More like confirmation bias. People only remember when their prayers "solved" a situation that surely wouldn't resolve itself either way, but forget the million others where it failed.

[–] 9488fcea02a9@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 day ago

the trick is, it's never a failure. It's God's plan.

If your child beats cancer, praise God! Prayers answered.

if your child dies of cancer, praise God! Prayers answered. The answer was NO

[–] Astrealix@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

I mean sure, but also placebo effect is a real measured psychological effect

So even assuming there's no supernatural stuff, placebo would exist for people who genuinely believed in religion