Prayers don't work so why do religious keep jabbing at it?

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I know people always say that, but how does it have psychological benefits?  Even people who dont believe in the supernatural will use prayer sometimes because of the psychological benefits and how it makes them feel better. But I do not see how? I f prayer worked and actually brought you what you wanted then it would make sense.  But since it doesn't change anything then I do not understand why people say it makes them feel better  when they pray? Or why people claim it has psychological benefits?

It's not always about the results, though. It may be a coping mechanism (for example), a desperate expression of hope for something good to happen in the midst of whatever crises they may be going through. And it can feel good in such situations (I know from prior personal experience). Sometimes the answer lies in the means itself rather than in the ends.

People do irrational things all the time, whether theists or atheists. If you want a scientific explanation for why we do irrational things, all you need to do is look up articles on human psychology.

This is pretty much my view of the matter.  While it's clear that intercessory prayer is so much bunk, prayers of thanksgiving or coping can have a positive effect.  It doesn't matter that there's no one on the other end of the prayer.

Suppose a believer says something along the lines of, 'God, I'm going through a rough patch right now.  Please help me find the peace of mind to get through it', the simple act of praying might actually help the petitioner to be calm, to worry less, or to draw on personal reserves to feel better about things.  In the sense of self-help (and in this sense only), it's pretty likely that prayer does work.  It doesn't mean that prayers are magic, or that there aren't other methods available.  It simply means that - for some people, and in a limited sense - prayer 'works'.

I'm part of a weekly poker game.  One of our players, who I'll call 'Tim' (not his real name - his real name is 'Jack') will snap the band on his wristwatch before every deal. It doesn't give him better cards or change the outcome of the game, but he says it helps him focus and make better bets.  The watch has no magical powers, but Tim isn't ever likely to lose this habit.  It's clearly a superstition he has, but...he wins more than he loses, every week.  Snapping the wristband improves his poker game.

Same with prayer.

Boru