Why do we need god?

[Neo-Scholastic]

Chad why do atheists exist?

Many reasons I suppose. In my case the Christian doctrines with which I learned at a young age seemed like nonsense and unjustifiable to me. Only much later after more intense study did I overcome those distortions that stood between me and what was right in front of me the whole time.

[tor]

So apparently christianity is true and islam is not?

[Neo-Scholastic]

So apparently christianity is true and islam is not?

I didn't say that. We all respond in our own way to the Light we have been given.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Could I clarify, Chad, that the use of the word 'me' (you) is important in your response.

Because often theists here are charged with using their own personal and subjective perceptions of the reality in which we live to mean an objective truth universally known and understood by all (leading further to claims of atheists and other non-believers 'rejecting' the truth).

I would dismiss such a view as palpably nonsense which has no grounds in either reason, or any sort of common sense however one deems to describe that subjectively.

---

So apparently christianity is true and islam is not?

I didn't say that. We all respond in our own way to the Light we have been given.

Again, presuming this 'light' (????) is a universal facet of existence whereas no proof or evidence can be found for it (whatever it is) beyond your own personal and subjective experience.

[sven]

Apparently we have bunch of people here who need god.
Why do we need god?
Nobody can prove he exists. He does not stop murders, illnesses and bullets.
People still suffer.
People still die.
Nobody can see him except fr0d0.
Why do we need such a god? For what?

When I had my own crisis a few years ago and became 'god-curious' for some time, I believe what it all boiled down to in the end, when all the layers of the onion had been peeled away so to speak, was my fear of mortality.
I read a fascinating interview with a well known psychologist in a Swedish journal some time ago.
(Interestingly, this journal is published by the Swedish church)
What he was saying, basically, is that although we are able to grasp the concept of mortality on an intellectual level, our sub-conscious minds are utterly unable accept death, because it means they are destroyed. The sub-conscious, he argued, is unable to comprehend its own annihilation. According to him near death experiences, which are closely linked to the 'god experience' are ways for the brain to sort of ease the psyche into nothingness. Spiritual endorfins?
I've sometimes felt that psychology is kind of quasi, but I really like this line of reasoning.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Apparently we have bunch of people here who need god.
Why do we need god?
Nobody can prove he exists. He does not stop murders, illnesses and bullets.
People still suffer.
People still die.
Nobody can see him except fr0d0.
Why do we need such a god? For what?

When I had my own crisis a few years ago and became 'god-curious' for some time, I believe what it all boiled down to in the end, when all the layers of the onion had been peeled away so to speak, was my fear of mortality.
I read a fascinating interview with a well known psychologist in a Swedish journal some time ago.
(Interestingly, this journal is published by the Swedish church)
What he was saying, basically, is that although we are able to grasp the concept of mortality on an intellectual level, our sub-conscious minds are utterly unable accept death, because it means they are destroyed. The sub-conscious, he argued, is unable to comprehend its own annihilation. According to him near death experiences, which are closely linked to the 'god experience' are ways for the brain to sort of ease the psyche into nothingness. Spiritual endorfins?
I've sometimes felt that psychology is kind of quasi, but I really like this line of reasoning.

Seems like a pretty fair stab at it if I'm honest. But then again, I'm no psychologist. But a fear of death/mortality seems a fair conclusion. After all, it's the ultimate topic to which almost all religions are based.

[Foxaèr]

Primitive man seemed to need a deity to explain the origins of the world around him as well as his own existence.

That need for god would have been bred out of humanity as it progressed, if it had not been for some men who wanted to turn deities and religion into a tool to control the masses.

Now, a deity is not needed so much to explain an origin so much as it is to keep humanity ignorant.

[Neo-Scholastic]

Could I clarify, Chad, that the use of the word 'me' (you) is important in your response.

Because often theists here are charged with using their own personal and subjective perceptions of the reality in which we live to mean an objective truth universally known and understood by all (leading further to claims of atheists and other non-believers 'rejecting' the truth).

I would dismiss such a view as palpably nonsense which has no grounds in either reason, or any sort of common sense however one deems to describe that subjectively.

---

I didn't say that. We all respond in our own way to the Light we have been given.

Again, presuming this 'light' (????) is a universal facet of existence whereas no proof or evidence can be found for it (whatever it is) beyond your own personal and subjective experience.

All knowledge has roots in subjective experience. Objective truths come from the objects to which various knowing subjects refer. In this case the object of reference is the entire world. Thus my personal knowledge can reflect objective reality. Given exposure to the same observations and application of reason anyone could reach the same conclusions as me. And as I stated earlier I'm open to the idea that I am wrong if presented with a more compelling philosophy.

[Rampant.A.I.]

They could, but this says nothing for the validity of the conclusions from subjective experience. In other words, this is a philosophical rephrasing of "it's true because I feel it is true."

By attempting to redefine subjective truths as objective, Chad is literally trying to redefine reality as he subjectively wishes to see it.

Subjective experience is an artifact of internal conscious experience, objective experiences are empirical and of the world external to consciousness. It is testable, and can be checked against the objective empirical experience of others.

What Chad is saying is that if he stands on a street corner and announces he has an invisible purple bowling ball in his hand, if he can convince other people they also have invisible purple bowling balls, it is now true that each person is in fact holding an invisible purple they were simply unaware of before, and have made a discovery about reality.

[Fromper]

1. At a certain point in my life I suffered from extremely low self esteem. As it often will, this manifested in self destructive behavior, inevitable consequences and a vicious spiral. This was the point at which I had my religious experience, which introduce the idea that God, the creator of the universe took a personal interest in me and indeed valued me highly. This caused me to stop many of the destructive behaviors, which in turn caused better outcomes, which in turn caused higher self esteem etc. In this way, a belief in an involved, interested and benevolent God improved my behaviour and life generally very considerably.

So essentially you were an attention whore/ spoilt brat who wanted daddy's undivided attention? And now you are a grown man able to stand on your own two feet and meet reality head on?

Well, that's a pretty rude response.

Many people have emotional issues at various points in their life, and need outside help to overcome them. Done well, religion can be used as a tool to help people in those situations. Personally, I'd prefer a solution grounded in something more real, but I can't blame people for falling back on a comforting lie.