Faith healing

==In various belief systems==

===Christianity===

====Overview====
[[File:FvfFaithhealing6177 15.JPG|thumb|Faith healing by [[Fernando Suarez]], Philippines]]
Regarded as a Christian belief that God heals people through the power of the [[Holy Spirit]], faith healing often involves the [[laying on of hands]]. It is also called supernatural healing, divine healing, and [[miracle]] healing, among other things. Healing in the Bible is often associated with the ministry of specific individuals including [[Elijah]], [[Jesus]] and [[Paul of Tarsus|Paul]].<ref name="Village" />

Christian physician Reginald B. Cherry views faith healing as a pathway of healing in which God uses both the natural and the supernatural to heal.<ref name="Cherry">{{cite book |first= Reginald B. |last= Cherry |title= The Bible Cure |publisher= HarperOne |year= 1999 |orig-year= 1998 |edition= reprint |isbn= 978-0062516152}}{{Page needed|date=January 2014}} Citing: {{Bibleref2|John|9:1–7}} and {{Bibleref2|Mark|10:46–52}}.</ref> Being healed has been described as a privilege of accepting Christ's redemption on the cross.{{sfn|Bosworth|2001|p=32}} Pentecostal writer Wilfred Graves Jr. views the healing of the body as a physical expression of [[salvation]].<ref>{{cite book |first= Wilfred Jr. |last= Graves |author-link= Wilfred Graves Jr. |title= In Pursuit of Wholeness: Experiencing God's Salvation for the Total Person |page= 52 |location= Shippensburg, PA |publisher= Destiny Image |isbn= 978-0768437942|year= 2011 }}</ref> {{Bibleref2|Matthew|8:17|NIV}}, after describing [[Jesus exorcising at sunset]] and healing all of the sick who were brought to him, quotes these miracles as a fulfillment of the prophecy in {{bibleref2|Isaiah|53:5|NIV}}: "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases".

Even those Christian writers who believe in faith healing do not all believe that one's faith presently brings about the desired healing. "[Y]our faith does not effect your healing now. When you are healed rests entirely on what the sovereign purposes of the Healer are."<ref name="Charisma1">{{cite news |first= Larry |last= Keefauver |title= The myths of faith healing |date= June 17, 2009 |url= http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/charisma-channels/spiritled-living/20588-the-myths-of-faith-healing |magazine= [[Charisma (magazine)|Charisma]] |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090511085525/http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/charisma-channels/spiritled-living/20588-the-myths-of-faith-healing |archive-date= 2009-05-11|url-status=dead}}</ref> Larry Keefauver cautions against allowing enthusiasm for faith healing to stir up false hopes. "Just believing hard enough, long enough or strong enough will not strengthen you or prompt your healing. Doing mental gymnastics to 'hold on to your miracle' will not cause your healing to manifest now."<ref name="Charisma1" /> Those who actively lay hands on others and pray with them to be healed are usually aware that healing may not always follow immediately. Proponents of faith healing say it may come later, and it may not come in this life. "The truth is that your healing may manifest in eternity, not in time".<ref name="Charisma1" />

====New Testament====
{{Religious text primary|section|date=September 2015}}
Parts of the four [[canonical gospel]]s in the [[New Testament]] say that [[Jesus]] cured physical ailments well outside the capacity of first-century medicine. Jesus' healing acts are considered miraculous and spectacular due to the results being impossible or statistically improbable.<ref>Ehrman, B. D. (2016). ''The New Testament: a historical introduction to the early Christian writings'' (6th ed.) New York: Oxford University Press. 251–253. {{ISBN?}}
</ref> One example is the case of "a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was not better but rather grew worse".<ref>{{bibleverse|Mark|5:26–27}}</ref> After healing her, Jesus tells her "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace! Be cured from your illness".<ref>{{bibleverse|Mark|5:34|GW}}</ref> At least two other times Jesus credited the sufferer's faith as the means of being healed: {{Bibleref2|Mark|10:52}} and {{bibleref2|Luke|19:10}}.

Jesus endorsed the use of the medical assistance of the time (medicines of oil and wine) when he told the parable of the [[Good Samaritan]] (Luke 10:25–37), who "bound up [an injured man's] wounds, pouring on oil and wine" (verse 34) as a physician would. Jesus then told the doubting teacher of the law (who had elicited this parable by his self-justifying question, "And who is my neighbor?" in verse 29) to "go, and do likewise" in loving others with whom he would never ordinarily associate (verse 37).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://thefaithfulword.org/faithhealing.html |title= Faith Healing – God's Compassion, God's Power, and God's Sovereignty: Is a Christian permitted to seek medical assistance and to use medicine? |date= December 16, 2003 |first= Craig W. |last= Booth |access-date= 2007-05-01 |work= thefaithfulword.org}}</ref>

The healing in the gospels is referred to as a "sign"<ref>{{bibleverse|John|6:2}}</ref> to prove Jesus' divinity and to foster belief in him as the Christ.<ref>{{bibleverse|John|4:48}}</ref> However, when asked for other types of miracles, Jesus refused some<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|12:38–42}}</ref> but granted others<ref>{{bibleverse|Luke|9:38–43}}</ref> in consideration of the motive of the request. Some theologians' understanding is that Jesus healed ''all'' who were present every single time.{{sfn|Bosworth|2001|p=61}} Sometimes he determines whether they had faith that he would heal them.{{sfn|Bosworth|2001|loc={{Page needed|date=January 2014}}}} Four of the seven miraculous signs performed in the [[Fourth Gospel]] that indicated he was sent from God were acts of healing or resurrection. He heals the Capernaum official's son, heals a paralytic by the pool in [[Bethsaida]], healing a man born blind, and resurrecting [[Lazarus of Bethany]].<ref>Ehrman, B. D. (2016). ''The New Testament: a historical introduction to the early Christian writings'' (6th ed.) New York: [[Oxford University Press]]. 171–172. {{ISBN|978-0199757534}}</ref>

Jesus told his followers to heal the sick<ref>Crossan, J. D. (1994). ''Jesus: a revolutionary biography''. New York: [[HarperOne]]. 119–123. {{ISBN|978-0061800351}}</ref> and stated that signs such as healing are evidence of faith. Jesus also told his followers to "cure sick people, raise up dead persons, make lepers clean, expel demons. You received free, give free".<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|10:8}}, {{bibleverse|Mark|16:17–18}}</ref>

Jesus sternly ordered many who received healing from him: "Do not tell anyone!"<ref>{{Bibleref2|Matthew|8:4}}; {{Bibleref2-nb|Matthew|9:30}}; {{Bibleref2|Mark|5:43}}, {{Bibleref2-nb|Mark|7:24}}, {{Bibleref2-nb|Mark|7:36}}, {{Bibleref2-nb|Mark|8:30}}, {{Bibleref2-nb|Mark|9:9}}; {{Bibleref2|Luke|5:14}}</ref> Jesus did not approve of anyone asking for a sign just for the spectacle of it, describing such as coming from a "wicked and adulterous generation".<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|12:38–39}}</ref>

The apostle Paul believed healing is one of the special gifts of the [[Holy Spirit]],<ref>{{bibleverse|1Cor|12:9||1 Corinthians 12:9}}</ref><ref>Harris, S. L. (2015). ''The New Testament: a student's introduction'' (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Education. 345. {{ISBN?}}</ref> and that the possibility exists that certain persons may possess this gift to an extraordinarily high degree.<ref>{{cite book |last= Price |first= Charles P. |chapter-url= http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761560864/Faith_Healing.html |chapter= Faith Healing |title= [[Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia|Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia.]] |year= 2009 |archive-url= https://www.webcitation.org/5kwpJ3YJj?url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761560864/Faith_Healing.html |archive-date= 2009-11-01}}</ref>

In the New Testament [[Epistle of James]],<ref>{{bibleverse|James|5:14||5:14}}</ref> the faithful are told that to be healed, those who are sick should call upon the elders of the church to pray over [them] and anoint [them] with oil in the name of the Lord.

The New Testament says that during Jesus' [[Ministry of Jesus|ministry]] and after his [[Resurrection of Jesus|Resurrection]], the [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]] healed the sick and cast out demons, made lame men walk, raised the dead and performed other miracles. Apostles were holy men who had direct access to God and could channel his power to help and heal people.<ref>Pilch, J. J. (2004). ''Visions and healing in the Acts of the Apostles: how the early believers experienced God''. Collegeville, MN: [[Liturgical Press]]. 40. {{ISBN|978-0814627976}}</ref> For example, [[Saint Peter]] healed a disabled man.<ref>Harris, S. L. (2015). The New Testament: a student's introduction (8th ed.). New York: [[McGraw-Hill Education]]. 292–293. {{ISBN|978-0078119132}}</ref><ref>{{bibleverse|Luke|3:1–10}}</ref>

Jesus used miracles to convince people that he was inaugurating the [[Messianic Age]], as in Mt 12.28. Scholars have described Jesus' miracles as establishing the kingdom during his lifetime.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The New Jerome Biblical Commentary|last=Brown|display-authors=etal|first=Raymond E.|publisher=Prentice Hall|year=1990|isbn=978-0136149347|location=Englewood Cliffs, NJ |chapter=78:20; 81:106, 112–113, 117}}</ref>

====Early Christian church====
Accounts or references to healing appear in the writings of many [[Ante Nicene Fathers]], although many of these mentions are very general and do not include specifics.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Darling |first1=Frank C |author-link=Frank C. Darling |title=Biblical Healing: Hebrew and Christian roots|date=1989 |publisher=Vista Publications |location=Boulder, Colorado |pages=95–182 |isbn=978-0962250408 |url=https://archive.org/details/biblicalhealingh00darl/mode/2up}}</ref>

====Catholicism====
{{See also|Intercession of saints}}
The [[Roman Catholic Church]] recognizes two "not mutually exclusive" kinds of healing,<ref name="CDF2000">{{cite web|author=Catholic Church. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith|date=2000-09-14|title=Instruction on prayers for healing|website=vatican.va|location=Vatican City|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20001123_istruzione_en.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010124043700/https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20001123_istruzione_en.html|archive-date=2001-01-24|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|at=I,3}}<ref name="USCCB2009">{{cite web|author=Catholic Church. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Committee on Doctrine|date=2009-03-25|title=Guidelines for evaluating Reiki as an alternative therapy|website=usccb.org|location=Washington, DC|publisher=United States Conference of Catholic Bishops|url=http://www.usccb.org/about/doctrine/publications/upload/evaluation-guidelines-finaltext-2009-03.pdf|access-date=2015-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508224046/http://www.usccb.org/about/doctrine/publications/upload/evaluation-guidelines-finaltext-2009-03.pdf|archive-date=2014-05-08|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{rp|at=nn2–3}} one justified by science and one justified by faith:
* healing by human "natural means {{interp|...}} through the practice of medicine" which emphasizes that the [[theological virtue]] of "[[Charity (virtue)|charity]] demands that we not neglect natural means of healing people who are ill" and the [[cardinal virtue]] of [[prudence]] forewarns not "to employ a technique that has no scientific support (or even plausibility)"<ref name="USCCB2009"/>{{rp|at=nn2–3, 6, 10}}
* healing by divine grace "interceded on behalf of the sick through the invocation of the name of the Lord Jesus, asking for healing through the power of the Holy Spirit, whether in the form of the sacramental [[Christian laying on of hands|laying on of hands]] and [[Anointing of the Sick (Catholic Church)|anointing with oil]] or of simple prayers for healing, which often include an [[Intercession of saints|appeal to the saints for their aid]]"<ref name="USCCB2009"/>{{rp|at=n2}}

In 2000, the [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]] issued "Instruction on prayers for healing" with specific norms about prayer meetings for obtaining healing,<ref name="CDF2000"/> which presents the Catholic Church's doctrines of sickness and healing.<ref name="Ascoli2009">{{cite book|last=Ascoli|first=Micol|year=2009|chapter=Psychotherapy or religious healing? : the 'therapeutic' cult of charismatic Catholics in Italy|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Su9Zhe3HglsC&pg=PA229|editor1-last=Incayawar|editor1-first=Mario|editor2-last=Wintrob|editor2-first=Ronald|editor3-last=Bouchard|editor3-first=Lise|title=Psychiatrist and traditional healers : unwitting partners in global mental health|pages=229–236|series=WPA series, evidence and experience in psychiatry|location=Hoboken, NJ|publisher=J. Wiley & Sons|doi=10.1002/9780470741054.ch18|isbn=978-0470741054}}</ref>{{rp|page=230}}{{explain|date=July 2021}}

It accepts "that there may be means of natural healing that have not yet been understood or recognized by science",<ref name="USCCB2009"/>{{rp|at=n6}}{{efn|According to a ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]'' article about [[psychotherapy]] from 1911, the application of scientific principles has probably been the responsible cause of more faith cures than anything else. Faith in a [[scientific discovery]] acts through the mind of a patient to bring about an improvement of symptoms, if not a cure of the disease. The patients who are cured usually suffer from<!-- !  check for tone !--> [[chronic condition]]s, they either have only a [[persuasion]] that they are ill or have some physical ailment, but the patients inhibit through {{linktext|solicitude}} and worry the natural forces that would bring about a cure. This inhibition cannot be lifted until the mind is relieved by confidence in a remedy or scientific discovery that gives them a conviction of cure.<ref name="Walsh1911"/>}} but it rejects superstitious practices which are neither compatible with Christian teaching nor compatible with scientific evidence.<ref name="USCCB2009"/>{{rp|at=nn11–12}}

Faith healing is reported by [[Catholic Church|Catholics]] as the result of [[intercessory prayer]] to a [[saint]] or to a person with the [[gifts of healing|gift of healing]]. According to ''[[Claretians#Publications|U.S. Catholic]]'' magazine, "Even in this skeptical, postmodern, scientific age{{snd}}miracles really are possible." According to a ''Newsweek'' poll, three-fourths of American Catholics say they pray for "miracles" of some sort.<ref name=Scanlon>{{cite news |first= Leslie |last= Scanlon |title= It's a miracle! |magazine= [[U.S. Catholic (magazine)|U.S. Catholic]] |date= June 2009 |volume= 74 |issue= 6 |page= 12 |url= http://www.uscatholic.org/church/2009/05/its-miracle}}</ref>

According to John Cavadini, when healing is granted, "The miracle is not primarily for the person healed, but for all people, as a sign of God's work in the ultimate healing called 'salvation', or a sign of the kingdom that is coming." Some might view their own healing as a sign they are particularly worthy or holy, while others do not deserve it.<ref name=Scanlon/>

The Catholic Church has a special Congregation dedicated to the careful investigation of the validity of alleged miracles attributed to prospective saints. Pope Francis tightened the rules on money and miracles in the canonization process.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2016/09/23/vatican-tightens-rules-miracles-money-sainthood-cases/|title=Vatican tightens rules on miracles and money in sainthood cases|date=2016-09-23|work=Crux|access-date=2017-04-26|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427101140/https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2016/09/23/vatican-tightens-rules-miracles-money-sainthood-cases/|archive-date=2017-04-27|url-status=dead}}</ref> Since Catholic Christians believe the lives of canonized saints in the Church will reflect Christ's, many have come to expect healing miracles. While the popular conception of a miracle can be wide-ranging, the Catholic Church has a specific definition for the kind of miracle formally recognized in a canonization process.<ref name=Pinches>{{cite journal |last= Pinches |first= Charles |title= Miracles: A Christian theological overview |journal= [[Southern Medical Journal]] |year= 2007 |volume= 100 |issue= 12 |pages= 1236–1242 |pmid= 18090969 |doi= 10.1097/SMJ.0b013e31815843cd |s2cid= 33420931 }}</ref>

According to ''Catholic Encyclopedia'', it is often said that cures at [[shrine]]s and during [[Christian pilgrimage]]s are mainly due to psychotherapy{{snd}}partly to confident trust in [[Divine providence]], and partly to the strong expectancy of cure that comes over suggestible persons at these times and places.<ref name="Walsh1911">{{Catholic|inline=1|title=Psychotherapy|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12549a.htm|first=James J.|last=Walsh|volume=12}}</ref>{{efn|A pre-1911 analysis of the records of cures shows that the majority of accepted cures have been in patients suffering from<!-- !  check for tone !--> demonstrable physical conditions.<ref name="Walsh1911"/>}}

Among the best-known accounts by Catholics of faith healings are those attributed to the miraculous intercession of the apparition of the [[Blessed Virgin Mary]] known as [[Our Lady of Lourdes]] at the [[Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes]] in [[France]] and the remissions of life-threatening disease claimed by those who have applied for aid to [[Saint Jude]], who is known as the "[[patron saint]] of lost causes".
{{Failed verification|talk=Poor explanation of Catholic understanding|date=September 2015}}<ref name="Bertrin1910">{{Catholic|inline=1|title=Notre-Dame de Lourdes|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09389b.htm|first=Georges|last=Bertrin|volume=9}}</ref>

{{As of|2004}}, Catholic medics have asserted that there have been 67 miracles and 7,000 unexplainable medical cures at Lourdes since 1858.<ref name="zenit">{{cite web |url= http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/ZLURDCUR.HTM |title= How Lourdes cures are recognized as miraculous |date= February 11, 2004 |work= ZENIT Daily Dispatch |publisher= [[Zenit News Agency]] |access-date= 2007-12-14 |via= ewtn.com |archive-date= 2007-11-21 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071121192519/http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/ZLURDCUR.HTM |url-status= dead }} Citing {{cite conference|editor=Associazione Medici Cattolici Italiani. Sezione di Milano|year=2004|book-title=Il medico di fronte al miracolo|conference=Convegno promosso dall'A.M.C.I. tenuto a Milano il 23 novembre 2002|language=it|location=Cinisello Balsamo, IT|publisher=Edizioni Paoline|isbn=978-8821550607|title=Il medico di fronte al miracolo}}</ref> In a 1908 book, it says these cures were subjected to intense medical scrutiny and were only recognized as authentic spiritual cures after a commission of doctors and scientists, called the [[Lourdes Medical Bureau]], had ruled out any physical mechanism for the patient's recovery.<ref name="Bertrin1908">{{cite book|last=Bertrin|first=Georges|year=1908|title=Lourdes: a history of its apparitions and cures|others=Translated by Agnes Mary Rowland Gibbs|location=New York [u.a.]|publisher=Benziger Brothers|oclc=679304003|hdl=2027/nnc1.0020343540}}</ref>

==== Evangelicalism ====
[[File:Laying on of hands, Dr. Ebenezer Markwei.jpg|280px|thumb|right|Laying on of hands for healing in Living Streams International Church, [[Accra]], Ghana, 2018]]
In some Pentecostal and Charismatic [[Evangelical]] churches, a special place is thus reserved for faith healings with [[laying on of hands]] during [[Worship service (evangelicalism)|worship services]] or for campaigns evangelization.<ref>Cecil M. Robeck, Jr, Amos Yong, ''The Cambridge Companion to Pentecostalism'', Cambridge University Press, UK, 2014, p. 138</ref><ref>Béatrice Mohr et Isabelle Nussbaum,
[https://pages.rts.ch/emissions/temps-present/religion/3032510-rock-miracles-saint-esprit.html?anchor=3095947#3095947 Rock, miracles & Saint-Esprit], rts.ch, Switzerland, April 21, 2011</ref> Faith healing or divine healing is considered to be an inheritance of [[Jesus]] acquired by his death and resurrection.<ref>Randall Herbert Balmer, ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition'', Baylor University Press, US, 2004, p. 212</ref> [[Biblical inerrancy]] ensures that the [[miracle]]s and healings described in the [[Bible]] are still relevant and may be present in the life of the believer.<ref>Sébastien Fath, ''Du ghetto au réseau: Le protestantisme évangélique en France, 1800–2005'', Édition Labor et Fides, Genève, 2005, p. 28</ref>

At the beginning of the 20th century, the new [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] movement drew participants from the [[Holiness movement]] and other movements in America that already believed in divine healing. By the 1930s, several faith healers drew large crowds and established worldwide followings.

The first Pentecostals in the modern sense appeared in [[Topeka, Kansas]], in a Bible school conducted by [[Charles Fox Parham]], a holiness teacher and former [[Methodist]] pastor. Pentecostalism achieved worldwide attention in 1906 through the [[Azusa Street Revival]] in [[Los Angeles]] led by [[William Joseph Seymour]].<ref>{{cite web |last= Synan |first= Vinson |title= The Origins of the Pentecostal Movement |url= http://webapps.oru.edu/new_php/library/holyspirit/pentorg1.html |publisher= Holy Spirit Research Center, Oral Roberts University |date= 14 June 2009}}</ref>

[[Smith Wigglesworth]] was also a well-known figure in the early part of the 20th century. A former English plumber turned [[evangelism|evangelist]] who lived simply and read nothing but the Bible from the time his wife taught him to read, Wigglesworth traveled around the world preaching about Jesus and performing faith healings. Wigglesworth claimed to raise several people from the dead in Jesus' name in his meetings.<ref>{{cite book |first1= Sarah |last1= Posner |first2= Joe |last2= Conason |title= God's Profits: Faith, Fraud, and the Republican Crusade for Values Voters |publisher= Polipoint Press |year= 2008 |isbn= 978-0979482212 |page= [https://archive.org/details/godsprofitsfaith0000posn/page/67 67] |url= https://archive.org/details/godsprofitsfaith0000posn/page/67 }}</ref>

During the 1920s and 1930s, [[Aimee Semple McPherson]] was a controversial faith healer of growing popularity during the [[Great Depression]]. Subsequently, [[William M. Branham]] has been credited as the initiator of the post-World War II [[healing revival]]s.<ref name="Anderson2004">{{cite book|last=Anderson|first= Allan|year=2004|title=An introduction to Pentecostalism: global charismatic Christianity|location=Cambridge [u.a.]|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0521532808|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IPbPTOi0Rk4C}}</ref>{{rp|page=58}}<ref name="Harrell1975">{{cite book|last=Harrell|first=David E.|year=1975|title=All things are possible: the healing and charismatic revivals in modern America|location=Bloomington, IN|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0253100900|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ks-Sa1mSnI8C&pg=PA25}}</ref>{{rp|page=25}} The healing revival he began led many to emulate his style and spawned a generation of faith healers. Because of this, Branham has been recognized as the "father of modern faith healers".<ref>{{cite journal
| last = Sheryl
| first = J. Greg
| title = The Legend of William Branham
| journal = The Quarterly Journal
| volume = 33
| issue = 3
| year = 2013
| issn = 1083-6853
| url = http://www.pfo.org/33-3%20SAMPLE.pdf
}}</ref> According to writer and researcher Patsy Sims, "the power of a Branham service and his stage presence remains a legend unparalleled in the history of the Charismatic movement".{{sfn|Sims|1996|p=195}} By the late 1940s, [[Oral Roberts]], who was associated with and promoted by Branham's ''[[Voice of Healing]]'' magazine also became well known, and he continued with faith healing until the 1980s.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/us/16roberts.html Oral Roberts, Pentecostal Evangelist, Dies at 91 – Obituary (Obit) – NYTimes.com]</ref> Roberts discounted faith healing in the late 1950s, stating, "I never was a faith healer and I was never raised that way. My parents believed very strongly in medical science and we have a doctor who takes care of our children when they get sick. I cannot heal anyone – God does that."<ref>{{cite news |last= Jones |first= Charles |title= {{thinsp}}'I've no secrets to hide', says evangelist Roberts |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2206&dat=19580121&id=47wyAAAAIBAJ&pg=2072,2065389 |date= January 21, 1958 |newspaper= [[The Miami News]] |page= 5A |access-date= 2014-01-23 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> A friend of Roberts was [[Kathryn Kuhlman]], another popular faith healer, who gained fame in the 1950s and had a television program on [[CBS]]. Also in this era, [[Jack Coe]]<ref>{{cite news |title= 7,000 in evangelistic tent sing when lights go out |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19530824&id=FchRAAAAIBAJ&pg=3067,5160164 |date= August 24, 1953 |newspaper= [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |page= 7 |access-date= 2014-01-23}}</ref><ref name= "WashPost1956">{{cite news |url= https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/doc/148828440.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=historic&date=FEB%2021,%201956&author=&pub=The%20Washington%20Post&edition=&startpage=&desc=%27Faith%20Healer%27%20Cleared%20Of%20Illegal%20Practice |title= 'Faith healer' cleared of illegal practice |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |date= February 21, 1956 |page= 3 |agency= [[Associated Press]] |url-access= subscription |via= [[ProQuest]] |access-date= 2007-11-12 |archive-date= 2014-02-02 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140202142141/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/doc/148828440.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=historic&date=FEB%2021,%201956&author=&pub=The%20Washington%20Post&edition=&startpage=&desc=%27Faith%20Healer%27%20Cleared%20Of%20Illegal%20Practice |url-status= dead }}</ref> and [[A. A. Allen]]<ref name="Deathalcohol">{{cite news |url= http://liposuctionsurgeonfinder.online/evangelist-death-laid-to-alcohol/|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160815121610/http://liposuctionsurgeonfinder.online/evangelist-death-laid-to-alcohol/|url-status= dead|archive-date= August 15, 2016|title=Evangelist death laid to alcohol |newspaper= [[Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co.|Chronicle-Telegram]] |location= Elyria, OH |date= June 25, 1970 |access-date =2007-05-17}}</ref><!-- possible other refs {{sfn|Randi|1989|p=88}}, {{cite news |title= Evangelist's death due to 'alcoholism' |date= June 27, 1970 |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |page= B9 |url= https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/doc/147917069.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=historic&date=JUN%2027,%201970&author=&pub=The%20Washington%20Post&edition=&startpage=&desc=Evangelist%27s%20Death%20Dueto%20%27Alcoholism%27 |url-access=subscription  |via= [[ProQuest]]}} --> were faith healers who traveled with large tents for large open-air crusades.

Oral Roberts's successful use of television as a medium to gain a wider audience led others to follow suit. His former pilot, [[Kenneth Copeland]], started a healing ministry. [[Pat Robertson]], [[Benny Hinn]], and [[Peter Popoff]] became well-known [[televangelist]]s who claimed to heal the sick.{{sfn|Randi|1989|p=10}} [[Richard Rossi]] is known for advertising his healing clinics through [[secular]] television and radio. Kuhlman influenced Benny Hinn, who adopted some of her techniques and wrote a book about her.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.csicop.org/si/show/benny_hinn_healer_or_hypnotist/ |title= Benny Hinn: Healer or hypnotist? |magazine= [[Skeptical Inquirer]] |volume= 26 |issue= 3 |publisher= [[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]] |date= May–June 2002 |first= Joe |last= Nickell |author-link= Joe Nickell |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131030140655/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/benny_hinn_healer_or_hypnotist/ |archive-date= 2013-10-30 |url-status= dead |access-date= 2014-01-23 }}</ref>

====Christian Science====
[[Christian Science]] claims that healing is possible through prayer based on an understanding of God and the underlying spiritual perfection of God's creation.<ref name="Barrett2009"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Eddy |first1=Mary Baker |title=Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures |date=1910 |orig-year=1875 |pages=1–17 |isbn=978-0879524371 |url=https://www.christianscience.com/the-christian-science-pastor/science-and-health/chapter-i-prayer}}</ref> The material world as humanly perceived is believed to not be the spiritual reality. Christian Scientists believe that healing through prayer is possible insofar as it succeeds in bringing the spiritual reality of health into human experience.<ref name="SkepDic">{{cite book |first= Robert Todd |last=Carroll |author-link=Robert Todd Carroll |title=The Skeptic's Dictionary |edition=online |chapter=Faith Healing |chapter-url=http://www.skepdic.com/faithhealing.html |year=2014|title-link=The Skeptic's Dictionary}}</ref> Prayer does not change the spiritual creation but gives a clearer view of it, and the result appears in the human scene as healing: the human picture adjusts to coincide more nearly with the divine reality.<ref name="Bergman2001">{{cite news |last=Bergman |first=Gerald |date=October 2001 |title=The Christian Science holocaust |url=http://www.theness.com/index.php/the-christian-science-holocaust/ |magazine=The New England Journal of Skepticism |volume=4 |issue=4 |publisher=[[New England Skeptical Society]]}}</ref> Therefore, Christian Scientists do not consider themselves to be faith healers since faith or belief in Christian Science is not required on the part of the patient, and because they consider healings reliable and provable rather than random.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Eddy |first1=Mary Baker |title=Prose Works other than Science and Health |date=1925 |page=33 |publisher=1st Church of Christ Scientist |url=https://archive.org/details/proseworkscatalo00mary/page/n59/mode/2up}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Peel |first1=Robert |title=Health and medicine in the Christian Science tradition |date=1988 |publisher=Crossroad |location=NY |page=2 |isbn=978-0824508951 |url=https://archive.org/details/healthmedicinein00peel/page/2/mode/2up}}</ref>

Although there is no hierarchy in Christian Science, practitioners devote full time to prayer for others on a professional basis, and advertise in an online directory published by the church.<ref>{{cite web |title=Directory of practitioners |url=https://directory.christianscience.com |publisher=The First Church of Christ, Scientist}}</ref><ref name="MatlinsCS"/> Christian Scientists sometimes tell their stories of healing at weekly testimony meetings at local Christian Science churches, or publish them in the church's magazines including ''[[The Christian Science Journal]]'' printed monthly since 1883, the ''[[Christian Science Sentinel]]'' printed weekly since 1898, and ''[[The Herald of Christian Science]]'' a foreign language magazine beginning with a German edition in 1903 and later expanding to Spanish, French, and Portuguese editions. [[Christian Science Reading Room]]s often have archives of such healing accounts.<ref>{{cite web |title=JSH-Online |url=https://jsh.christianscience.com |publisher=The First Church of Christ, Scientist}}</ref><ref name="MatlinsCS">{{cite book |last1=Matlins |first1=Stuart |author-link=Stuart M. Matlins |title=How to Be a Perfect Stranger: The Essential Religious Etiquette Handbook |date=2003 |publisher=Skylight Paths Publishing |pages=70–76 |isbn=978-1594731402 |url=https://archive.org/details/howtobeperfectst00stua_0/page/70/mode/2up}}</ref>

====The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints====
[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS) has had a long history of faith healings. Many members of the LDS Church have told their stories of healing within the LDS publication, the ''[[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last= Miller |first= Brandon J. |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2001/09/latter-day-saint-voices?lang=eng |title= I needed a blessing |department= Latter-day Saint Voices |magazine= [[Ensign (LDS magazine)|The Ensign of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (Ensign) |date= September 2001 |pages= 64–68}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Ribeiro |first= Sérgio |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2004/01/latter-day-saint-voices?lang=eng |title= He restoreth my soul |department= Latter-day Saint Voices |magazine= [[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]] |date= January 2004 |pages= 70–73}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Heal |first= Simon |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2010/04/latter-day-saint-voices?lang=eng |title= Call an ambulance! |department= Latter-day Saint Voices |magazine= [[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]] |date= April 2010 |pages= 60–63}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Peñate de Guerra |first= Magdalena |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2005/09/latter-day-saint-voices?lang=eng |title= We rejoiced in her healing |department= Latter-day Saint Voices |magazine= [[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]] |date= September 2005 |pages= 66–69}}</ref> The church believes healings come most often as a result of [[priesthood blessing]]s given by the laying on of hands; however, prayer often accompanied with fasting is also thought to cause healings. Healing is always attributed to be God's power. Latter-day Saints believe that the Priesthood of God, held by prophets (such as Moses) and worthy disciples of the Savior, was restored via heavenly messengers to the first prophet of this dispensation, [[Joseph Smith]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://en.fairmormon.org/Joseph_Smith_healings_and_miracles |title= Joseph Smith/Healings and miracles |publisher= [[FairMormon]] |work= fairmormon.org |date= May 23, 2010 |access-date= 2010-09-20 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100201100307/http://en.fairmormon.org/Joseph_Smith_healings_and_miracles |archive-date= 2010-02-01 |url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.josephsmith.net/josephsmith/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=041579179acbff00VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRD&locale=0 |title= Joseph Smith: Prophet of God |work= Josephsmith.net |publisher= [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS)}}{{Full citation needed|date=January 2014}}</ref>

According to LDS doctrine, even though members may have the restored [[Priesthood (LDS Church)|priesthood authority]] to heal in the name of Jesus Christ, all efforts should be made to seek the appropriate medical help. [[Brigham Young]] stated this effectively, while also noting that the ultimate outcome is still dependent on the will of God.<ref>{{harvnb|Young, Brigham|1997|loc= Chapter 34: "Strengthening the Saints Through the Gifts of the Spirit". [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/content/manual/teachings-brigham-young/chapter-34?lang=eng pp. 251–259]}}</ref>

{{blockquote|text=
If we are sick, and ask the Lord to heal us, and to do all for us that is necessary to be done, according to my understanding of the Gospel of salvation, I might as well ask the Lord to cause my wheat and corn to grow, without my plowing the ground and casting in the seed. It appears consistent to me to apply every remedy that comes within the range of my knowledge, and to ask my Father in Heaven, in the name of Jesus Christ, to sanctify that application to the healing of my body.<ref name= "Young1941p163">{{harvnb|Young, Brigham|1997|loc= Ch, 34. [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/content/manual/teachings-brigham-young/chapter-34?lang=eng pp. 251–259]}} Citing: {{harvnb|Young, Brigham|1941|page=163}}</ref>

But suppose we were traveling in the mountains, ... and one or two were taken sick, without anything in the world in the shape of healing medicine within our reach, what should we do? According to my faith, ask the Lord Almighty to ... heal the sick. This is our privilege, when so situated that we cannot get anything to help ourselves. Then the Lord and his servants can do all. But it is my duty to do, when I have it in my power.<ref name= "Young1941p163"/>

We lay hands on the sick and wish them to be healed, and pray the Lord to heal them, but we cannot always say that he will.<ref>{{harvnb|Young, Brigham|1997|loc= Ch, 34. [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/teachings-brigham-young/chapter-34?lang=eng pp. 251–259]}} Citing: {{Harvnb|Young, Brigham|1941||page= 162}}</ref>}}

===Islam===

A number of healing traditions exist among Muslims. Some healers are particularly focused on diagnosing cases of possession by [[jinn]] or demons.<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Love in World Religions, Volume 1|publisher=ABC-CLIO|page=42}}</ref>

===Buddhism===
Chinese-born Australian businessman [[Jun Hong Lu]] was a prominent proponent of the "[[Guan Yin]] Citta Dharma Door", claiming that practicing the three "golden practices" of reciting texts and mantras, liberation of beings, and making vows, laid a solid foundation for improved physical, mental, and psychological well-being, with many followers publicly attesting to have been healed through practice.<ref name="The Star">{{Cite news |title=Visit of Aussie-based 'Buddhist Master' draws controversy |work= The Star |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/12/29/visit-of-aussie-based-buddhist-master-draws-controversy |access-date=1 August 2020}}</ref>

===Scientology===
Some critics of [[Scientology]] have referred to some of its practices as being similar to faith healing, based on claims made by [[L. Ron Hubbard]] in ''[[Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health]]'' and other writings.<ref>{{cite book|last=Cooper|first=Paulette|title=The Scandal of Scientology|url=http://www.xenu.net/archive/books/tsos/sos-21.html}}</ref>