Yes I think Rep this is shown very clearly by recent events. Mortgage Backed Derivatives are very flawed as a theory - but - the belief by most if not all that House Prices MUST go up - and that MBDs must thus be totally secure, backed up by Ratings Agencies led Banks, Spivs, Gordon, near enough everyone into a "Fools Paradise" ... a belief. This then cruelly collapsed. I do wonder if Religion is the same. It is belief - it may well be as strong as MBDs were as a belief - in that case pure Alchemy - lend someone a Mortgage - get that money plus all the interest immediately, not in 25 or 30 years. It does all exercise the mind ....