If God doesn't exist, expect 1800+ Lazarus 'miracles' p/year

My rough estimate: In a universe without a prayer-answering god, we should expect there to be more than 1800 people apparently brought back from the dead by prayer, in America, every year.

This is a development of an idea that I brought up in a conversation with beloitrose.

(In case anyone spots a mistake in the calculation, please let me know)

Sources of statistics:
http://earthpages.wordpress.com/2007/09/14/573/
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/us.html
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20061106/23153_Poll:_Less_Americans_Cert...

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• miracle
• evidence
• god
• prayer
• death
• lazarus
• beloitrose

[gabworld]

The Lazarus effect is used for near death experiences and not clinical death, at least from everything I have read. Do you have a cite for numerous people actually coming back from clinical death? If not, your figure of 1800 people rising from the dead is one I would question.

[bitbutter]

The use of the term varies. If you google "What exactly is the Lazarus Phenomenon" and click the first result you'll find a page that uses it to mean clinical death (but then adds that its use includes near death experiences). It's a poor source, but the best i could find. I'd be interested to get a more authoritative source on the number of clinical deaths, and subsequent recoveries.

[FunkyJogaBonito]

I have to say that I am terrifically impressed by your ability to cut to the heart of an issue and the clarity and detail with which you explain nuance.

It would also be interesting (I am sure that this has been done) to see the figures for other nations (and other Gods, or even mythical entities that WE know are false) and to see how it compares.

Of course, I would expect no difference whatsoever.

[bitbutter]

That's very kind, thanks!

[famousmanbearpig]

nice...

[whirlpoolzend]

Agreed.

My 'point' just being a tongue in cheek stab at the 'cotton wool brigade' who fear a carcinogen (and the like) on every street corner... Their focus being on what can kill us as opposed to the wonder of the countless generations who have died before thus earning our 'right' to survive.

[dragoonthief]

exactly my point.

[bitbutter]

A more prudent question to begin with would be: Is it improbable that 99% of earth's species are now extinct? The answer is no, it follows from what we know about how evolution works.

[dragoonthief]

no but 99% of all species on this earth are extinct.  Is that a miracle.

[NeuroCross]

That's Christians not CHristtinas and to simplify. Praying in tongues basically means that you can pray for another person's situation without knowing it and thus a person who's not even religious can theoretically according this teaching be saved by God's divine intervention.

[NeuroCross]

I don't know if this has been dicussed or not here but there is a small sect of CHristinas that believe in tongues and intercession basically praying in a language that only God understands and you don't know what you're praying for but you are. So if this beief is true than the amount of prayer of the individuals in a situation is irrelevant. Any thoughts?

[whirlpoolzend]

In 2005, 99.9988% of the world's population didn't die of cancer...now that's miraculous.