LA ORACION

·40 min·3 clips

Rosa Argentina Rivas Lacayo explores how modern science studies prayer's persistence and its true impact on human life.

The episode begins with Rosa Argentina Rivas Lacayo introducing prayer as a millenary tradition and her passion, framing it as transcendental for life. She titles the program 'Prayer and Science' to examine how late 20th and 21st-century science studies prayer's persistence and impact. The host defines prayer as a path toward interiority and self-knowledge, emphasizing its purpose beyond repetitive practice. She references Dr. Harold Koenig from Duke University Medical Center, who conducted longitudinal research showing religious practices influence the physical body through scientific mechanisms. Dr. Dale Matthews from Georgetown University is mentioned for identifying faith in God as a variable favoring health and recovery. The host explains variables in science, using cancer treatment examples to illustrate how factors like faith are measured. She discusses how some people desire faith but lack it, questioning if faith is random or discoverable through prayer. Rosa cites 275 studies where 75% show positive effects of prayer, highlighting its medical interest. Specific studies are detailed: Dr. Randolph Bird's research on 388 coronary patients at San Francisco General Hospital demonstrated prayer's determining factor in quality of life. Dr. Herbert Benson at Harvard University studied meditation and prayer, finding a powerful spirit-mind-body connection. Dr. Larry Dosey experimented with bacteria responding to prayers. Dr. Andrew Newberg's 2012 research showed frontal lobe activity during deep prayer in Tibetan monks and Carmelites. Dr. Elizabeth Targ's 1995 publication proved prayer influences AIDS patients to maintain HIV in a latent state. Dr. Ainsley Mears from the University of Melbourne studied meditation's benefits for cancer patients. A study from Rabin Medical Center in Israel found prayer reduces blood pressure in cardiac conditions. The host argues prayer plays an important role in quality of life, countering negative religious images. Dr. David Larson, an oncologist at Harvard, is cited for showing prayer renews mood and changes disease attitude. The episode includes a guided relaxation exercise focusing on breathing and body relaxation. Rosa promotes a workshop on personal fulfillment and a retreat at La Casa Maranatá in Valle del Bravo for exploring prayer and God. She shares her experience in psycho-oncology, affirming faith's role in recovery. The episode ends with thanks to God, producer Lorena Sánchez, and listeners.

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