Why do you believe in a God?

[The Grand Nudger]

I don't doubt humans have made many countless mistakes in the past, but when civilizations which can't possibly have had contact with one another for several thousands of years begin formulating concepts such as the soul entirely independent of one another yet remarkably similar in concept I cannot help but wonder if there is something in it.

Well, men have similar desires the world over, and these ideas are all pleasers...so there's a possibility for your "something" I have similar experiences of thinking that things happen for reasons myself, btw. Most times the usual reasons..but every now and then I get a draft from beyond the veil.

We know today that fish contains omega-3 which is good for the brain after extensive experimentation yett the ancient Egyptians knew little of chemistry but were aware of this more than six thousand years ago. I don't know how they worked that out, but they knew somehow.

Probably not. You can get something right for no reason or the wrong reasons but that doesn't qualify as "knowing". Keep in mind, the omega 3 bit is shaky as hell, especially as recieved from "eating fish". So what did they really "know" anyway?

To whit, fishing villages should be full of einsteins by now shouldn't they....but instead they're full of fishermen.

[ThomM]

And the paranoid schizophrenic thinks that he's riding a unicorn.

I should go and add a fourth parameter to eliminate arguments from insanity.

It's not insanity. For some reason the human brain evolved this trait.

It is simply indoctrination. WE are brought up to believe our parents - and for the most part - we do. Children believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy - and others - simply because they are told to do so by their parents. And when they discover they are not true - it is explained away by those parents. It would not dawn on the children - at those ages - to question other supernatural claims.

You will note that it is unusual for an educated person to believe in a claimed god of a religion other than the one of their parents.

This is the same reason why those who have a "near death" experience see their belief - which invalidates the claims of the experience. If a "near death" experience were valid - ALL would see the same thing - but they do not.

And - when it comes to children - you cannot explain science to them easily - so you make up a story - like the bible stories.

And as long as people want to believe that there is a better place beyond this one - people will believe in an afterlife - even if the gods change over time.

[archangle]

This is a question that has been bouncing around these forums for a loooooong time, and so far, the only "answers" we get are things like "Well, why do you believe that the sun will rise?".
Because of this, I think three basic parameters need to be set for this question.

1. No answering it with another question. That doesn't add anything to the conversation

2. No tautologies. Tautological statements get the argument nowhere.

3. Don't go to the Bible, Torah, Qur'an, or any scripture of any sort as your reason. All that does is throw you in a circular argument and make you look like an idiot.

Let the games begin.

**EDIT**

4. Don't say silly things like "I feel god's presence". Say things that can act as proof to other people that don't "feel god". It wouldn't make sense that God would select some people to "feel him", because that just makes it unfair.

not complicated:

we either are part of a larger system or we are not.

to say "no" means your stupid.

[Ravenshire]

For the most part, they believe in their particular gawd because they were born into a society (and usually to parents) that believe in that particular god.

[The Grand Nudger]

I would say that this only forms the framework for their concept of god. People do generally seem to "have experiences" or work through thought processes that then confirm or deny the framework. For example, it's unlikely to be born a pagan, but very likely that a pagan will have a thoroughly "christianized" conception of paganism if they adopt it. They aren't christian, but their pagan god is often exceedingly christian. The same might be said in the reverse, that a converted pagans christian god remains exceedingly pagan (or, if you prefer, the white mans god - even if it wasn't his own..has pale skin now..like his old ones did...like they ought too..lulz). I'd say being born in some particular place helps, but doesn't go the whole nine yards.

[Lek]

I was raised as a christian and that's why I believed in God into early adulthood. Then I went through a time when I believed in God, but lived a lifestyle against christianity except that I still went to church on Sunday, even with some bad hangovers. There's no scientific "proof" for the existence of God. Of course, there will never will be because science automatically rejects the explanations present because of science's limitations. The real reason I believe in God is the reason you don't want me to use but, sorry, that's the reason. And you're reason for not accepting it is invalid. If I tell you I experience God and you choose not to believe me that's okay, but it doesn't invalidate my experience. It just means that you don't believe me. I can't stop believing in God because he has revealed himself to me.

[Foxaèr]

science automatically rejects the explanations present because of science's limitations.

Science rejects anything which relies upon faith as its fallible claim, because it is absurd and unreasonable to believe in that which has no evidence to support its existence.

The real reason I believe in God is the reason you don't want me to use but, sorry, that's the reason.

The fact of the matter is that you simply prefer the comforting lie of faith over the harsh truth of reality.

And you're reason for not accepting it is invalid.

False, your ill reason for accepting something based on mere faith is invalid.

If I tell you I experience God and you choose not to believe me that's okay, but it doesn't invalidate my experience.

Yes, it does.

It just means that you don't believe me.

Granted, healthy minds tend to not believe in that which has no evidence to support it.

I can't stop believing in God because he has revealed himself to me.

You have merely deluded yourself into thinking that god has revealed himself to you. You get all tingly inside, have good little feelings when thinking of the concept referred to as god, but the harsh truth is that you have fallen for the trick your mind is playing on you.

[Lek]

science automatically rejects the explanations present because of science's limitations.

Science rejects anything which relies upon faith as its fallible claim, because it is absurd and unreasonable to believe in that which has no evidence to support its existence.

The real reason I believe in God is the reason you don't want me to use but, sorry, that's the reason.

The fact of the matter is that you simply prefer the comforting lie of faith over the harsh truth of reality.

And you're reason for not accepting it is invalid.

False, your ill reason for accepting something based on mere faith is invalid.

If I tell you I experience God and you choose not to believe me that's okay, but it doesn't invalidate my experience.

Yes, it does.

It just means that you don't believe me.

Granted, healthy minds tend to not believe in that which has no evidence to support it.

I can't stop believing in God because he has revealed himself to me.

You have merely deluded yourself into thinking that god has revealed himself to you. You get all tingly inside, have good little feelings when thinking of the concept referred to as god, but the harsh truth is that you have fallen for the trick your mind is playing on you.

[Tonus]

It is simply indoctrination. WE are brought up to believe our parents - and for the most part - we do. Children believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy - and others - simply because they are told to do so by their parents. And when they discover they are not true - it is explained away by those parents. It would not dawn on the children - at those ages - to question other supernatural claims.

That's how it was for me. Kids believe the things that adults tell them. When it comes to stuff like Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy, there comes a point early in their lives when their parents level with them and explain that those are not real. When it comes to god and religion, it must be extremely rare for anyone to take a child aside and explain that god isn't any different than Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy. And every other adult insists that god is real, and they paper over any doubts or inconsistencies with a barrage of threats, excuses, rationalizations, and bias-driven mental gymnastics that train the child to defend his belief in god.

It is not very easy to overcome such a deeply-entrenched mindset.

[Bob Kelso]

I was raised as a christian and that's why I believed in God into early adulthood. Then I went through a time when I believed in God, but lived a lifestyle against christianity except that I still went to church on Sunday, even with some bad hangovers. There's no scientific "proof" for the existence of God. Of course, there will never will be because science automatically rejects the explanations present because of science's limitations. The real reason I believe in God is the reason you don't want me to use but, sorry, that's the reason. And you're reason for not accepting it is invalid. If I tell you I experience God and you choose not to believe me that's okay, but it doesn't invalidate my experience. It just means that you don't believe me. I can't stop believing in God because he has revealed himself to me.

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