Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Post hoc ergo propter hoc (logical fallacy: After, therefore because of)

She was in a semi-conscious state. Doctors advised there was little chance of meaningful recovery. Her family and "120 congregations" prayed. After a few days, she began to awaken. A miracle?
Unexpected and unexplainable medical outcomes occur all the time; and numerous controlled scientific studies have demonstrated no benefit from intercessory prayer. This case, and others like it, prove only the limited abilities of physicians to accurately prognosticate (and the unlimited enthusiasm of believers to attribute supernatural intervention).

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