Originally Posted by
siamcat 
What if they don't know they're being prayed for, studies have concluded that under these circumstances the patient has a measurably better chance at recovery too, is this not science?
(Freepath ... POKE :p )
To answer your question, its not science. To say these findings are the result of prayer and optimism is faulty logic. The explanation can be as simple as people who are happier and have better support networks live longer. "God" isn't really doing anything for his chosen ones.. and even if he is its up to the believers to prove it. In any case, the line between "hoping" and "praying" isn't always clear. And many atheists will sometimes pray, "just in case" in situations involving health.
Also, most people who have gotten terminal diseases fight pretty hard. I think every mom who has a child who is diagnosed with an illness will pray pretty damn hard for them to recover. Unfortunately, millions of really optimistic kids still die with their parents praying beside them. The power of prayer as medicine is really not that convincing to me.
Also, we should also be aware that circumstances can be as much responsible for pessimism as the other way around.