Rosemary

The problems with faith healing/spiritualism are the charlatans but there is another side to it. If, and it is a big if one can involve oneself with true believers, and they do exist, they can be the most helpful people that one can meet. My Mother did become involved with a group, they helped one another with anything and everything and many people were helped with the "laying on hands" etc. Let me just say that I do not believe in it at all and I was seriously worried for my Mother but after many, many years there was never a problem no money changing hands in fact to my Mother it was more a get together with a group of friends.
This is becoming long winded, what I am trying to say is does it work? Is it a placebo effect? Is it all in the mind? The point being if it positively affects a persons life who am I to call it utter rubbish, all that matters is that it works for the person involved.

Graham

Rosemary

On the subject of religion I am agnostic, I do not believe that there is a God, I was brought up to rely on evidence not faith. The problem with being an atheist is diametrically opposed to belief and that is that there is no evidence to disbelieve in God. So I will sit on the fence with this one. If I may just say I would love there to be a God.
Your comment about your dog I agree with and not only about bad people, they seem to have an inherrent knowledge of a person that we can only guess at.
Out of interest dogs love Rosemary and guess who is allergic to fur, comes out in a lovely rash after a few minutes.

Graham

bil

The huge problem is that people make their gods in their own image, with human emotions like spite, jealousy and revenge.

There may be a god. There may be gods, and then again there may be none.

I believe there may be, but if they are, I would think them the product of the universe rather than its creator.

Plus it all depends on your definition of what a god is.

The idea that there is an entity that so lacks in empathy that it would a) meddle in the world, and b) have a private torture chamber for all those who failed to worship it correctly is to me quite inconceivable.

Rosemary

Agree 110%

Graham

bil

Is this, or is it not the most ridiculous proposition that if there were a god, it would actually answer prayers?

I mean, the average religious dipshit stands there with a list of requests, and actually thinks that god would alter things to do what a mere human wanted?

These people can't actually have any damn brains, can they?

jimenato

Many practices seem harmless: Reflexology is a foot massage, how can that hurt? Homeopathic remedies contain nothing so can neither hurt nor harm. The problem with all this is that the deluded believer can be diverted from proper medicine. It happens frequently and often has tragic outcomes.

marqueemoon

It is not only the physical effects of quack therapy that hurts, its the financial effect. What's worse most of these frauds are legal, and some are even backed by the NHS

HBG

As the human herd stumbles through life, some stragglers lose their way, in the same way as not all the Wildebeest manage to cross the river, the crocodiles get a few of them.

Give the lost ones access to computers, and they have a voice, apart from the herd, and I suspect that all they do is complain, because they're lost – waiting for the big croc to end their suffering.

angiescarr

It depends what you call 'proper medicine'. There is a bill going through European court at the moment to try to outlaw Herbal medicines. Herbal medicines are foods. 'Diet supplements' if you like. Some of them are really good for you in the right doses. Many years ago I got over a period of post natal anxiety by using passiflora and vitamin B instead of the Ativan my doctor (at the time) wanted to give me. I got to know through helping on a helpline, a lot of people who took Ativan...and many other even worse drugs. I (and others who used similar nutritional methods)got better...those who took the stronger drugs generally didn't.
More recently I've used a herb called Agnus castus for distressing symptoms caused by the menopause with real success. If I went to the doctor he'd probably give me HRT... Much more dangerous than at first thought.
Statins. The wonder drug of recent years is now getting a reputation for questionable benefits and over prescribing and even worse.
Also....
If they'd outlawed the production/use of new herbal medicines before Willow bark started being used we'd never have had Aspirin! It's all about common sense. Trouble is the Pharmaceutical companies have a stake in this. Where there's money... There's a con. whether it be as small as one 'healer' ripping off an old lady...or powerful money removing our right to heal ourselves by buying healthy herbal food supplements. While creating a new money making Fad for a more dangerous drug.
Grrrr Pass me the Passiflora I'm getting wound up!

bil

My dear, common sense? You HAVE to be kidding.

rugbymatt

You all know that our Great Leader David Ike is watching and he will judge you on the final Day because of your blasphemy right?

jimenato

It is because of modern medicine, not herbal medicine, that we are all living so long. Not that that is necessarily a good thing...

jimenato

It becomes law today apparently.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...mes-force.html

I am against this. Herbal remedies will become 'licensed' but with no evidence of efficacy whatever. It will give these products a thin veneer of false respectability. People will believe that they work because they have been licensed. They will be wrong.

marqueemoon

There is a very good podcast about alternative medicine on The Guardian site:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/au...weekly.podcast

Dick Dasterdly

I think the problem many religious ppl.have in accepting the scientific theory, is what came before the big bang and what was it's origin ?