Of course science is solidly based on measurement in the physical world. We could construct a model based on mortality from diseases that have been prevented and cured, on procedures that saved or prolonged lives and come up with some idea of the millions now alive due to medical science.
But we can't do that with prayer or faith. We will never know how many suicides were averted by a sudden epiphany, how many survived hopeless situations because of a hidden hope, or how many were saved due to the outreaches of people of faith sending food, and doctors and nurses to places where they would not be. Feeding the poor, caring for the sick, working for decency and humanity... can it be quantified in terms of lives saved? REligion that has been the rescue of addicts and the turning point for criminals-- can you discount those contributions? How many lives were saved by the rigid morals or religious practices of a people? How many hospitals were works of faith? How many doctors and humanitarians "led" to the "calling" of humanity through their own personal faith experiences?
Having just gone through a pair of life threatening medical conditions in my family-- I will trust in western medicine and let the doctors do their work. But I will also pray. In one case the doctor was a "Christian" from Nigeria, the hospital founded and funded by Seventh Day Adventists. I thank God for the facility, for the skill of the surgeon and for what I will believe is a medical miracle. In your chart the life was saved by medicine. In mine I will always know it was faith.
But we can't do that with prayer or faith. We will never know how many suicides were averted by a sudden epiphany, how many survived hopeless situations because of a hidden hope, or how many were saved due to the outreaches of people of faith sending food, and doctors and nurses to places where they would not be. Feeding the poor, caring for the sick, working for decency and humanity... can it be quantified in terms of lives saved? REligion that has been the rescue of addicts and the turning point for criminals-- can you discount those contributions? How many lives were saved by the rigid morals or religious practices of a people? How many hospitals were works of faith? How many doctors and humanitarians "led" to the "calling" of humanity through their own personal faith experiences?
Having just gone through a pair of life threatening medical conditions in my family-- I will trust in western medicine and let the doctors do their work. But I will also pray. In one case the doctor was a "Christian" from Nigeria, the hospital founded and funded by Seventh Day Adventists. I thank God for the facility, for the skill of the surgeon and for what I will believe is a medical miracle. In your chart the life was saved by medicine. In mine I will always know it was faith.