Curing with Charm: Folkloric Faith Healing and the Power of Belief by Daniel A. Reed

Daniel A. Reed examines the persistence of faith healing traditions, especially in Appalachian communities, and how these practices continue due to cultural beliefs and the psychological effects they invoke. Reed discusses examples of wart-removal rituals and other folkloric cures, highlighting how belief in these practices often stems from a misunderstanding of natural healing processes rather than supernatural effects. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2024/06/curing-with-charm-folkloric-faith-healing-and-the-power-of-belief/ About the Author: Daniel A. Reed holds a master’s degree in counseling and has taught courses in psychology, sociology, and counseling on both the graduate and undergraduate levels. He has been, at various points in his life, an amateur magician, a black-belt in karate, a certified master naturalist, a blacksmith, a pianist, an author, a self-taught carpenter and electrician, and a general builder of and tinkerer with various things technological. He is a lifelong learner, a student of philosophy, a citizen scientist, and indefatigable in his (skeptical) search for the truth. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.