Originally posted by: MantisFistMonk
My Psychology professor who has done some amazing stuff, studied altered states of consciousness through isolation and meditation with Buddhist Monks for 6 years, culture studies of the Mojave Indians etc. had an interesting experience one of these preachers.
I don't know what it's called, I think it's called catching the holy ghost or something, but anyways... the preacher did that thing where he touches people on the forehead and they fall over and become "healed" etc. to her...
She is completely skeptic because well, she's a Dr. of Psychology, a psychoanalyst, professional in hypnosis etc. and several other related fields, BUT, she did say when the preacher touched her it completely knocked her out.
She said she didn't have some great experience, or felt changed or anything. In fact she just said it just felt like getting knocked out, which to this day she can't explain.
I thought that was pretty cool.
NOTE : She did say that it did absolutely nothing for her. Her life didn't change, it didn't give her better eyesight etc. but she did say that you can really get knocked out just by them touching you somehow.
when i went to church i was always uncertain about stepping up front for prayer.
then one day, this guy who used to travel with benny hinn who was at our church called me out, up front for prayer. i didnt like it, but i was raised in church, and thought (foolishly) that i was finally going to feel something, get something out of it after being semi-unsure for some time.
he prayed blah blah, touched me and...nothing, i stood there, and then he *pushed* me firmly to the floor.
yes, pushed. another man came a few months later and wanted to pray for *everyone* in the damn place (that took a good 3 hours) and he was a pusher too; feck that, it was the last straw, i quit going a couple of weeks later. crazy bastards pushing people all over the place...i hope they get ingrown toenails on BOTH feet at once.
i believe in this "faith healing" as though it were a placebo: you think its going to work, so something works. not always, and not for everyone, and not always permanently (if at all)
a few months ago my dad stood on a bucket and hurt his knee...because hes quite over weight and tried standing on a bucket; which somehow didnt strike him as a terrible idea. so he goes to church, gets prayer and tells me the next day hes "healed"
5 days later hes popping ibuprofen every 6 hours and wearing a knee brace because it was hurting again. he didnt think anything of it...
my mother has had glasses for years; and about 10 years ago this guy prayed for her, and "healed" her eyes....this lasted a few months and then she was wearing them again, never questioning whether or not she had been actually "healed".
i did, and she didnt think it at all odd...how thats possible is beyond me. after that i wouldnt buy into faith healing unless i was guaranteed some of the profit.