Economists find mixed values of 'thoughts and prayers'

[DBoon]

Thunstrom and Noy's study placed actual economic values on thoughts on prayers through an experimental survey of victims of hurricane Florence in North Carolina last year. They found that, from the perspective of Christian hurricane victims, the monetary value of prayers by others on their behalf was significant. Meanwhile, atheists and agnostics were actually "prayer-averse," placing a negative monetary value on prayers on their behalf by others.

"Our results suggest that thoughts and prayers for others should ideally be employed selectively," Thunstrom and Noy wrote. "While Christians value such gestures from fellow believers, non-religious people negatively value such gestures from Christians and are indifferent to receiving them from other non-religious people."

Specifically, the study found that, on average, Christian hurricane victims value prayers from a Christian stranger at $4.36, and $7.17 from a priest. In contrast, non-religious people are willing to pay $3.54 for a Christian stranger and $1.66 for a priest to not pray for them.

https://phys.org/news/2019-09-economists-values-thoughts-prayers.html

[SCantiGOP]

1. A family member had a serious medical situation a few years ago

I knew that people were just trying to be kind and supportive, but it was all I could do not to lash out when they told me - with obvious sincerity - that they were praying for her.