Religion

Science provides that. I am not at all comfortable with the dismissive "We aren't meant to understand" notion so common in religions, nor the whole "God's will" rationalization. I find that way of thinking particularly odious when used to give thanks for being spared some devastating event that affects others - your house survives a wildfire or flood, but your next door neighbor's does not, etc, etc. Or the whole idea that "God loves you so much he's testing you," by giving your child leukemia or allowing your spouse to be killed in a car crash (again, etc, etc).

I have been watching most of the March Madness games, and more than a few players and coaches have been attributing their victories to God. God didn't win those games - the very hard working college athletes did. I think that idea takes away from the credit that should go to the players.

I think blind faith is a way not to have to think for yourself, or to accept responsibility. Perhaps even a way to not have to fully grieve the loss of a loved one - "He/she is in a better place."

I had a young patient who was the eldest of 5 kids in a very fundamentalist family. During an exam of one of her sibling one time, she happened to sneeze, and piped up, "God must have wanted me to sneeze." I normally make no comments to such utterances, but I was unable to restrain myself. I said, "I think God might have bigger decisions than that to make. She was only 7, and already brainwashed. Her family stopped immunizing midway thru the usual shots for their 3rd child. The older 2 were fully protected. When I asked about the change of heart, the dad replied that their church had told them they shouldn't immunize. It was one of the husband-is-the-head-of-the-household brands of Christianity. The mom waited for me at the end of a work day one time, in the parking lot, sobbing because she wanted to get all the immunizations, but was not able to override her husband's dictates. I felt awful for her, but there was nothing I could do.