[Dr. Eckleburg]

Look, I lost all semblance of logic on this post earlier this afternoon. You were talking about placebos being effective in terms of "miraculous apparitions" and I chaulked those up to the power of suggestion or alcohol poisoning.

If I've misunderstood you, it wouldn't be the first time. 8~)

I had a lot of difficult things to do today and I've effectively ignored every one of them. So for that fact alone, let's call it a draw.

[RobbyS]

Just one thing. The logic is that “faith” is sometimes enhanced by reliance on physical objects. This obviously the is the basis of most superstittion, including things like lucky charms, or crystals aroubnd the neck. Of course is there is danger of idolatry when one associated the object with spiritual powers,but the spiritual danger is the identity of the spirit that is worshipped. The puritanical notion of eliminating all sacramentals works against the fundamental fact that we are composites of body and souls, and that we psychologically need tangible objects to give us confidence and we need to express our faith physically and that the faith is in the One God, not any false god.