The problem with prayer.

[robvalue]

The power of... irrational thought.

I've had an experience lately which gives me a little bit of insight into what religious beliefs might be like. I had an irrational belief, which kept going for quite a long time. Months. I knew it was irrational, yet it was powerful. It gave me hope. It felt like a way out of the depressing mess that is my life. It felt like a "cure". Emotionally, I believed it, even though logically I did not. It's too personal to discuss openly.

I felt the strain of cognitive dissonance. I can't give myself over to fantasy, no matter how strong the emotion, so I was struggling to reconcile this with reality. Part of me didn't want to give up this belief.

But eventually I did. I finally came to terms with the fact that it was a ridiculous, fanciful and unrealistic belief. It was a relief. But it also felt rather sad. I'd lost the hope I had. Even though I know it was false hope, and I even knew it at the time, it still felt sad to lose it. I got a small inkling of how firmly religious people must cling to their beliefs, no matter what the logical part of their brain is telling them. The dissonance was killing me; I can't imagine what trying to reconcile religious beliefs with reality must be like.

I'm settling down. I choose reality. Irrational false hope is not much different to constantly getting drunk or taking drugs. It's not any kind of permanent solution, and it's irresponsible to let such things affect decision making for yourself and others.