In this episode of Oprah's 'Super Soul Sunday,' the discussion is centered around the 'Power of Prayer.' Oprah introduces Dr. Larry Dossey, a medical doctor who changed his skepticism about prayer after discovering scientific evidence supporting its efficacy in healing. He shares a study from San Francisco General Hospital involving 400 heart patients, where the half who were prayed for without their knowledge had significantly better health outcomes compared to those who did not receive prayers.
Dr. Dossey explains that prayer can positively affect various conditions and even laboratory tests involving fungi, yeast, leukemic cells, tumors in mice, and germinating seeds. The conversation delves into the nature of prayer, with Oprah and Dr. Dossey discussing whether the form of prayer or the religious belief behind it influences its effectiveness. Dr. Dossey presents prayer as a form of communication with the absolute, which could be interpreted as a Supreme Being.
Oprah reflects on the universality of prayer, suggesting that it's not bound by religious affiliation. The episode also touches on the intention behind prayer, with Oprah advocating for an open-ended approach, such as 'may thy will be done,' which aligns with her personal experiences of prayer.
Furthermore, Dr. Dossey shares experiments with bacteria, where those that were prayed for showed better growth, suggesting that prayer has a tangible impact beyond human perception and the placebo effect. The episode promises to explore personal testimonies of medical miracles and the power of prayer in the lives of individuals, illustrating that prayer can transcend personal belief systems and have a universal, positive impact.
Questions for further reflection and discussion
Scientific Evidence and Faith: How does scientific evidence of prayer's effectiveness, like the studies mentioned by Dr. Larry Dossey, influence your perception of prayer? Does knowing that prayer can have measurable effects on health and well-being change the way you think about or practice prayer in your own life?
The Nature of Prayer Across Different Beliefs: Considering that Dr. Dossey emphasizes communication with the 'absolute' rather than a specific deity, what are the implications for interfaith dialogue and understanding when it comes to prayer? Can prayer be a common ground for people of different faiths and even for agnostics or atheists?
Intention and Outcome in Prayer: Oprah discusses the importance of intention in prayer, favoring an open-ended approach. Reflect on your own experiences or beliefs—do you think the specificity of one's intention in prayer matters in terms of the outcome? How do you reconcile the desire for a specific outcome with the surrender to a higher will?
