 From a general point of view, for William James, something is true "only insofar" as it works.Thus, the statement, for example, that prayer is heard may work on a psychological level but (a) may not help to bring about the things you pray for (b) may be better explained by referring to its soothing effect than by claiming prayers are heard.As such, pragmatism is not antithetical to religion but it is not an apologetic for faith either.