Why believe in God?

This conversation would have to develop into an analysis of psychology and existential philosophy. However, I disagree with your position that your morals can dictate your actions, i.e. that your subjective morality is an innate feature of your inner being/psyche/soul, etc.

I disagree there.  I could not believe in God even if I wanted to.  I would have to see concrete evidence, or some equally reality-shattering event before I believed.  No amount of rhetoric regarding the futility of life, intricacy of the world, etc. could make me spontaneously believe.  This is debatable, but it just doesn't seem possible to me.  I admit such a change is possible through the unconscious, but not through conscious decision.

I would argue that you don't necessarily exist in such a way, but are in fact nothingness itself. You are free to choose at any time what you think, feel, and believe. Although it may appear difficult, or imossible, it is simply your desire for wholeness asserting itself over your existentially free (and empty) subjective existence. It is your desire to have a sense of stability that produces the unnerving results of going against your "moral code." It is not a feature of your reality, but merely a sign of your weakness and bad faith.

I see your conclusion, but I still disagree with your premises.

Most people that believe in God (or a god) do so because:

1:They want to feel 'holier than thou'.
2:Insurance Policy (In case afterlife really exists)
3:Find meaning for their life

Of course, I didn't include power in here, because the Catholic Church has lost any ability to manipulate honest believers with their lies in the present world.

I believe in God not because I was raised to do so (though I was, it didn't really affect my decision), but because I know what I read in the Bible is the truth. I know I sound like some stupid jerk that would believe in sasquatch if they saw a fuzzy video of someone walking around in a monkey suit, but that's not the case. My outlook on everything is false until proven true. However, I find that the Bible contains meaning which you cannot find in anything else. It strikes deep to my outlook on life; and the words I read have an uncanny habit of relating and resolving the current problems I am facing. The Bible is better than any psychologist or best friend's advice.

This is why I get very disgusted with people claiming to be Christians decide to pick and choose what parts of the Bible they want to read. The United Church says there is nothing wrong with homosexuality, because everyone else says it's OK and they don't want to look different, as well as the US Government printing "In God We Trust" on their coins, and allowing gay marriage. Televangelists openly sell the word of God and pretend to heal people with invisible illnesses. Some pretend-Christians say they believe in human evolution from apes when there are verses in Genesis clearly against this. As is said in the Bible, don't water down the Word of God with other beliefs, as you wouldn't drip poison into a fresh spring. So clearly anyone trying to find common ground with a non-believer cares more about what others think than God, and has no faith.

The point I'm getting to is that about 70% of the people that say they believe in God do it for show, and thus their reasons for doing so will be insubstantial and meaningless.

Peer pressure.  Everybody's doing it.

Peer pressure.  Everybody's doing it.

Well, that certainly isn't as common today as it was during the height of Catholicism. However, in reference to Islam your statement applies very well to present day.

Most people that believe in God (or a god) do so because:

1:They want to feel 'holier than thou'.
2:Insurance Policy (In case afterlife really exists)
3:Find meaning for their life

Of course, I didn't include power in here, because the Catholic Church has lost any ability to manipulate honest believers with their lies in the present world.

I believe in God not because I was raised to do so (though I was, it didn't really affect my decision), but because I know what I read in the Bible is the truth. I know I sound like some stupid jerk that would believe in sasquatch if they saw a fuzzy video of someone walking around in a monkey suit, but that's not the case. My outlook on everything is false until proven true. However, I find that the Bible contains meaning which you cannot find in anything else. It strikes deep to my outlook on life; and the words I read have an uncanny habit of relating and resolving the current problems I am facing. The Bible is better than any psychologist or best friend's advice.

This is why I get very disgusted with people claiming to be Christians decide to pick and choose what parts of the Bible they want to read. The United Church says there is nothing wrong with homosexuality, because everyone else says it's OK and they don't want to look different, as well as the US Government printing "In God We Trust" on their coins, and allowing gay marriage. Televangelists openly sell the word of God and pretend to heal people with invisible illnesses. Some pretend-Christians say they believe in human evolution from apes when there are verses in Genesis clearly against this. As is said in the Bible, don't water down the Word of God with other beliefs, as you wouldn't drip poison into a fresh spring. So clearly anyone trying to find common ground with a non-believer cares more about what others think than God, and has no faith.

The point I'm getting to is that about 70% of the people that say they believe in God do it for show, and thus their reasons for doing so will be insubstantial and meaningless.

Do you adhere to the Old Testament's commandments (not just the 10) as well as the New?

I agree with all of this:

Most people that believe in God (or a god) do so because:

1:They want to feel 'holier than thou'.
2:Insurance Policy (In case afterlife really exists)
3:Find meaning for their life

Of course, I didn't include power in here, because the Catholic Church has lost any ability to manipulate honest believers with their lies in the present world.

This is why I get very disgusted with people claiming to be Christians decide to pick and choose what parts of the Bible they want to read. The United Church says there is nothing wrong with homosexuality, because everyone else says it's OK and they don't want to look different, as well as the US Government printing "In God We Trust" on their coins, and allowing gay marriage. Televangelists openly sell the word of God and pretend to heal people with invisible illnesses. Some pretend-Christians say they believe in human evolution from apes when there are verses in Genesis clearly against this. As is said in the Bible, don't water down the Word of God with other beliefs, as you wouldn't drip poison into a fresh spring. So clearly anyone trying to find common ground with a non-believer cares more about what others think than God, and has no faith.

The point I'm getting to is that about 70% of the people that say they believe in God do it for show, and thus their reasons for doing so will be insubstantial and meaningless.

What I don't understand is this:

I believe in God not because I was raised to do so (though I was, it didn't really affect my decision), but because I know what I read in the Bible is the truth. I know I sound like some stupid jerk that would believe in sasquatch if they saw a fuzzy video of someone walking around in a monkey suit, but that's not the case. My outlook on everything is false until proven true. However, I find that the Bible contains meaning which you cannot find in anything else. It strikes deep to my outlook on life; and the words I read have an uncanny habit of relating and resolving the current problems I am facing. The Bible is better than any psychologist or best friend's advice.

How do you know the bible is correct? How do you know that the authors of the bible(who were human) did not make everything up? There is currently no physical or scientific evidence to point to the bible's validity. Why do you believe in god other than because the bible says so?

If the bible is correct then indeed, god must exist. The real question you have to answer is how can you be sure what you read in the bible is actually the truth.

"I contend that we are both atheists, and when you understand why you denounce the countless other possible gods, you will understand why I denounce your god."

(forgot the person who said this)

I trust the Bible to be correct because it provides a working solution or answer to anything in my life. When I need direction, I trust the Bible and I have never gone wrong.

@munkiwrench- Jewish Law that does not conflict with reform Christian Law is still relevant. It would be impossible to follow both.
ie:Jewish Law- An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
Christian Law- Love your enemy, hold no transgressions against them, for even a sinner loves his friends

Of course, the Quran has Jewish Laws and Christians Laws mixed into one; I guess they just choose which.

I trust the Bible to be correct because it provides a working solution or answer to anything in my life. When I need direction, I trust the Bible and I have never gone wrong.

Let's stone disobedient kids together sometime.

Jewish Law that does not conflict with reform Christian Law is still relevant. It would be impossible to follow both.

I thought that was pretty straightforward.

Do you eat anything non-kosher?  The New Testament doesn't say anything about changes in commandments regarding food.

There are many ways to find answers to everything in life.  Why would you choose the Bible?  Why not "A Purpose-Driven Life"?  And why would you assume that the Bible provides good solutions to your problems?  Why would you assume that they are the best solutions, instead of merely solutions that look good in the context of a single book?  And lastly, why would you assume that the Bible is correct about creation and God, and wasn't just written as a metaphor by wise men?  In other words, why do you automatically take both the claims of creation and the life-lessons offered?

Also, why do you assume that the Bible is correct in things such as homosexuality?  The Bible makes it clear that homosexuality is a terrible sin, but in modern society, gays don't hurt anyone.  Such commandments are outdated and hate-mongering.  Why would you take the Bible's word for it instead of forming your own opinion?

i think its not actually the religion itself but the faith. I think its important to have faith in your life but to be fair you dont have to be neccisarily religious to have faith. I personally do not believe in any religion. but believing in something that possibly might not be true isnt a bad thing unless you use it against someone like using ur religion to have a go.

http://mattcbr.wordpress.com/2008/03/29/girl-killed-by-ignorance-and-stupidity/

Would a kind and just God allow this to happen? The daughter of devout Christians dies and the parents are sent to prison because they relied on God rather than medicine to help their daughter. Sounds like a pretty nice God to me...

The old argument of Voltaire.

I really doubt that a God could ever exist but supposing one did, it wouldnt be from any of the religions we've come up with. If everything in the bible was really true then the God in it is a complete asshole. Hes so pathetic he  scares people into believing in him (with no actual evidence) and will throw you in hell if you are a rational person or even worse if you lived a life in which you never couldve learnt of God/ were influenced by another religion. Of course you also gotta worship him (what the hell does he gain from that?) and constantly praise everything about him. The list of the flaws of God is near endless and thats just for christianity.

The old argument of Voltaire.

I'm now 99% sure you're Oscar.  Just admit it.

I am not Oscar.

Liar.

Oscar is a faggot. I, no.

Who are you then?

I am who I am.

That really was Midnight-ish.  Maybe Mykael was right.

I can understand you all thinking Toth is me, but I'm genuinely offended by these bridget accusations.

That really was Midnight-ish.  Maybe Mykael was right.

There's a first time for everything.

Do you eat anything non-kosher?  The New Testament doesn't say anything about changes in commandments regarding food.

Actually it does "it is not what goes into your mouth that makes you unclean, but what comes out of it"

To all those that believe in some discrete, specific Supreme Being, why do you believe?

I used to believe in God, but only because I was raised to.  When I was about 14, I realized that there is no reason to believe in God.  If no one told me about God, I would never have believed in the first place.  I see no evidence, I feel no compulsion.  I have never observed a miracle, or any other occurrence unexplainable except through divinity.

So what would compel you to believe in God?

In my heart I feel like God is up there. I know that I cant see him. I personally dont need to. Everytime I talk to him I feel better. Everytime I have prayed for someone, good things have happened. Everytime things have gone crappy in my life I asked him for some help and things always got better. I just choose to believe that he is there and watches over me. Some people might call it coincidence that those things happened. But I fell in my heart something really great.
I would never push my belief on anyone else. And I certainly dont call myself any kind of religious name. Religious names are to labled. I think its okay for people not to believe in God. Alot of people need to see to believe things and that is totally understandable to me! =^)

I just choose to believe that he is there and watches over me. Some people might call it coincidence that those things happened.

Yeah, some people will. And they are right to.

Quote from: Melinda on June 12, 2009, 05:47:46 PM

I just choose to believe that he is there and watches over me. Some people might call it coincidence that those things happened.

Yeah, some people will. And they are right to.

You have your opinion, good for you.

Quote from: Sir_Drainsalot on June 12, 2009, 06:25:10 PM

Quote from: Melinda on June 12, 2009, 05:47:46 PM

I just choose to believe that he is there and watches over me. Some people might call it coincidence that those things happened.

Yeah, some people will. And they are right to.

You have your opinion, good for you.

Get fucked, religionfag.

Quote from: Melinda on June 12, 2009, 09:26:52 PM

Quote from: Sir_Drainsalot on June 12, 2009, 06:25:10 PM

Quote from: Melinda on June 12, 2009, 05:47:46 PM

I just choose to believe that he is there and watches over me. Some people might call it coincidence that those things happened.

Yeah, some people will. And they are right to.

You have your opinion, good for you.

Get fucked, religionfag.

Are you guys for sell? You all are just to cute =^)

Are you guys for sell? You all are just to cute =^)

Are you implying that we are injust to people who are not cute?