Over the last several years, psychologists and academics have begun to study the possible links between prayers and speed of recovery. A recent Harvard research which covered 1,800 patients found no links between the two, and in some cases, patients who were aware others were praying for them fared worse than controls.

The research, known as STEP (Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer), was the largest study to date on this topic. The primary goal of this research was to evaluate whether intercessory prayer or the knowledge of receiving it would influence recovery after bypass surgery. 1,802 patients participated in the study, among them were Catholics, Protestants, Jews and people of no particular religion background. The patients were divided into 3 groups, and each group received prayers from either one of the two Roman Catholic religious communities or a Missouri based Unity Church group. No connections were found between prayers and post operation complications. Ironically, the patients who knew others were praying for them had MORE complications than their no-prayer counter parts.

The research had generated heated discussions between religious groups, and in some cases, academics. Dr. Yaron Brook of Ayn Rand Institute, had written a letter to BoingBoing