Why we believe...

[Xaenn]

Or don't believe in religion. What do you think is the reason for this?

I bring up the question of how many people believe because they fear mortality.

Discuss.

I will post my opinions in a bit, after some discussion has begun.

[madcrow]

for one, anyone who believes in the big bang theory (which i do) has to believe in some kind of higher power (which i do) because how else could something the size of a grain of dust turn into the universe.

[Kitsune]

Because we feel unhappy in some way so we seek something we can believe in as guideline. And "holy" guidelines are surely better than others, ne

[Dingy]

I think people believe/don't because of fear, insecurities.
Sometimes it's nice just knowing that you can blame all bad and thank for good to someone. It's nice knowing someone's watching over, whether it's yourself or your god.
I don't equate religion with God. Religion is something you follow that helps you form an ideology of your own about your values, morals, traditions, etc. God is a question of faith, and faith is something very personal. For me my god is something/one I derive my strength from and I know I'm answerable to at the end of the day. This God may reside inside of me or in someone else or in something else.

[Ziegfried]

I'm of the conviction that Atheism is a religion, and also not religious. Why? Religions make big claims that they can't back up, and that has big, usually bad consequences. Thinking God (gods, what ever) does or does not exist is fine by me, since I can't prove he/she/it does/doesn't, but once you start stating his/her/its existance/non-existance as a fact, that's what I have a problem with.

People being religious because they fear mortality... Mostly, yes.

[Dingy]

Originally posted by madcrow
for one, anyone who believes in the big bang theory (which i do) has to believe in some kind of higher power (which i do) because how else could something the size of a grain of dust turn into the universe.

Strange how you seem to believe god created the big bang when the whole war between science and religion is on the creationist theory...religion says god said 'let their be light' and Adam and Eve banged, and scientists explain how the big bang happened...

[MasJ]

for one, anyone who believes in the big bang theory (which i do) has to believe in some kind of higher power (which i do) because how else could something the size of a grain of dust turn into the universe.

Actually, the primeval atom was 100 million light years wide. Hardly the size of a grain of dust . But yes, the question still remains, where did it come from ?


Also, people believe in religion because most are born into it. Today, I feel man has reached an age of practicality that in itself has made religion illogical. However, most people still are bound to it as they are born into it. And you generally believe in your earliest learnings.

[Dingy]

MasJ, you can't state the cause of being bound to religion being only socialization...the earliest religion was based on the worship of nature gods due to their fear and respect for the power of the forces of nature. The first worshippers weren't born into it...yes, I have to agree with you about the subsequent followers and the fact that most people are Christians/Muslims/Hindus/Buddhists/Parsis/Jews..etc. because they are born into it, but there's something in the world, either the lack of spirituality or the presence of materialism (whichever it may be) that is going to dictate the natural course of people to look for a higher and stronger power.

[Xaenn]

Also, people believe in religion because most are born into it. Today, I feel man has reached an age of practicality that in itself has made religion illogical. However, most people still are bound to it as they are born into it. And you generally believe in your earliest learnings.

I don't believe this is true. I have religious beliefs, however they are different from the ones i grew up being taught.

I believe my faith is genuine in the fact that it is not based around my mortality.

However I think that a lot of people believe because they are afraid. And the religion is some form of servitude in order to gain the reward of eternal life...which is really really wack. I equate that to the people who sit in church every sunday with no smile on their face, no emotion, and no joy. I am not a church goer myself, but if one believes that it is a necessary part of their faith, then they should go because of what takes place, and that they feel it is a part of their faith...not a price to pay.


I believe there are some postulations in quantam physics which state as to why matter could come from nothing...I don't know that these are true or not, but I wouldn't argue that. I would argue that if evolution is a random process and we developed randomly, than by controlling that process, we should be able to create MUCH superior life than to what we are. However we have not done so...So therefore it only seems logical that something greater created the universe.

[EffigyOfDoom]

i think that god is part of religion because while not all religions have gods, all goda have religions to back them up, and so god and religions are not seperate things, im not sure if atheisim is actually a religion, but if it is thats what i beleive in.

I believe there are some postulations in quantam physics which state as to why matter could come from nothing

this is possible because if there is a way to destroy matter, then there is a way to create it, i forget if we have discovered how to yet, if i find proof then i will edit this post. but i think that many people hold belief in religions because it provides them with a strong moral structure that is usually easy to follow.

[Xaenn]

Well a God is a part of some religions, but it doesn't really matter. You could perhaps say that there is a religion which believes in a natural order. Could you not then say that the world was created by/of/in that order?

[crusher]

We "believe" because "we" need an "explanation" of the unexplained.

[littlegenius90]

In year 2005/6 there is going to be a large scale exhibition about science and religion in India and its belived that top scientists from all over the world are gonna take part in it and luckly I might be able to take part in it, but I dont have complete details of it...really looking forward for this...me along with all the big scientists wow....

Any way as far as I am concerned I am very religious minded person. Although I study human body ( biology ) I am still a strong beliver of God or Religion because of the results it has produced for me...Since my early childhood day I was into my religion and followed it and did everything according to it...I do that till now and results speak for itself...Now you ask what results...Well its the "internal happiness" which I am experincing today its way beond the defination of "happiness" something that cannot be explained in words, It's like ever increasing and endless happiness but I can definatly tell you one thing, what I have achived through my spiritual journey so far is way beyond anything one can get in this material world (i.e. money, lust, power, etc.) .....

[littlegenius90]

And by the way since I am a biology student I definatly favour God because there are so may undefined phenomenon going on in our bodies that cannot be explained. For example latest researcher on eye was published recently, it was 28th research conducted on human eye but at the end it scientists concluded that they dont understand exactly how can we see. After studing every cell that is somehow related to eyes it is still unknown that what is the force inside us which makes it possible so see. Finally they said that there is some devine force which makes it all possible...

[Ziegfried]

littlegenius90 the religious guy, eh... I remember you.

Why is it that you assumed that phenomenon not being explainable with today's science is because of some or other divine thingily, rather than today's science not being all that perfect?
And what kind of scientist would have said, ah, "that there is some devine force which makes it all possible"?