I wonder if a study exists that compares belief/prayer to a God and the confidence attained compared to no belief in a God.
Basically, does prayer and having an all powerful entity to pray/talk to boost the levels of confidence/abilities of a person?
Anyone want to weigh in on this?
This reminds me of the "higher power" principle found in most 12-step programs. The purpose of the higher power in a 12 step program is to elevate something above the neophyte. It doesn't matter what that something is, so long as the person is able to place it above themselves. The intended effect is one of ego deflation, and once it has been sufficiently achieved it's infinitely easier to make progress. The ego can be a terrific hindrance in a lot of ways, and I think that for some people, belief in a higher power relieves them of the burden of carrying their own ego around all of the time.