THE STATISTICS OF SPIRTUALITY!
“Statistics” is a hateful science to most those who study applied sciences.

A microbiologist tries to find if the new drug [A] kills bacteria better than drug [B]; the statistician jumps in and asks: Did you do the right experiment? Did you repeat the experiment enough times? Did you perform the study randomly? The statistician then comes with his magic formulas: t test, fisher test, ANOVA, bla bla bla, and tries to validate the scientist’s results.

The same can be said about a pharmacologist who tries a new medicine on a group of sick mice and compares it to sugar tablets that have no effect. The statistician would ask: How many mice did you use? Did you record the conditions in which the mice live? Are all the mice treated the same way? etc…

The same can also be applied and to a greater impact to social workers. When you conduct a survey or distribute a questionnaire, you are asked about the randomization of your sample, the number of people who answered the questions, the dates and days the surveys were performed, the effect of the the researcher's mood and personality, etc, etc…

The reader of these lines may not fully appreciate the previous "too specialized cases;" but how about applying statistics to non-scientific issues. Let’s see if your best friend were a statistician!

Now you fall in love and go to talk with your best friend Mr. Statistico. The latter will ask awkward questions, like: how long do you sit with this girl? Had you stayed with the other girls you know for the same period, would you express the same feelings? Compared to your previous relations, what are the significant behavioral changes you experience? Can you attribute your feelings to the chance? If you do a “permutation” test, trying the same acts with 10 different girls, will you still find your sweetheart unique?

Oh God!! What are these kind of questions? To the average middle-aged male, these “statistically-valid” questions are miserable!

Now, it seems to me that the title needs no more explanations, for the title combined with the previous mentally stimulating paragraphs are enough to convey my message to you.
I wonder--since I have had an extensive course of Biostatistics--how “significant” and valid are my claims about my spiritual experiences.

Every time I experience a consolation attributed to the presence of God…
Every time I experience a regret of being away from Him…
Every time I experience the desolation of being in the desert of temptations…
Is it by mere coincidence that my best days were those of my warmest and deepest prayer? Is my loss of meaning when I lose contact with God a random event?

I need years of careful documentation, ages of wisdom and a handful of good statisticians to confirm what a genuine heart of a child can tell: It was true! Believe me! I have no proof or validation, but He was there and we sat together. He made me the happiest human being and I love him. That’s all.
- posted by R @ 1:54 AM