I believe specifically in God and well it's the way I was raised, but not only that I personally have witnessed miracles, I've had experiences that I'm positive have came from him, and while it is possible to explain our existence with science I fell like God being real explains our existence actually better than science does. Also I don't believe that we have no purpose or greater goal in life so even if I'm wrong and God doesn't exist I know that there are other gods
It is hard not to believe in God, seeing as how you can try and prove/disprove the teachings and/or doctrines of a religion, or the book that the religion follows, but religion, in and of itself- as an organised group of people who follow a similar doctrine and belief system- has survived in some way, shape or form through its most devout believers. It's not hard to see how human behaviour has been influenced throughout history, and some research has indicated humans are genetically engineered to believe in the supernatural.
Anyway, the way human's brains are wired, most are inclined to believe in some sort of higher power - and God and most religions fit the bill perfectly. The article firefly linked to explains it well~
It gives them comfort, hope, support. It is more of a life tradition, passed on through generations, it's something people believe in to feel part of a community, or to feel safe, protected.
I don't believe in God, I have dismissed the idea of God altogether, I don't hate churchgoers, although I have met some insane people that take religion much to seriously. I don't talk too much about religion, cause it usually starts an argument that I can never get my points in since people in my town are Republican-Conservatives, and it gets very annoying to try to talk about my point when they don't shut-up. I think God is imaginary. Not 'think' know. Religion is one large cult, if you believe in God. I think if your gonna have a God make him sound cool and be much more interesting like the Greek Gods.
The only problem I have with saying it explains things better is that fact that it can't be proved. Of course it's easier to say Gods responsible, and who can prove you wrong when you can't even prove yourself right? I can understand believing in God for comfort and as part of a community, but the miracles and explanation claims I don't agree with so much...
People believe in God because they need something to believe in. Let's say your grandma, who you were very close to, just died and you feel responsible for some reason. Without God you're going to feel like you have to deal with it 100% and that there's no way out until she comes back to life. Obviously, that isn't going to happen, so you're going to feel really bad about yourself. However, if your grandma dies and you believe in God, you'll not going to feel as guilty because you'll feel like God can handle it for you. As well as his master plan idea, you'll believe that she died for a reason and she's in a better place. So basically it helps some people out.
I'm agnostic though, and a bit on the atheist side. My personal theory is that God is a wide spread imaginary friend. It started out as some guy claiming there was a God (he convinced himself that there really was, to the point there was no doubt in his mind it wasn't real)and then eventually more and more people started believing it. To the point that God is such a part of society, it is rarely questioned, and everyone accepts it as the truth. The majority of us are raised to believe in it. If you're raised to believe something you're not usually going to doubt it. That's how religion has become so prominent. If all of a sudden no one taught religion to their children, it would become massively weaker because it needs those blind followers. The ones who believe the Bible of facts.
In essence, the power of the human mind is amazing, I don't doubt for a second that it could have created God. Of course I could be wrong and everything in the Bible (and other holy books) could be correct, but that's my personal theory.
People believe in God because they need something to believe in. Let's say your grandma, who you were very close to, just died and you feel responsible for some reason. Without God you're going to feel like you have to deal with it 100% and that there's no way out until she comes back to life. Obviously, that isn't going to happen, so you're going to feel really bad about yourself. However, if your grandma dies and you believe in God, you'll not going to feel as guilty because you'll feel like God can handle it for you. As well as his master plan idea, you'll believe that she died for a reason and she's in a better place. So basically it helps some people out.
Not true. My Great-Grandpa died, I felt no guilt at all. Suer I felt sad for a few weeks, but I went back to normal afterward. If you feel guilt it's all in your mind, it's not anybody else, it's just what you think, our brain is more powerful than we ever imagined.
I'm agnostic though, and a bit on the atheist side. My personal theory is that God is a wide spread imaginary friend. It started out as some guy claiming there was a God (he convinced himself that there really was, to the point there was no doubt in his mind it wasn't real)and then eventually more and more people started believing it. To the point that God is such a part of society, it is rarely questioned, and everyone accepts it as the truth. The majority of us are raised to believe in it. If you're raised to believe something you're not usually going to doubt it. That's how religion has become so prominent. If all of a sudden no one taught religion to their children, it would become massively weaker because it needs those blind followers. The ones who believe the Bible of facts.
Should of put this in one post but.....
Yes, thats basically it. It is highly doubtful that believers that are parents will stop teaching there kids religion, but the kids will and have 'evolved' and are finding out the facts for themselves, and decide whether to believe in god for themselves after them find out for themselves first-hand. This is why there is a updraft in Atheism. but the updraft I think is more in teh 20-35 year olds I think
