I am planning to open a Prayer Center -nondenominational-the beginning
of 2004 for people suffering from addiction. - 28 days of prayer only
- My question - what is the best way to go about this, how do I get
the Communities involved, and possibly someone might donate a building
or office space for our use?
What are the concerns for opening this type of business? Any legal ramifications? |
Request for Question Clarification by
czh-ga
on
14 Nov 2003 10:36 PST
Hello sparkie2-ga,
Where will your center be located? Will it be a residential or
commuter program? How many people will you accomodate? Zoning laws
and regulations will apply in many locations. Thanks.
~ czh ~
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Clarification of Question by
sparkie2-ga
on
15 Nov 2003 00:30 PST
I am changing the question -
Please supply me with a list of all world organizations that are
researching the power of prayer -
In addition, please list any research org. etc. interested in paying
for such studies i.e. my prayer center, government funds, foundations,
etc. Not only for the power of prayer, but also for any research being
conducted in metaphysical/medical/spiritual/religious arena.
Thanks in advance,
Sparkie
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Request for Question Clarification by
chromedome-ga
on
15 Nov 2003 10:46 PST
Hi, Sparkie...
You may want to re-think your question in its current incarnation.
Most researchers I know (including myself) will scrupulously avoid any
question asking for "all" of *ANYTHING*, since it is inherently
unanswerable. Nothing is more irritating for the researcher than to
invest time and effort in an answer only to be told that it is
incomplete, and will be rejected.
Again, asking for organizations doing "any" kind of research or
funding in the prayer/spiritual/metaphysical etc realms is broad (and
vague) enough to deter any serious researcher from tackling your
question.
As a rule, the more explicit and tightly focused your question is, the
greater the likelihood that it will be answered. Alternatively, you
may wish to add a clarification stating that "any answer pertaining to
some portion of the above, and meeting these explicit criteria, will
be considered suitable."
I have read of studies being performed within the continental US in
recent years, aimed at validating/invalidating the empirical effects
of prayer by/for individuals under treatment. It may be that a
question shaped in that direction might yield a current study which
your proposed prayer centre might participate in.
Good luck,
-Chromedome
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Clarification of Question by
sparkie2-ga
on
22 Nov 2003 08:19 PST
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Clarification of Question by sparkie2-ga on 19 Nov 2003 17:18 PST
Touché Chromedome. Okay. Let me give this another shot.
In the United States alone, most of the addictions centers have closed
down, partly because insurance companies will or cannot afford for
repetitive treatments. Those who struggle with alcohol abuse or drug
addictions are finding that often the "treatment professionals" or
mainstream thinking isn't helping them. Three or four rehabs later,
many counseling sessions attended, and hundreds or even thousands of
dollars spent only to find out that relapse is a part of treatment and
the addiction "disease" is with you forever! What? Then why go? If
something does not produce acceptable results, why continue in it?
Because we have been led to believe by the treatment professionals
that it is the only way.
I am an addiction counselor. I have traveled the United States and
areas in Mexico searching for answers. I have observed 23 different
treatment centers in the United States and Mexico. Bottom line is
current treatment - mostly the 12 step modality of A.A. - does not
work for the majority of the addictive population. The reasons are
known and clear throughout the medical and addiction arena, which I
will not go into now.
So what does work? This is to be seen. However, I do believe prayer
seems a good place to begin. It was during my daily meditation that
the idea for a Prayer Center treating addiction came to mind, and has
blossomed since. What if addiction treatment consisted of largely 28
days of unyielding prayer? What would happen if only a class or two on
the mechanistic of prayer itself was offered, and the rest of the time
spent in individual and or group prayer? For example, many people ask
why their prayers are/were not answered. Good question! One answer
might lie in what I call "The Conflict of Prayer". The significance
being - we can pray for something with all of our hearts, yet in the
same breathe have thoughts like "I can't do it". This type of praying
crosses out one another.
As a theology major, I would include four different types of prayers
to choose from, or to incorporate in the client's prayer of choice.
Christianity, Buddhism, Jewish, and Hinduism? For example, many people
ask why their prayers were not answered, and one of the places to look
is what I call "The Conflict of Prayer". Meaning - we pray will all of
our hearts for something - quit drinking - yet in the same breathe
have thoughts like "I can't do it". This type of praying crosses one
another out.
My question - I am aware of research studies being conducted in the
Austin, Texas area (Shoal Creek Hospital for example) researching the
effects of prayer. Are there any other organizations that are offering
funding for such type research?
Sincerely,
Jeri L. Harlan
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