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Thinking out of the box? A content analysis of the response to published research on the effects of remote, retroactive intercessory prayer.

Pritchard, A. and Biley, F., 2005. Thinking out of the box? A content analysis of the response to published research on the effects of remote, retroactive intercessory prayer. Spirituality and Health International, 6 (3), 154-165.

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Official URL: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/1122250...

DOI: 10.1002/shi.8

Abstract

A content analysis of the rapid email responses to a potentially controversial article published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on the effect of remote, retroactive intercessory prayer on a group of patients with bloodstream infection at a university hospital in Israel was performed. The content analysis revealed 12 main themes, of which the most predominant were negative and relating to methodological concerns or comments, and/or were religious in nature, often with direct reference to God. Further responses were of a satirical nature, mocking the study. It is concluded that perhaps the real strength of the paper lies not in the results of the study itself, but in the challenge to what constitutes conventional wisdom and the encouragement to readers of the BMJ to Think out of the box.

Item Type:Article
ISSN:1743-1867
Uncontrolled Keywords:prayer, religion, time, science, complementary medicine
Group:Faculty of Health & Social Sciences
ID Code:5805
Deposited By: Dr Francis Biley LEFT
Deposited On:24 Jul 2008 11:06
Last Modified:14 Mar 2022 13:14

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