Q&A: Experiments in Prayer
Experiments in Prayer
Question
Hello, honorable Rabbi,
I searched the site but didn’t find anything: is there an article where you respond to Rabbi Moshe Rat’s claims regarding experiments on prayer?
In columns 280 and 298 you respond to his claims, but in the course of your remarks you also write that to this day no scientific experiment has been done on the power and effectiveness of prayer, since according to your approach there is no divine intervention and therefore prayer is not answered.
But in the following article Rabbi Rat brings up several different experiments, and I would be glad to hear your response.
In addition, as I understand it, in the studies he presents (at least some of them), these were not experiments conducted on Jews. Is it relevant for us to look at successful results of an experiment involving gentiles and use that to justify the power of prayer for Jews? After all, they are not praying to the same God (or at least not to the One they should be praying to).
Link to Rabbi Rat’s article:
https://www.knowingfaith.co.il/%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%94-%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%93%D7%A2/%D7%AA%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%A1%D7%95%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%9E%D7%93%D7%A2%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9D
Answer
I addressed this in the appendix to my book God Plays Dice. There I also linked to critiques of those experiments.
Your question about relevance I didn’t understand. Are you looking for the truth, or do you want to lie for the sake of your faith? If you’re looking for truth, then you have to examine every claim of every religion regarding every experiment. If you want to lie, I’m not an adviser to liars.
Discussion on Answer
If you assume that from the outset, then what is there to examine?
The appendix is part of the book, of course. Where do you think an appendix to a book is printed?
I didn’t understand how you concluded from that that I’m looking for a lie.
My question was asked from the starting point that the Torah of Moses is true, and everyone else is praying to a god who cannot save.
And if so, why should studies from other religions be taken into account?
Maybe my mistake is because of my starting point. From what you say, I understand that when comparing or conducting research, one has to examine all religions, but in Rabbi Rat’s article he also strengthens his position regarding prayer with experiments conducted among Christians, so I didn’t understand how that fits together.
As for the appendix I mentioned, where can it be read? Is it part of the book?