Prayer

[robvalue]

I guess if someone literally can't do anything to help someone, then praying makes them feel better, as if they have done something. So it makes it easier to cope. I can understand the psychological benefit there. Of course you have to believe you're talking to someone. But you can achieve similar effects through relaxation, mediation etc.

As has been said, it's when something can be done but prayer is used instead that it becomes dangerous.