The power of belief is a huge power of the human mind, so powerful in fact that many attribute it to magic or that of divine intervention.
Not long ago, I was having a conversation with a devout Christian, one who believes with all his heart and uses his religion as a tool to help propel him to do what's right, stay morally foundationalized and remain true to his word - he's doing good for all the right reasons.
We discussed the interesting phenomena of religions which use various physical actions to cement their belief system and engrain it in their mental essence.
He stated; "Most of the practices like kneeling, closing your eyes during prayer, and offerings has been propagated by the priests and leaders as a way of pleasing god or ways to speaking to god.
" Okay so, this is a relevant concept worthy of discussion, so let's take it a step further - Did you know that when you rock back-and-forth kneeling you are bouncing the inside of your skull cavity with your brain, sending shock waves back and forth, putting your mind into a delta or theta state where you can more easily remember and up-take information - imprinting the new information or thoughts at the time? Plus, in doing so you are slighting damaging your brain from these small impacts inside over and over again - like a mini-traumatic injury from heading a ball in soccer or playing American style football.
My acquaintance, noted a different observation and discusses it logically, namely he noted; "Kneeling - both physically strengthening and allows people get a sense of having done a meek/painful act, which in turn builds their confidence.
" This notion of his is interesting indeed - so yes, that's a good point, and when you experience something like that in a group setting you also gain camaraderie with others who are also going through it.
"Misery loves company' - ever play on a sports team and worked your heart out, together with others, you form strong bonds that way - win or lose - more when you win, in war it's even more so.
Next he noted that; "Closing your eyes during prayer - A way of focusing on something else other than your problems, which is what most yoga and meditation specialists claim as well.
" Right so it works without channeling an invisible friend, or practicing some mild-form of schizophrenia as some atheist charge.
Meaning you can will positive or negative events without asking your god to do it.
It seems strange that prayer type meditating works, but it works without religion or with it, or even a new way of thinking, if you believe it is working perhaps.
Interestingly enough, every time someone "witnesses" to me and tells me how god saved them from x, y, or z - I just laugh, because I've always been a non-believer and I've had similar experiences without bypassing to the "invisible friend" part of my brain, which I guess is less-developed because I don't believe in such things.
But hey, we live in a great country and we have freedom of religion - so, you know, whatever floats one's boat.
Please note, this article is to be a mental dialogue between the reader and a recap of a recent religious or rather non-religious line of questioning.
It is meant to make you think, question your faith and either make it stronger or keep you searching for the truth, or a reality as you perceive it.
So, please consider all this and think on it.