The Faith Factor: Proof of the Healing Power of Prayer [Paperback]

Dale A. Matthews (Author), Connie Clark (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1999

Drawing from the latest scientific research, as well as numerous illustrative case studies, The Faith Factor offers convincing proof that religious practices can and do enhance the healing powers of medicine. And nationally renowned physician Dale A. Matthews offers a program any patient can follow to incorporate faith into their own healing.

Dr. Matthews points out that encouraging an integration of religious beliefs and practices in medical settings can have important benefits for the entire medical community--from patients and doctors to national health policy makers. He shows how the national trend toward rediscovering religious values has led many patients to use prayer in conjunction with conventional treatment, and that the results have already confirmed that faith and religious practice can be valuable medicine. Finally, Dr. Matthews helps readers explore the connection between faith and medicine in their own lives through methods of prayer, community worship, and study of Scripture.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

From a Georgetown medical professor.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Matthews' father was a physician, and his grandfather a minister, and this collaboration with a coauthor whose specialty is contemplative Christianity seems a natural development for him. As he acquired clinical experience, he began to realize that some patients wanted to talk to him about their faith as well as their physical problems. After several striking improvements when he brought his and a patient's strong beliefs in God together, he began to ask often whether patients wanted him to pray with them. The expansion of the doctor-patient relationship to a God-doctor-patient relationship produced many improvements in health and understanding. The decisive factor is not God but faith in God, which has worked for many of Matthews' patients, especially those with problems of addiction. Yet Matthews does not believe faith is a panacea, only that it can be a source of relief and a support. His effort complements that of such colleagues as Herbert Benson (Timeless Healing, 1996) and Larry Dossey (Meaning & Medicine, 1991). William Beatty --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics); 1 edition (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140275754
• ISBN-13: 978-0140275759
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #419,280 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Factual/scientific report on praying and medical rcvry, September 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Faith Factor: God, Medicine, and Healing (Hardcover)

Gives amazing evidence on the effects of prayer on the health and recovery of medical patients. Includes this charge to the medical profession:"It is entirely possible that, a century from now, people will look back at twentieth-century medicine and say, 'Can you believe that those doctors never prayed with their patients? Just think how many lives could have been saved-if only they had set up intercessory-prayer teams in every hospital as we have today!' Will they be as stunned then that we didn't pray for our patients as we would be today if doctors didn't wash their hands before treating patients' wounds?" (Dale Matthews, The Faith Factor, p. 58) I sent it to three physicials I know to consider incorporation into their practice. This book is not for the religious per se, but the medical profession. Very encouraging!

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars God's healing hand, January 10, 2006

By 

B. Benz "flashbenz" (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Faith Factor: Proof of the Healing Power of Prayer (Paperback)

It is ironic how many people try to use science to disprove a healing God. Meanwhile, this book uses science quite eloquently and articulately to demonstrate the healing power of God. "Faith Factor" is a good longitudinal review of the literature linking faith and health. Although Mathews is a Christian, he tries desperately (and I believe successfully) to keep his own faith from biasing the book by examining how faith in any religion seems to improve health.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Faith Factor: Proof of the Healing Power of Prayer, July 23, 2011

By 

Diane Sparks - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Faith Factor: Proof of the Healing Power of Prayer (Paperback)

This book is very well written, with great documented studies. It is a must read for anyone questioning the impact
of the power of prayer. I highly recommend it!