Why do we believe in God

eii said:
Okay. I'll take a bite.

Yes, in the beginning, however, it is sprinkled with doubts at times; but it never goes away. With time it gets stronger and stronger. In the end it become "complete*."
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I understand that transition completely. What I'm still try to understand is how it's possible to believe you have a soul, but not be spiritual. When I asked that, it seemed like we went off in another direction, because the question didn't seem like it was answered, at least not directly.

But in all this change of direction, I think Mark simply uses "soul" as having nothing to do with religious belief or life after death. Creativity, maybe? I can possibly see this usage in New Age philosophy. If it just means something different than what it means to me, then I can understand. It's the same with spirituality, where semantics are all important. Sometimes I have bursts of creativity, which I do not equate to soul. I just consider it inspiration. And now we can dissect another word.
 
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I think a major reason we believe in God is because no one can figure out why there is life, the Earth, and the universe/s. So we imagine this powerful being that is invisible to us, has made it all. We believe that because we can make things. Because we can make things like tools and other things we think of, we think this invisible being did it. Pretty simplistic answer, but it might be a major reason for it.
 

As an atheist, why do I think people believe in a God? A god is a magical entity who satisfies human wants.
You want rain, you pray to a god.
You want a good harvest; you ask a god.
You want your side to win a war, you ask a god.
You don't want to die, so you ask for eternal life.
 
Pepper said:
I have never felt that.
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You’ve never held two color patches up see which you liked better for a new coat of paint? I have and I’ve felt it even more when I decide where to put pathways and plants in my garden. When it comes to what I like I find it more a matter of recognizing it when I see it. Same goes for flavor in dishes; I’ve got to taste it to know what works.

But it isn’t like everyone has to think or feel the same way. Viva la difference!
 
Pepper said:
My mind has always been open, and welcoming. I am a seeker.
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I have been too but not so actively now as in youth. I don't like to feel like I am prepping for a test or mastering a body of work or looking to acquire a new outlook. Now I just want to savor life in whatever ways are open to me. So far I can still walk everyday and take care of a dog and even a garden though less and less fussily now.
 
bobcat said:
Just wondering if you have ever heard reports of anyone hearing God's audible voice. The Bible says that he spoke at the baptism of Jesus, and he spoke to Saul of Tarsus, and he spoke to Moses, and Abraham, and others, so a voice was involved. But I've never met anyone who claimed that happened to them.
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there is no audible voice
 
Mr. Ed said:
Why do we believe in Santa Claus?
Why do we believe in tooth fairy?
Why do we believe in aliens?
Why do we believe in UFOs?
Why do we believe in Bermuda triangle?
Why do we believe in Constitution?
Why do we believe in the President?


Tell me you haven’t questioned the things you mentioned here?

To question is to learn and there is nothing wrong with that
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obviously I hit a sore point.
I don't believe in Santa clause. tooth fairy, aliens, ufo's or the Bermuda Triangle.
I believe in the constitution. But that's a no brainer. It is the stable factor in our existence as a great country.
I haven't heard an audible voice and don't expect to.
Science, intellect and great minds are never going to answer you. Stick with what you believe, but don't call on God when you're at the end of your life.
Don't turn to God for any reason when you encounter problems and suffering. Use what you understand and believe.
Stop looking for help from someone you don't believe exist.
Otherwise face the fact that you don't know.
Easy enough to tell me I'm wrong in my faith but you don't know why??????
 
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JustDave said:
For me: My closest synonym would be "magical." Faith in the unknowable, things not of this world, and heavily loaded with religious values. But it's one of many words that may be in transition, as it seems like people use it in different ways. Today it is common to use the word as an apology for not having normal religious affiliations of the past. I hear often, "I don't go to church, but I am a spiritual person." What that means I have to guess. Also, we cannot see, touch, or hear spirits, but by definition they must be of the spiritual world.

Because of the array of usages, I wouldn't put total authority in the hands of Merriam Webster. The definition you gave doesn't say much to me, because while it may be essential to who you are, it doesn't tell me who you are, especially if you deny being spiritual. I also agree that it may not be something you decide, but just discover. This is the same way one arrives at atheism. It's discovered, not chosen or decided.
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This is not about affiliations, upbringing, family heritage or credentials. This is about speaking to God and then being silent and waiting for his reply. It may come in many ways BUT you will know. Nothing else to say on this. If you really want to know, you will.
 
rbtvgo said:
Easy enough to tell me I'm wrong in my faith but you don't know why??????
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I would never tell you you are wrong in your faith, and I'm an atheist. Never. I believe you are right in your faith and glad for you that you have this.
 
It's interesting. Those who have faith are convinced that when the time comes, those without faith will be proven wrong. Those without faith are convinced of the same - except there won't be any bad feelings, because, you know, you'll be dead.

Globally, it is said 31% are Christian. 85% are religious. So there's a delta there of 54% of people who are, apparently, delusional, and won't get to be with their chosen God in whatever constitutes their heaven. Then there are the 15% who have no faith.

If that doesn't make you ask questions, then I don't know what does. Let's not forget, your faith largely depends on where you happen to have been born. So strange.
 
VaughanJB said:
It's interesting. Those who have faith are convinced that when the time comes, those without faith will be proven wrong. Those without faith are convinced of the same - except there won't be any bad feelings, because, you know, you'll be dead.

Globally, it is said 31% are Christian. 85% are religious. So there's a delta there of 54% of people who are, apparently, delusional, and won't get to be with their chosen God in whatever constitutes their heaven. Then there are the 15% who have no faith.

If that doesn't make you ask questions, then I don't know what does. Let's not forget, your faith largely depends on where you happen to have been born. So strange.
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Hard to say, but perhaps included in the 85% might be those who are spiritual, meaning that they may believe in some sort of spiritual essence, but not a God in the traditional sense. For example: Ecospirituality which, in simple terms, is a spiritual connection with nature, and experiencing it in a divine way. Some others may be more in a transcendental sense, or a oneness with the universe as a consciousness.

I think most of these experiences are a "felt" experience, and therefore highly individualistic. There is nothing substantive that can be proven, but perhaps it doesn't matter if it imparts deep satisfaction.
 
VaughanJB said:
It's interesting. Those who have faith are convinced that when the time comes, those without faith will be proven wrong.
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Definitely not true of all forms of faith. I maintain we all have faith to some degree in something. That sort of ominous talk usually comes from groups who think there is only one proper object of faith, that only they are on the one true path. I find that attitude unbecoming and a detriment to living a good life.

"54% of people who are, apparently, delusional, and won't get to be with their chosen God in whatever constitutes their heaven. Then there are the 15% who have no faith."

Of course faith doesn't have to involve believe in an afterlife or God as a being at all. Of the 15% you never know among those who report having no faith whether they just don't know what it is they rely on. Most at least trust the law of the exclude middle which of course requires a at least a tad of faith as no one can prove that is true.
 
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MarkD said:
Definitely not true of all forms of faith. I maintain we all have faith to some degree in something. That sort of ominous talk usually comes from groups who think there is only one proper object of faith, that only they are on the one true path. I find that attitude unbecoming and a detriment to living a good life.
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If you believe in one faith, doesn't that imply that you believe "only one proper object of faith"? Or are people going to Catholic (among other denominations) going to church and thinking, "I could be mistaken and another faith might be right"?

MarkD said:
Of course faith doesn't have to involve believe in an afterlife or God as a being at all. Of the 15% you never know among those who report having no faith whether they just don't know what it is they rely on. Most at least trust the law of the exclude middle which of course requires a at least a tad of faith as no one can prove that is true.
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Can only speak for myself. I have seen no evidence that convinces me of any God. Therefore, it would be silly to say I believed in him. Faith, as I see it, is what people say when there is no actual evidence. It's a shot in the dark. With evidence, one doesn't need faith, they'd have facts instead.

I could write more, but I don't want to offend the many Christians here beyond what I might have already. Suffice to say, I don't begrudge people who have faith, and in the grand scheme of things I don't think it's terribly important. We'll all end up in the same place - gone. Which isn't something that I like very much - just ending. But it's how I see it goes, and I can't deny it in personal terms.
 
VaughanJB said:
If you believe in one faith, doesn't that imply that you believe "only one proper object of faith"? Or are people going to Catholic (among other denominations) going to church and thinking, "I could be mistaken and another faith might be right"?



Can only speak for myself. I have seen no evidence that convinces me of any God. Therefore, it would be silly to say I believed in him. Faith, as I see it, is what people say when there is no actual evidence. It's a shot in the dark. With evidence, one doesn't need faith, they'd have facts instead.

I could write more, but I don't want to offend the many Christians here beyond what I might have already. Suffice to say, I don't begrudge people who have faith, and in the grand scheme of things I don't think it's terribly important. We'll all end up in the same place - gone. Which isn't something that I like very much - just ending. But it's how I see it goes, and I can't deny it in personal terms.
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Well there is no evidence for the law of the excluded middle. Do you believe in that? I don't think faith is necessarily or exclusively about religious matters.
 
MarkD said:
Well there is no evidence for the law of the excluded middle. Do you believe in that? I don't think faith is necessarily or exclusively about religious matters.
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The English language is a complex tool to describe our being - and it's so beautiful that it can be used in many different ways, it's flexible. This is such a case, because I would never expect the use of the word "faith" in terms of a God, to correlate to a "faith" in the law of the excluded middle. One is a belief in a deity and/or an answer to the question of where life originated, the other is a "law" in terms of logic. They're not the same thing. I accept excluded middle in context.
 
esii said:
Ditto. No observable evidence.
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I'd add - if I came across some evidence, then I'd believe. Facts are facts, and I accept them. Should a God ever speak to me, show themselves, or in some way confirm their existence, I'd have no choice other than to be a believer. The trouble is, the only "evidence" I've ever come across are feelings, some perceived insight, or opinion. And that's not enough for me. A book handed down through the generations isn't enough either.
 
VaughanJB said:
The English language is a complex tool to describe our being - and it's so beautiful that it can be used in many different ways, it's flexible. This is such a case, because I would never expect the use of the word "faith" in terms of a God, to correlate to a "faith" in the law of the excluded middle. One is a belief in a deity and/or an answer to the question of where life originated, the other is a "law" in terms of logic. They're not the same thing. I accept excluded middle in context.
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And I accept it where and to the degree it fits. Looks like you have a strong faith that only gods and afterlife are fit subjects of faith. ;)
 

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