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Written by Andrea Ellingham, working individually

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Definition:
Ancient wisdom refers to any beliefs, gods, or practices used in the ancient times. A lot of these methods are considered barbaric and just plain outdated, such as medical bloodletting or crystal healing.

Connection:
The image below depicts a medieval doctor performing a bloodletting procedure on a patient. Bloodletting was the process in which a sick persons skin would be cut and left to bleed. The procedure was thought to rid the body of harmful toxins that were being carried in the blood, and thus make the person healthy again. Blood letting is still used today to help treat certain diseases, but is still considered very dangerous and you should always speak with a licensed medical practitioner with regards to any medical treatment.

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Red Flag: Confusion of Correlation with Causation

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Red Flag: Confusion of Correlation with Causation

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Definition:
Just because two variables correlate with eachother, doesn’t mean that they affect eachother  in anyway. A common example of this is that some believe that vaccines cause autism because most kids show signs of autism around the time vaccines are administered. There is a correlation between the time vaccines are administered and the age that autism becomes noticeable in children, but no proof that the vaccines are causing the autism.
Connection:
Below is a graph showing the correlation of the number of people who drowned by falling in a pool and how many films Nicolas Cage has appeared in. You can see that there is a correlation between the two, but there is no proof that Nicolas Cage being cast for a movie has anything to do with people drowning in a pool. Yes, I know this is a joke, but it’s fun to squeeze one in every now and again.

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Definition:
Idealogical supports are usually backed up by religious beliefs. Idealogical supporters believe that it is there beliefs are correct, and aren't usually swayed by scientific or factual evidence.
Connection:
The website linked below will lead you to an article about religious healing. You’ll notice that they discuss how the act healing is by “the mercy of god”, and how if we just keep our thoughts on god we will be cured of all illness. The article has very little scientific and factual evidence to back this up. It’s also very interesting how at the bottom of the article there is a link that will lead you to a donation page.

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Faith Healing - The Need
When people are faced with a serious or debilitating illness, they often consider supernatural healing or faith healing as the final option. Our expectations for divine healing are often placed in a variety of sources which present themselves as the only hope for a miraculous recovery. Some individuals will pursue the avenue of faith healers or those professing to have an "ability to heal." Objects such as handkerchiefs, religious icons, or pilgrimages to holy sites are said to offer hope to those in desperate circumstances.

When faced with intense suffering, we may even be tempted to doubt the character of God. "Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? Will you be to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails?" (Jeremiah 15:18).

Others try to encourage us by confirming that "all things work together for good to those who love God" (Romans 8:28). Yet our suffering presents our greatest challenge to our faith. At some point we may even blame God for allowing our pain to continue. Or we may ask ourselves, "How much more faith do I need to be healed?"

Faith Healing - The Lesson
Our physical and emotional suffering is magnified when we fail to see any possible good resulting from our sickness. When we concentrate on what God can do through our illness, it keep us focused on God, instead of our difficult circumstances. Shortly after I first met Melanie, she invited me to dinner. Melanie has diabetes which has affected her eyesight and her mobility. Over our 10-year friendship, I've watched her bring comfort to others with her baskets, filled with their customized contents. "I used to be able to get these done in one or two days, but I guess I'm slowing down a little," she says with a twinkle in her eye. "God never rushes anything so I've learned to work at His pace." There are days when I know Melanie's swollen limbs hurt and she pauses for a moment, leaning against a pew to catch her breath. It would be easy for her to pick a seat near the back of the church. But then she'll see a visitor or a person who needs an encouraging word and off she goes to plant herself next to them.

Like Jesus, Melanie loves reaching out to people. Both are well acquainted with pain and suffering. She was injured in two separate car accidents in which five of her seven siblings were killed. Melanie understands emotional and physical pain that doesn't dissipate. Yet she reminds me, "It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn [God's] decrees" (Psalm 119:71). Melanie treats each day as a learning process and her afflictions as her greatest teacher.

Faith Healing - The End Result
Healing is an act of unmerited mercy from a sovereign God. We do not put faith in faith itself (or men or objects), but rather in the grace and mercy of Jahveh-Ropheka, "God the Healer." There is no doubt that Jesus cares deeply for us -- He suffered and died so that we could live forever in God's love. His healing doesn't follow a process that would seem logical to us. Jesus healed blind eyes by applying mud, made from "divine spittle" (John 9:6-7)! Jesus was often unconventional, raising a dead widow's son out of compassion, not because of her faith (Luke 7:13). Faith is not something we need to "conjure up" in order to be healed. God is ultimately in control of healing. Whatever the outcome, God is always with those who suffer and He understands their every pain and need. The cross reminds us that God always cares. God is offering us a wholeness that is even more perfect than physical or emotional healing. Perfect health is waiting for us in the resurrection. "Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Corinthians 4:16-17).

Healing Prayers...

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

- We have all sinned and deserve God's judgment. God, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him. Jesus, the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buried, and rose from the dead according to the Bible. If you truly believe and trust this in your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your Savior, declaring, " Jesus is Lord," you will be saved from judgment and spend eternity with God in heaven.

What is your response?

Yes, today I am deciding to follow Jesus

Yes, I am already a follower of Jesus

I still have questions

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Faith Healing - The Need When people are faced with a serious or debilitating illness, they often consider supernatural healing or faith healing as the final option. Our expectations for divine healing are often placed in a variety of sources which present themselves as the only hope for a miraculous recovery.

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Definition:
Mystical energy is energy that is believed to be projected by some sort of deity or unexplained force. It is believed that people can absorb this energy through certain practices such as prayer or meditating. Some say that absorbing and reflecting this energy can help you get through daily issues in your life.
Connection:
The website below will take you to a page where you can learn all about what your astrological sign has in store for you today. Horoscopes rely on the energy of the solar system to help predict you personality traits, the events of the day, your love life, and even your future financial status. The different positions of the planets and stars effect the energy of each star sign.

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Choose Your Zodiac Sign

More Horoscopes for You

Daily Planetary Overview

Planetary Index: 3/5

AUG 6, 2023 - Today brings an element of swiftness and response. Read full overview

Card of the Day

Judgement

Everyone wants to be seen in their best light, right? Seeing the Judgment card in your reading is a sign that you're looking for the recognition you and your loved ones deserve....

Read more

Today's Reading

Choose your cards

Quote of the Day

I love my past, I love my present. I am not ashamed of what I have had, and I am not... Read full quote

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Find free daily, weekly, monthly and 2023 horoscopes at Horoscope.com, your one stop shop for all things astrological. Find out what the stars have aligned for you today!

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Definition:
When a belief or idea is backed up by someone who we look up to for advice such as a doctor, parent, or celebrity we tend to trust them. That’s why a lot of advertisements will feature celebrities using their products, or actors dressed up in white lab coats telling us that they recommend this product so you can live longer.
Connection:
Below is a commercial for a popular brand of toothpaste. There is a man in a white lab coat, who is advertised as a dentist, telling you that he recommends this toothpaste to help with your tooth sensitivity. Most people will trust his opinion, because he appears to be someone of authority.

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Dr  Todd Appleton  -  2017  Sensodyne Commercial

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Definition:
When we can't explain something, we try to make up something to try and explain it. We're always trying to figure out ways to find explanations for the unexplained.
Connection:
A common joke that has been running it's through he internet is the Ancient Aliens meme. The joke is about how this show constantly uses the belief of aliens to explain everything. I've watched the show myself and it is very biased. They can't fully explain why something happened, but it must be aliens. Most of their show is also based on just conspiracy theories and has very little scientific back up.

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The Problem:
Does Spiritual Healing Work?
Information:
This article is written by an author who believes that we can heal our ailments by putting our trust in god. They talk about how healing is an act of gods love and mercy.
Evidence:
This article is written by an anonymous author, so we have no idea if the person writing this has any sort of medical background. There is also no scientific studies or evidence sourced in the article.
Assumptions, Emotions, Biases:
This article is written on a website designed to educate people on the Christian faith, so there is already a bias. There is also no study or proof that was referenced in the article to support their claim. The only claim they have that spiritual healing works is the story about a lady named Melanie, who suffers from diabetes and emotional trauma from a car accident, and about how she claims that god is there to help her. There is a strong bias and emotional connection here. This is also an ideological belief because this is solely a religious belief that is not proven to work by any credible research, and this person seems to believe that it is the only correct way to follow. There currently is very little proof that spiritual healing does work.
Alternatives:
Alternative_001: Spiritual healing does work and we should all put our trust in the merciful hands of god.
Alternative_002: Spiritual healing does not work and we should all put our trust in research and studies done in the medical field.
Conclusion:
Based on the lack of credible research, lack of evidence, strong bias, ideological support, and emotional connection I can confidently say that I do not believe that spiritual healing works.

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Definition:
Simplicity is believing the easiest and most convenient theory. Lots of people jump to conclusions about being psychic because its the easiest explanation as to why they predicted something that came true.
Connection:
The picture below shows a popular psychic asking people if they have a dead relative whose name starts with any letter of the alphabet. It was made to poke fun at television stars who portray themselves as psychics, because obviously everyone has a name that starts with a letter from the alphabet. it ties to simplicity because psychics usually ask questions similar to this because it's almost guaranteed they'll get a hit. The people who watch shows like this believe that the person asking the question is a psychic because its the simplest explanation as to why he found the person who had a dead relative that started with a letter from the alphabet.

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Reasons For Belief: Emotional Connection

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Reasons For Belief: Emotional Connection

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Definition:
Our emotions can really mess around with our thoughts. It's very easy to manipulate someone when they are in a deep emotional distress.
Connection:
Linked below is a video of a famous psychic medium, Theresa Caputo, bring closure to a grieveing family. This family is in great emotional distress after the loss of a sister, and Theresa is providing them some sort of closure by supposedly communicating with the deceased. This family is obviously looking for any sort of closure, and are willing to believe her because it makes them feel better to hear that their sister is in a better place.

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Theresa Helps Bring Some Peace To A Grieving Family