Sorry, I wasn't very specific. I mean both the healing episode (the actual physical explanation for such a cure) and your willingness to attribute extraordinary happenings to God. As subjective as it is, just as "optimism" can be a different mental filter with which to grasp the world around us, so can dogma, imo.
I'm an agnostic (used to be a christian, well, never 100%). I believe in the power of the human subconscious as a way to influence our physical well-being and other things.
It’s okay, that’s why I asked.
There is no doubt in my mind that a positive or “optimistic” attitude influences everyday life and contexts such as this.
When God created human beings, he did so with a desire to know each and everyone one of us in hopes to develop a relationship. So in a way, I think perhaps all of our subconscious are “wired” to search out a higher power, so that we would know God. Perhaps that’s why the majority of us question our origin and purpose at least once in our lifetime? I think that there are external events, which can alter our perception and cause our beliefs to lean one way or the other. God gave us the choice as to whether we want to pursue a relationship with him or not.
With the actual physical explanation for such a cure, I don’t think the doctors attributed it to any higher power, perhaps, but they know that there was no way it healed on its own. Willpower alone could not heal it.
As for my willingness to attribute extraordinary happenings to God, sure, when you pray about something and it happens, that reinforces your belief in God. When you pray and (it seems like) nothing happens or you don’t get what you want, then that would understandably take away from your faith in Him.
I think the latter sentence is the reason why there is such discouragement. I know a guy who is paralyzed from the neck down from a tractor-trailer collision. He has been confined to an electric wheel chair for I think over 15 years now? God told him that he will be healed and it will happen when it’s just him and God. All this time he’s been waiting. That’s discouraging. But it’s that hope that keeps him going and alive for his son. (Kind of went off track here.)
I willingly attribute these extraordinary happenings to God because I know that humans are not capable of such acts. I have seen people healed time and time again. God has spoken to me and given me supernatural visions. He is currently using me to lead an atheist/agnostic ENTJ male friend to Him. This boy is one stubborn analytical person, but I love him to death. He has never wanted to hear a thing about God. The other night we were talking and basically I told witnessed to him in text messages. (Luckily he fell asleep, so he couldn’t respond and I had freedom to write down everything.) The words just kept flowing from my fingers. I sent over 12 in a row, 160 character limit in each, and I never thought of what to say. I could not think of what to say on my own. I knew it was from God and he arranged this. Funny thing is, days later, this kid is asking me questions about God. He wouldn’t be if he wasn’t at least curious, no? There is no way I could have created this situation on my own.
Hopefully I answered your question. Feel free point out where if I didn’t, ask for clarification, or ask more questions.
Btw, Headstrong, if your friend with the torn ACL can provide before and after x-rays (or whatever they use to look at ligaments), and prove there was no medical intervention, I think you should submit that business to the Vatican. Isn't it ACL tears that 100% never heal on their own? I know there's some ligament in the knee that, once torn, will never heal unless you get it replaced with another one (from a cadaver...creeepy!). I know you believe it happened, but I'd need to see those x-rays and medical records.
Yes, hers was completely torn in half. It would have never healed on its own. I don't know if that is the ligament you are talking about, but I know this was the case. I know it's hard to believe, and I wish I could show you medical evidence. Or at the very least, have you meet her. The most she has is the before x-ray. God told her she was not to have an after x-ray done. Talk about faith, eh? Had she disobeyed God and gotten those after x-rays, who knows what could have happened to her knee. I think its better to have a healed knee and no physical evidence than to have physical evidence and perhaps something else not so nice. If God felt the need to prove himself to her and everyone else, he would have told her to get an x-ray done. God does not need to prove himself to anyone. I understand why you are skeptical, though. I would not have believed it if it didn't happen to someone to whom I am so close to.