Local woman says only way she has survived during COVID is faith

[Sal]

So WHAT if it's a mental crutch? Faith works, in a very real way. It doesn't mean that God is listening to you or that God is answering prayers or that God even exists. It means that you have a (for you) positive mental attitude, and it's pretty much beyond debate that such an attitude is helpful during times of crisis, such as losing loved ones.

It's a superstition, sure, but again - so what? If you think wearing your lucky hat helps you win at poker, it doesn't matter that the hat has no magic powers. If you have the hat, you're going to bet more carefully, fold when you should, etc.

As long as it isn't taken to extremes, faith is largely harmless and even somewhat helpful.

Boru

(bold mine)

If you use it correctly, then perhaps. Most of the time it's bullshit, and merely a placebo effect. But this placebo effect, you can just as well get by doing something real, and not bullshit yourself with faith. No faith needed, actually.

E.g. If ya need something a magic hat gives you while playing poker - then drop the hat - and try and play poker pretending that you're wearing a hat, picturing that you're actually wearing a magic hat ... that's when the magic happens. What differences does this magic hat do, when all you're missing is confidence in your ability to play poker? It got shit-all to do with the hat, and everything to do with how you're playing poker with false pretenses. That's faith.