Dear Ms. Thompson,
I am a regular reader of your column as I find it a good source for increasing my knowledge on a number of
health considerations. I found your article of April 12, particularly interesting as it is in direct contrast to Norman Cousins' Head First - The Biology of Hope & the Healing Power of the Human Spirit, which posits the opposing view to that in your article.
Cousins is a member of the UCLA's School of Medicine's faculty and documents what he claims to be the result of extensive "interviews with doctors, patients, medical students and research scientists". His findings demonstrate that an optimistic outlook, coupled with strong faith (backed with prayer) and a good relationship with one's doctor, can make illness less painful and does increase one's chances of recovery and survival. He concludes, "Hope, faith, laughter and the will to live are biochemical factors that can actually help combat serious disease." It is interesting that even in the realm of spirituality (as there is in commercialism) there are contrary opinions.
- Conroy Daley
Dear Ms Thompson,
I found the article on prayer interesting but the researchers seemed to have missed one important element. They made no reference to the faith of the patients. Being prayed for or knowing that someone is praying for you is not the same as having faith that you will be well.
The patients who were not being prayed for perhaps had more faith or a stronger desire to be well than the others who might have become dependent on the prayer of others rather than on their own faith and their own relationship to the Divine.
Didn't Jesus say "Thy faith has made thee whole"? Keep up the good work.
- Warren B. Chen Shui
Dear Ms Thompson,
As I have read your article I recognise that you speak as one without spiritual knowledge and understanding. Let me enlighten you by allowing you to have the basic understanding of prayer. Prayer is the most essential nourishment in the life of a Christian and, as a matter of fact, mankind.
This vital nutrient promotes growth and, along with faith, gives exquisite results. Whenever one is sick, visits the doctor and is told about an operation to undergo, he or she does not hesitate but immediately puts their trust in that doctor believing he can save them, not even giving the slightest thought to the consequences. The point is that they believe and they hope for the best, having put their lives in the hands of another man.
Let us just imagine when a child of God prays on behalf of another or for themselves, they both believe that God is and can. What an investment! The thing I love about my God is that He does the things, He does for his own reason and in His own time. That you and I may never understand.
I totally disagree with your article because I was a victim by the enemy with rheumatic fever of the heart and a hole in it too. My pastor prayed, generally, I prayed at the hospital door and we believed in God and he did. I am healed with no complaints. Someone prayed, I was healed.
- Hopie Ridley
Test your self-control during Lent
Dear Mrs. Brown,
I decided to take you up on the Lent challenge and cut something out of my diet for Lent. I could not commit to much, but I decided to portion control of my rice intake (as I am a rice junkie). I have more vegetables instead. It was really hard for the first week as I felt I was going through withdrawal, but now I am managing very well and, I am pleased to report, surprised too, that I can button up clothes that could not fit only weeks ago. This is the only change I made; I am not even exercising. Is this just a water loss, or if I keep going will I keep losing weight?
- Reforming rice junkie
(Please see response in Rosalee Brown's column.)
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specialists at Your Health, c/o The Gleaner, 7 North Street, Kingston; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com. Unless otherwise indicated, letters and the specialists' responses are usually published.
