page_title: Efficacy of prayer
section_title: Prayers and miracles
hierarchical_section_title: Efficacy of prayer / Belief and skepticism / Prayers and miracles
caption_attribution_description: English: A group of women praying. Italiano: Donne in preghiera. Lumbaart: Fònne che le dìs i pàter. Română: Creştine rugându-se. Kiswahili: Wanawake wakisali pamoja.
context_page_description: What prayer does, if anything, is a question that has been addressed in various religious traditions and more recently in scientific studies. The question is complicated because there are myriad ideas about what prayer is, what functions prayer has, and what are expected outcomes of prayer. Moreover, while some religious groups argue that the "power of prayer" is obvious, others question whether it is possible to measure its effect. Basic philosophical issues inform the question as to whether prayer is efficacious, for example, whether statistical inference and falsifiability inform what it means to "prove" or "disprove" something, and the problem of demarcation, i.e., as to whether this topic is even within the realm of science at all.
  Various scientific studies have addressed the topic of the efficacy of prayer at least since Francis Galton in 1872. According to the Washington Post, "...prayer is the most common complement to mainstream medicine, far outpacing acupuncture, herbs, vitamins and other alternative remedies". Medical studies on prayer have generally shown mixed results when it comes to the efficacy of prayer in recovery from illnesses.
context_section_description: The view expressed by Harris above regarding the "relatively unmiraculous" petitions used in prayers has been addressed in religious circles in the context of miraculous outcomes for prayer. There are different theological classifications of miracles, one of the most common being the three categories: "surpassing nature" (Latin supra naturam), "against nature" (Latin contra naturam) and "alongside nature" (Latin praeter naturam).
  The raising of the dead is considered a "supra naturam" event and is not reported in theological writings beyond the Christian Bible, where ten resurrection events are recorded. Contra naturam events require significant changes to the "order of the world" (e.g. regrowth of limbs) and are also hardly ever reported. Praeter naturam events can proceed along the laws of nature. They have been reported in a number of cases, and have been subject to a large amount of debate. Examples include the claims of miraculous cures at pilgrimage site such as Our Lady of Lourdes. Many of these claims have been analyzed and only a few have been accepted by the Lourdes Medical Bureau.
caption: A group of women praying
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