> What's the point in pinpointing its nature when its purpose isn't to give you purpose but to make you feel better or more right? And if it's wrong, what harm does it do, since it involves no strict, life-changing beliefs? All such things require is that you listen and allow a possibility.

I think this is exactly one of the points Stephen was making. What harm does it do to need something provably false to make yourself feel better or more right? Well, to put it very harshly, what harm does it do to be stupid?

It doesn't necessarily do you any harm, in an upfront, direct-impact way. If it makes me feel better about myself to think there are little purple fairies living under my bed who think I'm cute, that doesn't change either me or the world in any immediate fashion. But somehow (and I'm not sure I can explain this properly), believing in things that are untrue harms both the believer and humanity in general. It gives me the same feeling as when I think about people whose circumstances mean they will never learn to read or write, or be able to fulfill their potential in other ways. They may go through life perfectly happy; I'm not saying they can't. But it's a waste, and it makes the world a poorer place, and it is both sad and frustrating to behold.

Nyperold mentioned the famous "Yes, Victoria" letter. I'm not sure I understood some of the points he was making, so if I got the wrong idea, I apologise in advance. The letter is a wonderful piece of writing, but you have to realise it is not strictly *about* Santa Claus. It was written for an audience on two levels -- the child who is asking whether Santa exists, and (more) the adult readers of the newspaper. The writer was not saying all those things exist in the world solely as a result of Santa Claus "existing". He was making a point about the need for love, humanity, kindness, wonder, and joy in the world, and that a child's belief in Santa is part of that expression of wonder and joy. As were the other examples Nyperold mentioned.

The secret, and the challenge for rational adults, is to grow to a mature sense of love, wonder and joy *without* having to base it on beliefs and fantasies more suited to children.