As I told Nighttrain, great question and I would love to discuss diseases and other calamities but in a thread on that topic. I did cover a little of it in a discussion once with Gilgamesh and you can find that post
Here.
Given that those who have maps and converse with God are no more or less likely to experience extreme suffering can we conclude that having a map and conversing with God is of no actual practical benefit at all?
If you mean do Maps prevent suffering, like magic spells, then no, of course not. Then can though help deal with how one reacts to unfortunate things.
So, given that I am a mapless heathen who has found other means of achieving spiritual health and that the various maps seem to have no practical value at all, is it not logical to conclude that all the maps are equally useless in practise and that those chatting to God are fooling themselves by attributing the basis of their spiritual health to something that exists only within their own heads?
Sure that is a logical conclusion. If, for example all of the things you mention happen to be true it might even be the right conclusion. Butwhen you say "... mapless heathen who has found other means of achieving spiritual health..." I see one error. You are not Mapless. You are not using the Religion Maps, but as you say you have found other Maps, other means.
This is my conclusion so if it is a wrong conclusion where am I going wrong?
Wrong about the existence of GOD? Who knows. You may well be right. But if you die and suddenly find yourself face to face with GOD, don't you think you would say, "Whoops. Looks like I was wrong about that!"
If my thinking is sound how is it that so many others, including yourself, are so utterly convinced of the opposite view?
I don't know. Personal experience may play a part in it.
The point is that I don't really think it matters at all whether or not you believe in GOD. GOD certainly wouldn't care.
Aslan is not a
Tame Lion