Americans and the Practice of Healing Prayer: Do We Believe?

A new study out of Baylor University shows that a majority of Americans turn to God for personal healing or for healing of loved ones.

The study, published in the Journal of Religion and Health, finds that prayer may be among the most widely used forms of treatment for medical problems.

More than three-fourths of Americans have prayed for their own healing, and nearly a third do so often, according Dr. Jeff Levin, professor of Epidemiology and Population Health. Levin is also director of the Program on Religion and Population Health at Baylor's Institute for Studies of Religion.

Nearly 90 percent have prayed for the healing of others, and more than half report doing so often. More than half of Americans have asked for healing prayer and have taken part in prayer groups.

"Interestingly, most people who use prayer for healing do so alongside regular medical care, rather than as a substitution, as has been presumed up to now," Levin said. "Healing prayer is being used more as a complementary treatment rather than as an alternative one."

Another surprising find from the study is that more than a quarter of all Americans have practiced laying on of hands and nearly one in five has done so on multiple occasions.

"Outside of belief in God, there may be no more ubiquitous religious expression in the U.S. than use of healing prayer," Levin said.

Levin said those who feel a close connection to God, who love God, and feel loved by God are the most likely to pray for healing.

"These people are taking to heart the biblical call to 'love your neighbor as yourself,' something found in both the Old and New Testaments," he said.