You can *make* yourself believe
It took me a long time to cotton on to this idea... All this hanging about in somewhat scary looking buildings, listening to a guy in a dress and chanting ancient drivel is essentially self-hypnosis. You can actually sit down and decide what you'd like to be true and then convince yourself that it's actually the case. I think believing a bit in the first place helps.
( Ennui loves you, Sun 22 Mar 2009, 18:17, 2 replies)

.
Consciously? No, that's just "being in denial" and it ain't the same as actually believing something... and neither is it healthy.

Subconsciously, on the other hand, we do it constantly. It's hard-wired into the brain. www.ted.com/index.php/talks/dan_gilbert_asks_why_are_we_happy.html
(misanthrope is so adjective he's verbing nouns!, Mon 23 Mar 2009, 2:00, closed)

well, to be fair
I think childhood indoctrination has a lot to answer for there. even children of non-church/whatevergoing parents tend to absorb a bit of wishful thinking about there being a Higher Power of some sort, and you can build a lot on that.

Personally I do not have a problem with people who actively CHOOSE to believe despite knowing there is no evidence, provided they are not dicks about it. If it gives them comfort/helps them live a better life that is good for them. Just because I'm a terrible liar is no reason to get pissy about it.
(Lieutenant Colonel Oblivious brought to you by intravenous sugar, Tue 24 Mar 2009, 11:43, closed)