(February 1, 2018 at 11:01 am)Khemikal Wrote: Well, that's the rub, if what you're looking for is a state of mind..then a placebo is a pretty cheap way to effect that. Otherwise you gotta go buy drugs, lol. Positive thinking may not actually lead, directly, to positive outcomes, but it leads to a better mood which often -does- lead to more positive outcomes..or at least a more positive experience of poor outcomes.
The silliness and pointlessness isn't in prayer or any other ritual to achieve that effect, it's in peoples misunderstanding and misattributons -of- the effect or the nature of the act.
My sentiments as well. If what you're looking for is an attitude adjustment or a just so state of mind, a placebo is no longer a placebo. If what you really want is to bring auntie Emma back to life or win the next lotto, prayer will prove to be an ineffectual placebo. Prayer is fine within its domain.
