Let's say, for the sake of this thread, that there are no deities; no God, no Allah, no Shiva. They don't exist, never have. With this understanding I ask would this affect the practice of those religions?
Let me phrase this from a Christian viewpoint, the one I'm most familiar with. God doesn't exist, Jesus was a good man, the bible is a book of laws used for political gain; the religion is wrong. Now, how much would this affect Christians?
In other words is the belief that there is a God as powerful as if there really was a God?
In other words is the belief that there is a God as powerful as if there really was a God?
Well...it'd be better if there was a control(like one belief where there was a God and it was true, and another where there wasn't but they believed it) but thinking about it, I don't think it would be any different. If there really is a God, then people will see the miracles. If there isn't then people will still see miracles because they're specifically looking for it. In fact, if people doubt their religion, then they will compensate in return by acting more on their belief. Therefore, if there is no God, then that has little to no effect on how people act and believe.
hardcore to think about. would people beleif more out of beleive, or fear. personally i think fear has its limits to what we would do in the name of fear. but belief, has no depth it would not sink to.
Like others already stated, your OP pretty much says how I look at the world. But I think god does exist. Not as an actual being of course, but more as a phenomenon, an idea that thrives people forward. Just like honour, or justice, or revenge. Whatever... to answer the question in the OP, yes, I think people would act exactly the same. All the good deeds, the miracles that happened (or were supposed to) were acts of humans, not of god(s). In fact I think the world would look completely different if there actually was a god/were gods.
In other words is the belief that there is a God as powerful as if there really was a God?
I think yes, without a doubt. In different ways of course but its obvious that it drives nations to war and people to acts of great kindness. Not saying these wouldnt happen anyway.
