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From: amigo2@ihuxq.UUCP (John Hobson)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Prayer, efficacy of
Message-ID: <788@ihuxq.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 19-Mar-84 17:40:59 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxq.788
Posted: Mon Mar 19 17:40:59 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 20-Mar-84 02:03:05 EST
References: <1346@ittvax.UUCP> <719@seismo.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 14

About Francis Galton's study on the efficacy of prayer, when he felt
that the majority of prayers were being offered for the safety and
well-being of the monarch (see the opening lines of the British
national anthem:  "God save our gracious queen/Long live our noble
queen/God save the queen"), did he consider just how many prayers 
were being offered that "the old bastard would die"?

And just how fervent were these respective prayers anyway.  I know
that Buddhists hold that prayers offered by rote (e.g., prayer-wheels) 
are efficatious, but both Jews and Christians look at the intentions
of the pray-er.
				John Hobson
				AT&T Bell Labs--Naperville, IL
				ihnp4!ihuxq!amigo2