Scientific critics of religion such as Daniel Dennett have been generous enough to point out that apparently useless healing rituals may even have helped people get better, in that we know how important morale can be in aiding the body to fight injury and infection.

Summary

This quote acknowledges that scientific critics of religion, like Daniel Dennett, have recognized that seemingly unnecessary healing rituals in religion may have had a positive impact on people's well-being. One potential explanation is that these rituals could have boosted morale, which is known to aid the body in fighting injuries and infections. In other words, the psychological and emotional support provided by these rituals may have contributed to the overall healing process, even if the rituals themselves did not possess any direct medical benefits.

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