, and also connect us with our families. Furthermore, religious teachings often promote respect for the body through healthy lifestyles. The power of belief can give us comfort during times of hardship and suffering. This, in turn, reduces the negative toll of stress on our bodies.

Prayer and meditation have also been known to be beneficial. Now medical science is supporting these centuries-old practices. A recent study found that private prayer was related to a 47% decrease in the odds of passing away within the next six years.

Dr. Herbert Benson is the founder of the Mind-Body Medical Institute at Deaconess Hospital in Boston. He has created a technique, "the relaxation response," that has proven to create positive physiologic changes in the body. The relaxation response is rooted in transcendental meditation, and involves focusing deeply on a prayer, word, sound, or phrase of your choice.

How serious is the medical community about spirituality? Medical schools are now including courses on the topic. As of 1999, 60 out of 126 medical schools in the U.S. had courses on spirituality.

According to Harvey Cox, a faculty member at the Harvard Divinity School, ”It is certainly unimaginable that 20 years ago the Harvard Medical School would give even the time of day to something called ‘Spirituality and Healing.’” David Larson, an adjunct professor at Duke University stated, “Prayer and spirituality are a forgotten factor, a beneficial factor in recovery, and something that has been mishandled.”

The medical community’s response to one man’s story reveals the strength of the mind-body movement:

"In an unusual departure for a medical audience, a day was spent on presentations about the healing traditions of various faiths, including Islam, Roman Catholicism, Christian Science, Seventh Day Adventist, and Hinduism. The audience gave a standing ovation to a Hispanic Pentecostalist who was declared mentally retarded at age 2 and was deformed in his teen years by a medically diagnosed condition that left him deaf and blind. Later, he was completely healed by prayer alone, and went on to receive a doctorate from New York’s Union Seminary in systematic theology."