Keep in mind that scientific studies have shown that prayer actually has a lower success rate than the Placebo Effect.

These "mind over body" wackadoodles pushing the power of "positive thinking" have also been proven wrong. The patients that lash out and get angry without a belief in "god" have an even chance for remission compared to those who pray.

And remote healing is BS.

Enough with the woo. Btw Dr Contreras, if he is so heavy on faith, shouldn't be using any medicines he should stick to the laying on of hands. I'm also quite sure that he doesn't perform medicine without recompense.

"Two hands working accomplish more than thousands clasped in prayer"

Let's stick to science folks. Proven and testable is the only way to go.

My response to this article, as posted on my blog.

Sadly, a great man, Christopher Hitchens, was recently diagnosed with cancer. But what’s sadder, but not surprising, is the Christian response to this tragedy. While some Christians have acted with kindness and respect, it is Francisco Contreras — who amazingly got a column at the Washington Post and a medical degree without any apparent research skills or knowledge — who is giving Christians everywhere a bad name.

His article, Pray for Hitch? Christian healing for believers, atheists, in the “On Faith” section of the Washington Post (don’t ask us how this seriously became a section), notes two celebrities recently cancer stricken: Christopher Hitchens and Christian disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada.

Contreras goes to wonder if Hitchens illness “could be the result of God’s judgment?” But as for Tada, no questions are asked. The hypocrisy must be noted. For the record, I do not believe there is such a thing as God’s judgment — but for sake of argument let’s say there is — then if Hitchens is considered stricken by God’s judgment, shouldn’t Tada be as well?

Continue reading...

We are not eternal beings and death is the end. That's true even for Dr. Francisco Contreras.

What a crock! This arrogant article isn't worthy of the Post.

How disappointing is this article! A bunch of "some people say" bromides coupled with fervent faith - but ignorant of actual studies - hectoring people to BE-lieve. Baloney. As for people of faith praying for Hitchens, how rude. Wouldn't those people of faith like their wishes to be followed in their end days? What makes it right for them to do exactly the opposite of what their intended target wants? (Believers wondering if Hitchens' cancer isn't a result of "God's judgment"!! How do they explain the millions of cancers that accrue to the folks who go to church every Sunday? What nonsense!)

"By the way, I'm going to swing a dead chicken over my head today, in order to keep Hitch alive until tomorrow.

I'm willing to bet that it works like a charm."

Last I checked, Hitchens is still alive, providing scientific proof that swinging a dead chicken over one's head can keep people alive.

Everyone, start swinging those dead chickens.

"As an oncologist and man of faith, I am convinced that there is no substitute for a firm grounding in Christ for people managing disease."

Not to go all ad hominem or anything but I hope this quack posts a warning sign in his lobby. I'd rather be cared for by a guy who is convinced by data which can be independently verified rather than by woo-woo magic. Is the correct "grounding in Christ" the one with or without the Pope? Does it allow stem-cell therapy? Must you accept or reject the Trinity? Is euthanasia allowed since you are on your way to heaven? Did Jesus really resurrect in the flesh? Sheez. I thought the practice of oncology required an education.

Never mind that there's a proven link between knowing people are praying for you and lower general health. You keep claiming that faith is important in a science.

Francisco,

Google "placebo effect" and learn.

By the way, I'm going to swing a dead chicken over my head today, in order to keep Hitch alive until tomorrow.

I'm willing to bet that it works like a charm.

(I'm really going to embarrassed if something happens to him overnight; if so, it's the chicken's fault.)

Hitchen's smoked till 2008. As much as I enjoyed God Is Not Great, he reaps what he sowed, not for his atheism, but for his smoking, and that is the teachable lesson here. I hope his treatment works, hopefully they caught it early enough.

Frankly, I could imagine regular checkups and an awareness of how your lifestyle choices impact your health is a much better route to good health than Christ. And while I can imagine that having an imaginary friend does help when you're going through chemo, I think having family and friends helps even more. Frankly, just thinking everything is always going to work out in the end through Jesus is a little deluded, consider at one point we all shall pass.

There is a massive hole in the basic logic of this article. Does faith help people's health if that faith is in Zeus or does it only work for Jesus? Believing in something may help people improve their health, but everyone eventually dies anyway. So great health or lack of it, is no proof of anything supernatural since the end of your health will always be death, no matter what you believe. Furthermore, this is an argument for the benefits of believing in something and NOT any argument that god exists. So, good luck improving your health, but I would recommend believing in your own strength before any god fairy tales.

"Emotional strength has a huge impact on a patient's response to treatment. In his book "Timeless Healing," Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard, considered the father of modern mind-body medicine, noted that patients who drew strength from an intimate relationship with God had better overall health and a more rapid rate of recovery from chronic illness."
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Yes, a patient's own inner strength and convictions might influence recovery, as might knowing that others are praying (and rooting) for them. However, double-blind tests have found no benefit from prayers for patients who didn't know they were being prayed for.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11761499

Want to honor Hitch's life? Then don't smoke cigarettes and drink Scotch all day and expect facelifts to cover for your unhealthy habits.