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Faith Healing,
What is it and who does it?
Faith healing. When spoken in conversation brings forth many images and thoughts. Some may visualize the snake handlers praying, some may see the holy rollers speaking in tongues and falling down in the spirit, and others may see traveling medicine men of the past or modern day ministers who pronounce themselves as healers.
Faith healing is defined by Webster’s dictionary as “the method of treating diseases by prayer and exercise of faith in God” (Merriam- Webster Dictionary). . Other definitions of faith healing include and spiritual or religious means to cure diseases or illness. Some believe that faith healing may afford gradual relief of pain or illness, bring forth a spontaneous “miracle cure” or work in conjunction with conventional medical treatment to alleviate the patient from their affliction.
Faith healing is believed to occur through prayer or the “laying of hands” on the afflicted. This practice is based on Biblical scripture from the Christian Bible. The healing that Jesus did in the Bible is referred to as a sign that proved is divinity and fostered belief in him as the Christ. (Bible King James Version) Jesus was known to refuse the production of miracles based on if the requester actually had faith in Jesus and his power to do so or if they were just testing him to see if he could do it. (Bible King James Version)
Faith healing is seen in many denominations of Christianity and Non-Christian religions. Catholicism reports faith healing as the result of prayer of a saint or a person with the gift of healing. (Faith healing) The Catholic Church has given official recognition to 67 miracles and 7000 medical cures since the Virgin Mary first appeared at Lourdes in February 1858. The miracles are scrutinized by a commission of doctors and scientists and only are recognized after any physical mechanism of recovery is ruled out. (Zenit International News Agency) The...