“How Faith Can Heal” – A Special Mind & Body Issue of Time

The Feb. 23rd issue of Time is a special mind-body issue with the cover story “How Faith Can Heal.” The main article is The Biology of Belief.

There is another article that includes a question and answer forum by three experts that discuss the role that belief should play in science.

A third “User’s Guide” article provides a listing of research institutes, books, websites and pilgrimages that may be a resource for people who want to know more about this topic.

Most interesting to me was the Biology of Belief article as it explores what happens in the brain as a person practices certain behaviors or thinking patterns.

I was bothered by one aspect of this issue however.  A sidebar in the hard-copy of the magazine addressed how various religions view life after death.  Concerning to me is that Christianity is misrepresented.  In that light, I have written the editors of the magazine and asked that a correction be made in an upcoming issue. This is my email to the editors:

On Page 70 in the Feb. 23, 2009 issue you have a sidebar on “How Religions View the Beyond.” Under Christianity, you say the vast majority of Christians believe “that your destination depends on your deeds and faith during life.” This is not at all accurate. We believe in scripture that says:

Romans 10:9-10 – That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.(after death you will live eternally in heaven – my notes) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

John 11:25 – 26 - “Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.” ”

Romans 3:28 -  “So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.”

The bottom line for the Christian faith is that to be saved and have eternal life all we have to do is believe that God loves us so much that He sent His son, Jesus, to die for our sins/wrongdoings. Jesus then was resurrected.

If we believe this in our heart and confess it, we will go to heaven. Our “deeds” do not determine our destination after death, it is our faith – whether we have accepted Jesus as our savior. I hope that you will make a correction of what you wrote in the Feb 23rd issue.  What you printed is not true. It misrepresents the Christian faith and will mislead many people. Sincerely, Dale Fletcher – Founder, Faith and Health Connection

If you’d like to correspond with Time on this issue, they can be reached via email – letters@time.com.

Overall, these articles are very informative.  You may want to run out to a book store and buy a hard copy for your further reading and use.  Enjoy!

P.S. – Thank you Janice, my sweetheart, for alerting me about this issue of the magazine.

Religiosity in America: A Gallup Report by States – What About The Relationship?

A January 29, 2009 report by Gallup indicates that overall, 65% of Americans say religion is an important part of their daily lives.  Their report provides a state by state ranking to the responses by over 350,000 people to the question “Is religion an important part of your daily life?”

There is a wide range in the self-reported importance of religion, from a high of 85% for residents of Mississippi to a low of 42% for residents of Vermont.

The author of the report on the Gallup site writes about the implications of the data in an attempt to address why certain states have higher percentages.  The real question is, what is the significance of being religious?

At the heart of any religion or spirituality, for any kind of significance to come from it, there must be a personal, thriving and intimate relationship with the one true God.  Life is all about relationships.  The relationship we have with God first and the subsequent relationship we have with our self.  Out of this, we are to have relationships with others.  It all begins, however, with a relationship with God.

I have written an article titled, “It’s About The Relationship.” If you are not enjoying a personal relationship with God, a caring relationship with yourself or are not living in vibrant relationships with others, I offer it for reading.

God loves you and wants you to experience His love through a personal relationship with Him.