Miracle Cures: Saints, Pilgrimage, and the Healing Powers of Belief

by Robert A. Scott

Iconic images of medieval pilgrims, such as Chaucer’s making their laborious way to Canterbury, conjure a distant time when faith was the only refuge of the ill and infirm, and thousands traveled great distances to pray for healing. Why, then, in an age of advanced biotechnology and medicine, do millions still go on pilgrimages? Why do journeys to important religious shrines―such as Lourdes, Compostela, Fátima, and Medjugorje―constitute a major industry? In Miracle Cures , Robert A. Scott explores these provocative questions and finds that pilgrimage continues to offer answers for many. Its benefits can range from a demonstrable improvement in health to complete recovery. Using research in biomedical and behavioral science, Scott examines accounts of miracle cures at medieval, early modern, and contemporary shrines. He inquires into the power of relics, apparitions, and the transformative nature of sacred journeying and shines new light on the roles belief, hope, and emotion can play in healing.

Genres: Religion

266 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

A sociologist looks at miracle cures, focusing mostly on its heyday in the middle ages but also looking at more recent cases like Lourdes, France. I can't complain about his style but realized after the first couple of chapters that this just wasn't all that interesting to me. I mean the sociological terms for some of the stuff is interesting, but I'd already read up on the history and and found a lot of it to be tedious. So this might be better for someone who is a student of sociology and does not know a lot about the middle ages. Fair enough, I'm just not the audience.

The cover and subtitle probably give the wrong impression about the author's veiwpoint. He is open to the possibility of miracles, but can't help giving rational explanations for the phenomenon. I imagine pious readers will be a little disapointed.

[David Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an interesting read for any student of divine healing. The author develops a position in respect medieval pilgrimages that has some applications in relation to deliverance healing methods. Just as a medieval pilgrimage needed to prepare for a journey, re-frame and repent someone experiencing deliverance healing (in say the Ellel Ministry style) must undergoing relationship healing and emotional healing before physical healing may arise.

I did not find that the argument in respect placebos was well enough developed and I would have appreciated more discussion of mind-body connection.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, non-derogatory look at miracle healing.