60-40 NATION FILES (via Bryan Francoeur):

Many think God's intervention can revive the dying (Lindsey Tanner, 8/19/08, ASSOCIATED PRESS)

When it comes to saving lives, God trumps doctors for many Americans.

An eye-opening survey reveals widespread belief that divine intervention can revive dying patients. And, researchers said, doctors "need to be prepared to deal with families who are waiting for a miracle."

More than half of randomly surveyed adults — 57 percent — said God's intervention could save a family member even if physicians declared treatment would be futile. And nearly three-quarters said patients have a right to demand such treatment.

When asked to imagine their own relatives being gravely ill or injured, nearly 20 percent of doctors and other medical workers said God could reverse a hopeless outcome.

Yet the Unicorn Rider cites as one of his biggest mistakes helping, too briefly, to save Teri Schiavo from her husband. Of course, that wasn't the mistake he mentioned to Rick Warren.

Posted by Orrin Judd at August 19, 2008 12:21 PM