Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Are people religious believers because they are afraid not to be?

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

Some are believers because they were raised that way. Some rebel because they were raised that way. Some have had things happen in their life that they require a support network for. Others have witnessed things they cannot explain. Some are afraid of death and need a comfort for it. The reasons are as many as there are people basically. My mom who was not religious answered my question about God like this. If you believe in God and there is not one you lose nothing. But if you don't believe in God and there is one you are screwed so bet how you want. I have saw a true healing in my life. It was my first wife. I'm not sure if she was healed by the ceremony and God or her belief that God would heal her. I do know she was healed of a terrible disease and to this day is healthy. There is still no know cure. Sometimes I think people are to weak to live in the world alone and need a group to help them through. Obviously I don't know the answer to your question but there are some things to think about. Also most religions are good and good things come from them. Yes there is always the bad apples and psychos. Lol.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

A thoughtful response. Thank you.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

You are welcome. I have thought about it a lot over the years. I wish I had a better answer. Lol

JohnFrim Loc: Somewhere in the Great White North.

People who don't have faith in themselves have to put their faith in someone/something else. The mind is a powerful thing, and your wife's state of mind could easily (?) have helped her body overcome the illness. It really does not matter where her faith or belief was placed as long as it affected her health in a positive way. Your wife's example is an excellent reminder of the good that God can do for his believers. But remember that many believers are also not so lucky, and that begs the question of why God lets such awful things happen to good people. The answer is often a whitewash of "it is God's plan" which is really just yet another way of easing one's emotions and allowing the mind to control the body (ie, avoid severe depression over the loss of a loved one). Some people can just accept that "s**t happens" and maybe someone just drew a short straw. All life is fragile, and all life will end at some point. Is that God... or nature?

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Faith is faith. There is no totally logical answer.
But, to be a good person for fear of a God’s punishment for not being a good person, flies in the face of truly being a good person.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Just like democrats are that way for fear of being attacked if they tell the t***h about how evil and corrupt their party actually is.

As far as religion, nothing lost in believing.
Real religions currently teach love and peace which is a good thing.
Additionally if it is all made up, no harm, no foul. But if it is true, would it not be better to have believed and followed than not and face the wrath of the God you mocked and denied?

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

One should be sincere in their beliefs, not because it is the safest road to travel. Being a good person, is not always consistent with a reason to achieve a happy afterlife.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

That is what my mom told me when I ask. Lol

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

I have a thought about bad things happening to good people. Bear with me while I try to explain. According to the Bible god will return at a predetermined time. When Jesus was on the Mount with the devil the devil waved his hand and said if you rebuke your father all this will be yours. I have thought that until God returns the devil is in control of the world. Otherwise how could he have offered it to Jesus? I think God and the devil made a deal per se and when God returns the deal is over. That is why the devil offered it to Jesus and bad things happen to good people. Basically a test of faith for humans. Yes God still steps in occasionally and performs a miracle to let people know he is the top dog but the devil is running the day to day world until God returns.
I have self studied many main stream religions and one thing I have noticed is the basic story is the same across most all of them. Yes details each religion feels are of great importance are different but the basic story is very very similar. Again I don't know anything. Just my thoughts on what I have read ect.

pendennis

Ahh, the most personal of decisions!

We generally fear that which we know least. We didn't understand fire, so we created (G)god(s) which both answered the question, and provided comfort, as long as we didn't anger them.

Were folks prodded into deism because those who knew a bit more, were able to maintain an edge in knowledge? It appears they were to some extent.

I was never any good at proselytizing, because religion was taught by my parents to be a very private, inner experience. However, as my knowledge of science expanded, I became more convinced that there wasn't an omnipotent presence of a deity which guided me morally.

Before organized religions appeared, there were moral societies in existence. The basic "Don't steal your neighbors' stuff", etc., was the basis for civilization, as was the division of labor.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

And you are judging sincerity?

DennyT Loc: Central Missouri woods

James wager - why take a chance?

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Not at all. If one endeavors to be a good person only because they fear the will go to Hell if they lie, steal, covet, or wh**ever; are they sincerely a good person, or just acting the part?
One should be a fair, golden rule type person from the inside without thoughts about the consequences of a religious based afterlife in Hell. Don’t you think?

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

No one is perfect as I have heard.
So you condemn those who are imperfect and fall short.
You seem to be the only perfect person besides Christ who can judge others.