Sadly, a great man, Christopher Hitchens, was recently diagnosed with cancer. But what’s sadder, but not surprising, is the Christian response to this tragedy. While some Christians have acted with kindness and respect, it is Francisco Contreras — who amazingly got a column at the Washington Post and a medical degree without any apparent research skills or knowledge — who is adding to Christians’ bad name.
His article, Pray for Hitch? Christian healing for believers, atheists, in the “On Faith” section of the Washington Post (don’t ask me how this seriously became a section), notes two celebrities recently cancer stricken: Christopher Hitchens and Christian disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada.
Contreras goes to wonder if Hitchens illness “could be the result of God’s judgment?” But as for Tada, no questions are asked. The hypocrisy must be noted. For the record, I do not believe there is such a thing as God’s judgment — but for sake of argument let’s say there is — then if Hitchens is considered stricken by God’s judgment, shouldn’t Tada be as well?
He goes on to say how belief in God has intense healing powers. But Contreras’ lack of reason is not hard to bash, so I’ll go easy on it. What is baffling though, is how a doctor who should have gone through intensive education relating to research, passed up an article posted in his own paper, the Washington Post, just some years ago that refutes his claim.
The article, clearly titled, “Prayer’s Power to Heal Strangers Is Examined,” could no more clearly state:
“Praying for sick strangers does not improve their prospects of recovering, according to a large, carefully designed study that casts doubt on the widely held belief that being prayed for can help a person heal.”
So what kind of practice could Contreras be running with this medical degree of his? Turns out, he works at Oasis of Hope Health Group, which we’re pretty sure is his daddy’s company. Their main treatment for cancer patients at their facility is “integrative regulatory therapy with Vitamin C.” And we all know, Vitamin C can’t even cure a common cold.
So Contreras, we ask you: put the keyboard down, pick up a book, and let the big kids do the thinking.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Totally behind you on the subject matter here but just one little niggle. You realise that chemotherapy/surgery/radiotherapy etc. don’t “even” cure a common cold either right?
Alan, thanks for the comment. I’m glad you like the post. As for the common cold thing, yeah I know, but it was a fun poke at Contreras.