Coverup,
I'm a "born again" Christian (I hate that term - I "rediscovered" Christianity in 1989 after 25 years as an agnostic and former Catholic - I am a non denominational Christian in an evangelical style church today). I had faith that my medical team would cure me and prayed often for wisdom for them. I also had many people praying for me.

I have been "hands on" involved in ministry for many years - LCT "Lay Christian Counseling", substance abuse/recovery ministry and the Praise and Worship music team.

Throughout the scriptures many unlikely people were used by God for many purposes, Judas Iscariot (the betrayer), the Apostle Paul (who was a despised tax collector) just to name a few. We are commanded in the scriptures to submit to authorities (that can include doctors). To forgo conventional medical treatment and use practically "new age" treatments are sinful in their own right. We are commanded to take care of our bodies as they are temples of the Holy Spirit. It is suicidal and delusional to do otherwise. By the way, I am the only one who didn't die from cancer that the prayer team at my church was praying for. Was it prayer that kept me alive? I really believe the fact I went to a comprehensive cancer center and sought the best doctors on the planet were what kept me alive. Some members of my medical team were devout Christians.

Jesus performed many healing and deliverance miracles during His ministry on earth but they all had one thing in common - they were used for example, teaching and outreach to the masses. Can you think of any instances where the Apostles achieved physical healing during their ministries? I think not. Even Paul couldn't get physical healing from God - see the links below.

See this article from the Christian Research Institute for more on physical healing: http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-nwsl/web/crn0064a.html

Another persepective on "healing": http://www.surfinthespirit.com/healthy-living/healing.html


More information on "altermative cures" from a Christian perspective:

http://www.surfinthespirit.com/healthy-living/alternative-med.html

Footnote: I apologize for breaking the rule about posting links in this thread and topic but the Christians here need to have a balanced and biblical perspective on these issues. I apologize also to non Christians and people of other faiths or belief systems. It is atypical for me to intermingle cancer and religion but in this instance I felt compelled to make an exception and the thread had clearly taken on religious overtones.