Xochitl Ochoa, Cashier, Factoria

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"No, I don't think it's true. A lot of people say it works, but if it worked, there wouldn't be a lot of people sick. My boyfriend in Mexico doesn't believe in it either. A lot of people in Mexico say it cures people's problems if they pray. People think it's going to work -- if they have faith in God -- they think it's going to help them, so it probably does. But I don't believe in it."

Laslo Bako, Dentist, Bellevue

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"Yes, I do. I think it's a possibility. You are considering all the facts and chances when you are doing prayer. I've done it, for myself. It worked. Definitely... Studying if it works is good, too -- studying is the key point of everything. If you have more knowledge, it is better. Education is good -- and prayer, too."

Donna Vining, Homemaker, Bellevue

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"Yes. I was raised Catholic and it's just been instilled in my mind that God is all-good. People will believe what they want to believe -- I think that a lot of times, if people believe they're feeling better, they will feel better... The healing power is a subtle process."

Chris Villani, Sales, Bellevue

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"Yes. Basically, I believe in prayer and sometimes things happen that we don't understand, and they happen for a reason. For healing, for answers, it's a matter of looking and finding that, and having faith your answers will come... I'm a very big Christian believer."

Michael Given, Computer art, Kirkland

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"Oh, absolutely. I'm recovering from a brain tumor and I believe in all of that. I went through three surgeries and prayer was an important part of all of them, including during the surgeries themselves. I had major prayer going... When this all came about, prayer helped me tremendously. It's been four years and the tumor is gone, the cancer is gone. What I had to go through has been just amazing. The doctors didn't think there was much chance, so prayer works. Absolutely!"

Katina Schaum, Nurse's aide, Federal Way

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"Yes, I do, because there have been so many people who have travelled across the country and they've seen visions of God's healing. God is speaking to them and telling them what to do -- to heal -- and they'll go to Israel or wherever and heal people, and teach the word of God. But if it's not from the word of God, you really have to be careful. I think that you can tell when it's God speaking because that person is living that life 24 hours a day. They walk their talk... I've never prayed for healing but the fellowship I go to prays for healing, and lives have been changed for the better because of this."

Copyright © 1995 by the Bellevue, WA-based Journal American newspaper.

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