Brain researchers have begun to explore what might be called faith-based analgesia.

Stimulating a religious state of mind in devout Catholics triggers brain processes associated with substantial relief from physical pain, report neuroscientist Katja Wiech of the University of Oxford, England, and her colleagues in an upcoming issue of Pain.

Science News / Pain Relief To Believe In

Given that such incidents have to involve brain chemistry, I wonder if they could be similar to so-called religious ecstasy?