"Why do people believe in things for which there is no evidence and would it be a mistake to try and persuade them not to?"

"Why do people believe in things for which there is no evidence and would it be a mistake to try and persuade them not to?"
Links:
[1] http://edge.org/annual-question/what-questions-are-you-asking-yourself
[2] http://edge.org/inthenews/what-questions-are-you-asking-yourself
[3] http://edge.org/contributors/what-questions-are-you-asking-yourself
[4] http://edge.org/responses/what-questions-are-you-asking-yourself
[5] http://edge.org/print/response-detail/10970
[6] http://edge.org/memberbio/lewis_wolpert