Dr. Marc Siegel’s recent op-ed, published in Fox News, delves into the growing divide between Americans and the potential for faith and gratitude to heal those divisions. Siegel argues that in an era marked by political polarization, the belief in miracles can play a uniquely unifying role. He uses the miraculous recovery of Rep. Steve Scalise, who survived a 2017 shooting on a baseball field, and the story of Damar Hamlin, who regained consciousness after a cardiac arrest during an NFL game, as examples of how faith in a higher power can bring people together. These stories, he posits, are not just about individual survival but also about the potential to find common ground in a deeply divided nation.
While the majority of Americans identify with a specific religious faith, Siegel believes that this shared belief can be leveraged to foster unity. The recent Gallup poll, which reveals that three in four Americans identify with a specific faith, underscores this point. When people see miracles, such as the survival of someone shot or experiencing cardiac arrest, they often set aside their political identities, a phenomenon Siegel emphasizes. He recounts how the doctors who treated Scalise described the procedure as the most miraculous of their careers and believed that Scalise’s faith in God contributed directly to his recovery.
Through his book, The Miracles Among Us, Siegel explores these themes, drawing on the experiences of various individuals, including Dr. Robert Montgomery, who underwent a heart transplant after multiple cardiac arrests. Montgomery describes an experience of transcendence, a feeling of connection to something far greater than himself. This experience, he says, has not only brought him peace but also enhanced his effectiveness as a doctor and surgeon. Siegel also cites Jordan Grafman, a neurophysiologist, who found through brain imaging that belief in miracles activates similar neural networks as partisan political belief, suggesting that faith and politics are sometimes interchangeable in their ability to create a sense of belonging and community.
For Siegel, the acknowledgment of a higher being can reduce fear and promote a sense of mutual respect, which he sees as essential for healing political tensions. Rather than separating religious practice from the hospital, he calls for an integration of spirituality into medical care, arguing that this approach would better serve both patients and society. His father, who recently celebrated his 102nd birthday, became a personal inspiration, having survived a series of life-threatening conditions through love, which he described as a form of belief in a higher power.
Ultimately, Siegel believes that belief in miracles is not only a personal journey but also a path toward societal healing. By fostering a sense of humility and gratitude, faith can provide a shared narrative that transcends political divisions. This perspective positions faith not merely as a private matter but as a public good that can help to mend the fractures in American society.