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An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

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Respondent 5‟s account continues where someone prayed for her <strong>and</strong> where she prayedfor ano<strong>the</strong>r person where she believed healing took place:When someone prayed for me!!! I have had prayer for minor illnesses such as cold, orheadache; I have been anointed with oil <strong>and</strong> prayed for. I remember once I wascoughing, I went to <strong>the</strong> doctor <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> coughing did not stop. I went to church <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>minister said we have to anoint you <strong>and</strong> pray over you so <strong>the</strong>y anointed me <strong>and</strong> prayedover me. It did not stop immediately. I think it streng<strong>the</strong>ned my faith as I had to go to <strong>the</strong>doctor again. <strong>An</strong>d when I went to <strong>the</strong> doctor he prescribed antibiotics <strong>and</strong> I did not haveto take <strong>the</strong>m.Interviewer: Have you administered <strong>spiritual</strong> healing to anyone?Respondent: Oh! A friend <strong>of</strong> mine came here one day <strong>and</strong> said uncle was very ill he wasrushed to hospital. He had a mild stroke-----He was in pain so I said let us go <strong>and</strong> seehim. So we went <strong>and</strong> he was crawling, he was in so much pain. I did not go with <strong>the</strong>intention <strong>of</strong> praying for him but just before we left ‗I felt something say ‗pray for him‘, soI asked ‗Would you mind if I pray for you?‘ He said he did not mind. So I just prayed. Ilaid my h<strong>and</strong> on him <strong>and</strong> prayed <strong>and</strong> he started dancing. It was so instant that I wassurprised myself. I don‘t underst<strong>and</strong> how <strong>the</strong>se things work.Asking for healing is demonstrated in <strong>the</strong> extract in section 6.9 where Respondent11explained how she asked for <strong>and</strong> received healing through her own initiative <strong>and</strong> incontrast to <strong>the</strong> doctor‟s prescription <strong>and</strong> expectation. Respondent 11 extended her beliefin healing for herself to healing for o<strong>the</strong>rs <strong>and</strong> was clearly responding to teaching from239

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