If Religion Is Not Just a Metaphor for Superstition,

[SoFlaDem]

22. There is an emotional factor overlooked here

Many people do not seek spirituality for merely circumstantial outcomes. Sure, some prey for outcomes but there is also a psychological aspect of having faith. In other words, people may feel more protected or more empowered by believing in a God. I see it as some people's way of coping with a scary and difficult world.

Let me give an example. I went with a friend to a disposition hearing for his drug-addicted son who was charged with a felony. While we were waiting for the proceedings to begin, there were two families out in the hallways in front of the court room with us. They were African American and they each also had sons awaiting their hearings as well. From speaking with the families (we were all conversing as a group) it became apparent that both these kids were from poor families who suffered from the usual disadvantages of being a poor black family in Harris County Texas.

In both families, they discussed how hard they tried to keep their kid off the street, how there was no resources to help them and how sad the situation was. Both families, however had very strong faith and it seemed to me that their faith was helping them deal with the hardships of their lives and the frustration of trying to keep their child out of trouble. They prayed together and they found strength in their beliefs and t gave them some hope. In the end, I sensed that there was power in saying "His will be done," a feeling that there is a greater good that gives them comfort that it is not all for naught.

I don't know the outcomes of those two hearings and I don't know that the praying helped the defendants at all. What I did see was a faith that helped them cope, gave them comfort and some hope. It was also their moral anchors and they did not pray for their kid's releases from jail, but rather their sons' redemption. Maybe it is like superstition, but maybe there is something valuable to it.