Sat Nam Awtar,
indeed faith and love can be very healing. But is this because there
is a god or that faith that we are loved is healing within itself?

Drug and alcohol addiction certainly have physical components but are
primarily habitual coping mechanisms to deal with emotions we judge to
be upleasant so it is hardly miraculous that changing one's beliefs
and habits can be a "cure". I am familiar with quite a few people who
overcame their addictions but can ocassionally have a drink. In my
experience, and yours may be quite different and I am not trying to
discount your beliefs, this has more to do with healing the underlying
emotional causes of addiction.

Many people have difficulty (for good reason) discerning the
difference between emotional and physical pain. This is because in the
brain they are the same thing and the same centres are activated
(unkind words really can hurt if they are believed by the person
receiving them). While the neurophysiology of pain is still not
completely understood it is commonly understood by specialists that
part of the cause behind chronic pain is, in simplistic terms, that a
feedback loop has been created. There's some fantastic research being
done in this area currently that will hopefully help prevent chronic
pain syndrome.

The power of the mind and our beliefs over the body can really be
quite spectacular. This doesn't mean that we can control all our
bodily functions - or eliminate non-psychosomatic illnesses - with our
mind. At least not without some very intense training such as that
undertaken by monks who dedicate their life to meditating.

I am sure we could both cite instances that we believe prove our
perspective, and I respect your right to believe what you wish and to
explain the world in terms that make sense to you. Many things look
like magic or miracles when we don't understand how they function. A
telephone would seem magical to someone from the 1600s. There are many
illusions we can weave that appear to be magical if we understand how
human visual or audio perception works. Indeed there is much more to
the world than meets the eyes (and our interpretations of what we
think we see! Is not the practice of meditation at least partly
about letting go of the illusions woven from the fabric of our desires
so that we may discern what IS not what we wish to be? Do we need to
believe in a god to know that love and compassion are worthwhile and
healing? As I have shared, I have no issue with people believing in
whatever god they choose as long as they don't trying and impose it
upon others (and I'm sure we can agree that religion has been used to
repress others at times and still is).

We all need a sense of meaning, it's a fundamental psychological need
for us humans and how we order and make sense of the world. Obviously
your beliefs give your life meaning and I respect that and I hope you
also respect my right to see the world differently than you do. Our
differences in perspectives and beliefs aside, we both seem to share a
common belief that love and compassion are worthwhile and
healing...even if our beliefs are based upon different criteria. And I
respect the fact that though you believe in miracles you don't have
the need to discount physical medicine.
blessings and peace
ovasoul