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Whether certain religious beliefs, attitudes, and practices are helpful to sick people is one question; whether the beliefs are “true” is a different question. The question of effects can be studied scientifically, and should be.
Archive for May, 2009
May 23rd, 2009
Category: Spirituality and Religion
As a de facto atheist, Mark bluntly argues that faith is misguided, but may still bring hope and consolation and thus improve health. Well ok, I guess. But is that really the best we can do?
May 23rd, 2009
Category: Health Care, Science and its methods
Mark has expanded this discussion into a larger sphere than I had in mind in my post. (1) Meta-analysis The record of amazing effects for which science cannot conjecture, never mind observe, a mechanism is extremely poor, from fusion in a beaker to Uri Geller’s spoon-bending. In case after case, an experiment or two is [...]
May 23rd, 2009
Category: Health Care
What if some sorts of religious belief turn out to be helpful in preventing and curing disease?
May 23rd, 2009
Category: Energy and Environment
This is just too perfect. If you think we should, or even can, lane-mile ourselves into a livable society getting around in cars…at automotive ground zero, people can’t even see a whole play from beginning to end: even if you’re on time, someone climbs over your knees in the middle, and it’s OK, because its [...]
May 23rd, 2009
Some positive thought therapy is harmless and maybe builds social capital of affection and community. Surely it’s good for me to concentrate on the welfare of someone else even if the magic mystery ray doesn’t actually transmit; if the patient is present, I can’t imagine that the zillion subconscious signals we are so good at [...]
May 23rd, 2009
In the short run, we want households to consume more. In the long run, we want them to save more. Passing a progressive consumption tax now to take effect later provides incentives for both.
May 23rd, 2009
Category: Spirituality and Religion
No–much as we wish they would.
NPR may be the best thing going in serious journalism these days. So why is it running magical-thinking stories about the healing power of spirituality?
May 22nd, 2009
Why not tax consumption rather than income?
May 22nd, 2009
Category: Language and usage
No, rabbis imitating the bad behavior of priests is not, strictly speaking, ecumenical activity; it’s really interfaith work.