Faith healing: echoes of Rasputin?

Rasputin, the 'devil of St Petersburg, made his dark reputation because of his ability as a faith healer. Today, the common perception is that faith healing belongs to religious fanatics or the gurus of alternative medicine. But the tradition is far from new – the ancient Greeks, Jesus Christ and the saints all practised it. But do genuine faith healers exist today?

Rasputin is one of the most famous healers of modern times, yet no proof other than anecdotal evidence exists to confirm his powers – a common characteristic of faith healing. But is this because they aren't genuine or simply because the prefix 'faith' denies the need for proof?

The Oxford English Dictionary describes faith healing as 'healing achieved by religious faith and prayer'. Sceptics often discredit its supporters by depicting them as desperadoes looking for a miracle cure for debilitating or incurable diseases. Successes are often discounted, but some evidence does exist in favour of faith healing.

In the 1970s, renowned Hungarian healer Oskar Estebany participated in a series of experiments where 300 mice were given small wounds. They were then divided into three groups and caged. Estebany was given one cage to hold. Another was left untouched and the third given to a group of students. The wounded mice held by Estebany healed at a significantly quicker rate than the other two. Other experiments involved speeding the growth of plants and these also suggested that Estebany's claims were true.

Despite Western society's overall scepticism, faith healing is big business today. On the internet there are many sites dedicated to those who claim to have healing hands. There is even a psychic dentist, who claims to cure an array of dental problems by tapping a patient's cheeks. Whether these people are charlatans or genuine healers is still uncertain. It seems we'll have to take their claims on faith.

PLUS: Was Rasputin evil? Read Adrian Bott's expert opinion

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