# My brother-in-law is trying to kill himself with the power of prayer

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [December 2, 2008, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369 "2008-12-02T17:57:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 15

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**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/281 "2008-12-06T22:28:36Z")

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> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#):
>
> And doubtless will attribute the feeling better to God rather than the doctors.

Doesn’t matter to me if he does or not. The end result was accomplished.

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**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/282 "2008-12-08T15:45:42Z")

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> [@Juliana](#):
>
> Doesn’t matter to me if he does or not. The end result was accomplished.

I think it does matter. If a person’s health improves and he attributes his improved health to magic, he is more likely to believe magical claims henceforth.

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**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/283 "2008-12-08T19:04:33Z")

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Is there any way to possibly help him interpret his daughter’s tears as the intervention from God for which he was waiting, and the medical intervention as a part of that process? (I’m afraid I already know the answer).

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**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-in-law-is-trying-to-kill-himself-with-the-power-of-prayer/475369/284 "2008-12-08T19:05:15Z")

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> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#):
>
> I think it does matter. If a person’s health improves and he attributes his improved health to magic, he is more likely to believe magical claims henceforth.

Point taken. I guess I’m just glad he actually went.

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