RT Journal
A1 Harris WS, Isley WL
T1 MAssah and mechanisms
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2002
FD June 24
VO 162
IS 12
SP 1420
OP 1423
DO 
UL http://dx.doi.org/
AB 
In their article "Experiments on Distant Intercessory Prayer: God, Science, and the Lesson of Massah," Chibnall et al1 conclude that studies of distant, intercessory prayer are unscientific, in part because no known mechanism can be invoked to explain the results. To suggest that the lack of a known mechanism of action should disqualify a topic from scientific investigation is shortsighted and would clearly have inhibited the discovery and use of several highly effective pharmacological or nutritional agents (eg, aspirin, diethylcarbamazine, chloroquine, and even citrus fruits!). One must first establish (using the scientific method) that an intervention produces effects. Once the phenomenon is determined to be real, then the search for mechanisms should begin.