“For believers, praying, meditating, reading holy scriptures, and the like can have a calming, soothing effect that reduces the sensation of pain. These practices take people’s attention off their symptoms of pain and set it on a higher plane, reminding them of God’s power and love and reinforcing their hope. The prospect of heaven gives them a better life to look forward to, one without pain. All this helps to provide a sense of peace that pours healing oil on the internal agitation caused by their pain.”