Willful suspension of disbelief - what role does this phenomenon play in religion?
None. Willing suspension of disbelief is what lets you enjoy reading science fiction. Religion runs on faith. It has nothing to do with temporarily pretending to believe in God for the amusement value thereof.
It is hard to generalise. Everybody will have a slightly different story. For me, as far as I can recall, I have never had to wilfully suspend disbelief in terms of God, His existence and all knowing benevolence. I have never been an atheist. A former atheist may well have a tale whereby they began to perceive their error, but still did not know what to believe. At that point they may have had to suspend unbelief by praying something like God (if you are there) I want to find truth. If you exist you must have power, and therefore you must be powerful enough to show me yourself! That in itself is the start of the walk of faith. God will reward that suspension of disbelief and the seeker will find. His disbelief (once just suspended) will melt away as love and faith replace it. That's how it works for many folks.
It's the only way you're going to take Scripture seriously. That, or willfully going through life having never READ the damn thing, like 90% of self-described Christians.
