On a news segment about a study that shows praying can lead to mental relief during tough times regular FOX News contributor Father John manages to push unintentional irony to new heights. Apparently the study suggests that even us nonbelievers can achieve similar peace of mind by “praying” to an imaginary friend of some sort. Father John is naturally very enthused to have some positive press for talking with his sky fairy, but he can’t abide the idea that it’s just as effective if you just make up your own pretend entity to talk to. In the following video clip he makes the stunning claim that “if you have an imaginary friend then there’s something wrong with you.”
Check it:
Dammit. Looks like I’m going to have to replace yet another irony meter as that segment just blew my current one sky high.
There is something very amusing about watching the good Father insist that his imaginary friend is actually real and thus of greater benefit for spilling your guts to. The truth is that venting your frustrations with just about anything is often psychologically beneficial — be it a God, an imaginary friend (but I repeat myself), a pet, a plant, etc. — whether it can understand you or not. Hell, blogging is a great way to ease the mind if you don’t mind venting in public. At least it works for me.
The placebo effect can be very strong even when you know it’s just a placebo. There’s no harm in taking advantage of it, but that doesn’t validate that your God is real. No matter how much you wish it was.
Isn’t this guy’s argument a bit like believing that you’re loved because you masturbate?
I will never understand these clergy types.
Now THAT is the funniest damn thing I’ve seen come out of FN in a long time
I seem to remember a similar thing on the psychological benefits of swearing.
Patness- You mean you read an article about the psychological benefits of swearing at imaginary gods?
At anything – a plant, a person, a refrigerator – as long as you swear. It even induces some pain relief.
The fact that it’s somewhat more taboo appears to be part of what gives it its power. Or, in other words, swear words were more “legitimate” venting tools than other members of the language.
I guess it’s okay to keep praying to Joe Pesci, since he certainly exists.
Worship the sun and pray to Joe Pesci because he gets things done, huh?
Why is this jerk an expert on anything? And what’s with the giggling at the comment that people who don’t have lights on should get tp’d or egged? FOX News sickens me more and more each day.