Study pulls the plug on the power of prayer.

A study of more than 1,800 patients who underwent heart bypass surgery has failed to show that prayers specially organized for their recovery had any impact, researchers said on Thursday.

In fact, the study found some of the patients who knew they were being prayed for did worse than others who were only told they might be prayed for -- though those who did the study said they could not explain why.

The patients in the study at six U.S. hospitals included 604 who were actually prayed for after being told they might or might not be; another 597 patients who were not prayed for after being told they might or might not be; and a group of 601 who were prayed for and told they would be the subject of such prayer.

This has alway been one of the least logical tenets of religious belief. Even if I were to accept the fact that somewhere in the universe there existed a being possessed of enough power to create our entire reality, that this being would sit around all day answering the millions of prayers sent his way in a constant stream just seems extremely unlikely.

It is flawed thinking in my opinion and the kind of belief that primitive people would cling to in the face of difficulties beyond their comprehension. It would allow these people to resist a feeling of helplessness. It would comfort them. And I believe that is why we have it.