Does belief in God influence outcomes?

I follow a few people on Twitter who have religious delusions. They praise the lord, tell him how wonderful he is and how they follow him and thank him for lighting their lives. You know the kind of thing.

These people really do believe they have a deep and profound relationship with god. With some, like @MissRaissa @alexandrasmif the language is about feeling God inside her and being overwhelmed with his presence. It reads to me like they are really in love with Jesus and want him to fuck them. While they love Jesus and follow his doctrine, they aren't going to be getting any jiggy from any men. Let's hope the sex side is not a disappointment after they do get around to being married (for eternity).

Anyway I got to thinking that the people walking with god 'shining a light' on their fortune could be compared to people of a different faith or people of no faith. A study of groups of similar demographics or however statisticians do this stuff.

There could be information gathered on;

• The number of people
• becoming seriously ill and how many went on to a full recovery
• having a relative, friend, pet die
• experiencing promotion or a pay-rise if working.
• getting good grades in an exam
• able to give up smoking
• being adversely affected by quakes, floods, tempests etc.

I am sure you get the idea. I am trying to think of things that wouldn't be too subjective or be biased due to the person's perception of the situation. Now we know what the research would show, that good and bad things happen to people irrespective of what they do or don't believe in.

So that kind of scuppers the prayer thing as well. No evidence there. In fact the only clinical study I know showed prayer made people worse.

So God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit are present in peoples' lives but there is no measurable difference in significant events happening to to them that don't happen to godless people. Does that then mean that these poor deluded people are in it for the eternal life thing? Or do they really believe that God is giving them a better deal that every non-xtian?

I really do wonder if they have a proper understanding of eternity. If someone was giving me the chance of eternal life without a body and in the company of a god that takes an unhealthy interest in my sex life, I would be bloody terrified.