faith healing
Let an agent explain faith healing respectfully, relay religious traditions, historical movements and scientific assessments with attribution, describe the movements and sites the registry aliases name, and distinguish faith healing from prayer as practice, from placebo, from medical chaplaincy and from fraudulent healing claims, advising against delaying medical care.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain faith healing respectfully, relay religious traditions, historical movements and scientific assessments with attribution, describe the movements and sites the registry aliases name, and distinguish faith healing from prayer as practice, from placebo, from medical chaplaincy and from fraudulent healing claims, advising against delaying medical care.
The belief and practice that illness can be healed through religious faith, prayer, laying on of hands, pilgrimage or spiritual intervention, found in many traditions, including Christian healing ministries and claimed healings at pilgrimage sites such as Lourdes, where the Catholic Church has recognised a small number of cases as miracles after investigation, and movements such as New Thought and the historical mail-order Psychiana; scientific studies have not shown that faith healing cures disease beyond placebo and natural recovery, and relying on it instead of medical care has caused harm. The model respects belief while advising people not to delay medical treatment.
What it is for: Not applicable; a religious practice and belief.
It can be explain traditions respectfully; relay scientific assessments with attribution; describe named movements; advise not delaying medical care.
Distinguishing features
Faith-based
Many traditions
Scientifically unsupported as cure
Risk if replacing medicine
What it looks like
Not a visible object; prayer, laying on of hands and pilgrimage.
Physical character
Lourdes recognised miracles: 70 count - as of recent Church statements
Psychiana: 1928-1950s period - Frank B. Robinson
New Thought movement: late 19th century note
How it is recognised
Healing sought through religious faith
New Thought, Psychiana, Jesus healer tradition, healing at Lourdes
Prayer is broader practice; placebo is a measured effect; chaplaincy supports patients alongside medicine; fraud exploits believers
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is associated with -
is contrasted with -
includes -
In practice
Families and kinds
Christian healing ministries and laying on of hands
pilgrimage healing such as Lourdes
New Thought and mind cure movements
historical movements such as Psychiana
healing practices in other religions
Standards and regulation
Laws on medical neglect of children
Consumer protection against fraudulent health claims
Failure modes and hazards
Delaying effective medical treatment
Disrespect toward believers
Exploitation by fraudulent healers
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What faith healing is.
Attribution.
Definition
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
- What is faith healing, and how does it differ from prayer, placebo, chaplaincy and fraudulent claims? definition
- Is someone considering faith healing instead of medical treatment for a serious illness, in which case they should consult a clinician without delay? boundary
Movements
Traditions and movements.
Movements
Movements.
- What are New Thought, Psychiana, the Jesus healer tradition and healing at Lourdes? definition
- Which entry fits the specific movement? action
Religion Religious views.
Attribution.
Traditions
Traditions.
Traditions
Traditions.
- How do religious traditions understand healing and miracles, presented respectfully? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Lourdes
Lourdes investigations.
Lourdes
Lourdes.
- How does the Lourdes Medical Bureau investigate claimed cures, with process attributed? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Science Scientific assessment.
Attribution.
Studies
Studies.
Studies
Studies.
- What do studies on intercessory prayer and healing claims report, with findings attributed? provenance
- Is the presentation balanced and respectful? boundary
Harms
Harms.
Harms
Harms.
- What harms have been documented when medical care was refused, and how does law respond? provenance
- Which entry fits religious objections to medical treatment? action
Context History and fraud.
Context.
History
History.
History
History.
- How did healing movements develop in the 19th and 20th centuries? provenance
- Which entry fits Christian Science? action
Fraud
Fraud.
Fraud
Fraud.
- How have fraudulent healers been exposed, with cases attributed? provenance
- Which entry fits James Randi? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should healing at Lourdes and New Thought be separate primary entries?
- How should religious and scientific sources be linked?
- How should belief and evidence be presented together?