Power of prayer

The Web site of the John Templeton Foundation, with headquarters in West Conshohocken, Pa., quotes its namesake founder: "None of us has ever understood even 1 percent of the reality of God, the infinity, the eternity of God. All that we have learned is still tiny compared to what is still yet to be discovered if we search for it."

The foundation's mission statement elaborates: "Through its programs, the foundation seeks to encourage the world to catch the vision of the tremendous possibilities for spiritual progress in an open and humble approach to life."

A practical demonstration of the Templeton Foundation's approach is a $2.4 million study whose conclusions, widely reported last week, have raised the hackles of just about everyone who believes in the power of prayer.

In what the foundation describes as a scientific test of the efficacy of prayer, heart-surgery patients who knew they were being prayed for by strangers showed no benefit. In fact, the study designed to test the medical effects of such intercessions showed the prayed-for patients had a higher rate of complications.

Pure folly, say critics of the study. Seeking to comprehend the mind of God is a matter of personal and corporate belief.

Interestingly, another study whose results were released ¼within days of the Templeton study showed that individuals who acknowledge a relationship with God and lead religious lives have longer life expectancies.

Coincidence? Not for the faithful who seek divine comfort and healing through prayer.

Those who look for proof of ultimate being through science are looking in the wrong place. Faith resides in the hearts of believers -- even those who have heart surgery.