Healing and Prayer: Power or Placebo?

Mind and body healing techniques are the subject of this entry in A&E's Bill Kurtis-hosted Investigative Reports series, challenging the claims of those who advocate, and--not so coincidentally--make their livings from, spiritual techniques of treating intractable physical or psychological maladies. Interview clips with noted supporters such as Deepak Chopra are combined with anecdotal comments from fervent, doctrine-quoting folks who ardently believe that prayer and intervention by the deity have healed themselves and their loved ones. On the other side, skeptics such as Dr. Michael Sherman, editor of Skeptic Magazine, ask why we only hear about cases where prayer seems to have achieved tangible healing results, but not the statistically much greater instances where the patients die. Sherman points out that in the broad spectrum of serious illness, medical flukes will occur, but questions whether these indicate divine intervention. While priests, advocates of applied psychology, and assorted holy folk join Chopra in championing the efficacy of spiritual healing, and an impressive array of scientists and commentators argue in opposition, host Kurtis introduces and contrasts the various experts' qualifications and views. Of course, nothing is ultimately settled; still, at a time when skepticism about matters spiritual and medical is rife, this video asks timely, significant questions and offers answers from both sides of this controversial topic. Engrossing, balanced, impeccably paced and produced, this is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (M. Tribby)