"...with no physical input to the system..."

Jiminy, Amos...you take in information all day long that is not exactly 'physical'. Hearing a siren, or seeing a TV show, of reading the paper is not like getting an injection or swallowing a pill...but they can [make] you sad or raise your blood pressure, ot even soothe you if you read the right things. :>) ....why shouldn't knowing of someone's concern (whether thru prayer or not) be just another form of 'information' which can affect your well-being?....without attributing metaphysical properties to it? Adrenaline and various other hormones are triggered by **the brain's** reaction to various stimuli.

"You can get paralyzed by an unwillingness to conclude based on data easily available, for fear you might have to change your mind later."

You can...but doing so is usually an indication of a psychological problem.


"I prefer to draw the best conclusion I can with the data I have, reserving the right to contradict myself with complete certainty in the face of new information."

Hmmm...ok, that explains a lot.
I prefer to work out a system of determining what kind of data justify drawing any conclusion! Sometimes there is just no way to decide, so I don't! I guess this is what pushes me into skepticism. **DOUBT** is easier for me than continuous re-contradicting myself. I do NOT consider myself close-minded and unwilling to accept evidence...I just have a narrow view of what qualifies as evidence

   Differ'nt strokes fer differn't blokes, I suppose.