*Perhaps it goes against the grain as a Christian to say this, but I've seen
> enough papers that show beyond much doubt that the placebo effect is
"real".
*
It seems to me that there's a difference between "solace" (small "s") and
Solace (capital "S"). Some nice words that might not be entirely true might
give small-s "solace," like a placebo. I think George highlighted some good
pastoral reasons for giving this kind of solace -- to say that the
comforting words might not be entirely true might simply mean that in our
limited human understanding we don't know for sure whether or how they might
apply -- as with a funeral for a person whose Christian commitment was
unclear. Love for the grieving or hurting might demand small-s solace at
least as a first, basic response. But I think we have to maintain that
capital-S "Solace" involves something more than only psychological comfort.
The Biblical term for it is "hope," which we believe -- even if Richard
Dawkins scoffs -- is grounded in something transcendent and real.
He is risen!
On 4/7/07, mrb22667@kansas.net <mrb22667@kansas.net> wrote:
>
> I realize now how pointed my criticism was -- having forgotten about
> professional clergy among us. But you respond fairly and graciously
> enough -- I
> don't envy your difficult positions when you feel the pressures of the
> laity (or
> your peers as well) to give a certain message that you may discern is not
> Truth.
>
> Iain, the placebo effect has been taken (by one Christian doctor at least
> --
> Paul Brand) as evidence of the God-given power of our own minds to
> influence our
> bodies. He finds it no less wonderful or miraculous that our bodies are
> designed to heal themselves most of the time (and our minds are, after
> all, part
> of that same body.) Yet to apply that to Christianity is, I think,
> fraught with
> danger. If it is a placebo to you, then it isn't faith in God any
> more. Our
> concern has to stay down at the level of "Is this really true?". As I see
> it,
> we aren't permitted to operate (can't?) on the level of "Would it be good
> to
> accept this as true regardless of the question of its actual truth.?" I
> wonder
> if too many Christians are trying to dabble in the second -- which flies
> in the
> face of Christian faith, I think.
>
> --Merv
>
> Quoting Iain Strachan <igd.strachan@gmail.com>:
>
> > On 4/6/07, Michael Roberts <michael.andrea.r@ukonline.co.uk> wrote:
> > >
> > > This is very close to my practise too and I have done a funeral of a
> > > non-church member last week and another in ten days. I say a few
> things
> > > about the deceased and then some Christian comment but not say Fred
> who
> > > never showed any interest in worship has been let through the pearly
> > > gates.
> > > However I do give some Christian proclamation - low key - either
> > > expounding
> > > a passage often John 14 or explaining the gospel in the hymns they
> > > chose..
> > >
> > > Terry will tell us we are off-topic. However we must make clear that
> the
> > > Gospel can only give solace if it is true.
> >
> >
> >
> > Michael,
> >
> > I don't know if I can agree with that last statement. For example, in
> > medicine, the placebo effect is well-known and well documented. For a
> new
> > drug to become accepted in trials, in not only has to be shown to give
> an
> > improvement in the patient's condition, but it also has to be shown to
> do
> > significantly better than a placebo drug that is administered in a
> > double-blind trial. The plain fact is that people often get better
> after
> > administration of a placebo treatment (which should have no effect at
> all),
> > simply because they believe that the treatment they receive is doing
> them
> > some good. The same argument could equally be applied to religious
> beliefs
> > giving solace. Just because a placebo makes you feel better doesn't
> prove
> > that the placebo is genuinely effective. By the same token it could be
> > argued that religious faith gives you solace, but that in turn doesn't
> prove
> > that it's true.
> >
> > Perhaps it goes against the grain as a Christian to say this, but I've
> seen
> > enough papers that show beyond much doubt that the placebo effect is
> "real".
> >
>
>
>
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Received on Sat Apr 7 18:17:06 2007
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