(November 18, 2017 at 11:35 am)Die Atheistin Wrote: That type of religious people, who don't really believe in any God, but imagine that one or more exist because it gives them comfort. Are they atheists who don't wanna leave the religion? Is there a name for this exact type of people?

Good question. we may have to make up a term, how's about

1) god happy
2) deludo joyish
3) Silly
4) religio
5) god gang

Or they may simply be a really happy nice person to know, in which case call them 'friend'

Someone who isn't honest with themselves, I guess. Don't think there's any particular name for you to call them.

I have many "cradle catholic" friends who will openly tell you that they go to church because they have always gone to church and because their friends are there.  Do they believe in hell?  Oh, absolutely not.  Do they believe Jesus rose from the dead?  Well, that's a maybe - - but more likely he was "still alive" because stories about his teachings were "still alive".  Do they believe in heaven?  Oh definitely.  Is there a God?  They think so.  Does the Eucharist really transubstantiate?  Oh no, that's silly - it's a gluten-free cracker, you goofball!  No, it's symbolic - we make this "take in Christ" gesture because we are to internalize his teachings and take them out into the world.  Yadda yadda yadda and so on.  
   They're great folks.  Good company.  They are a little worried about my non-belief, but "God will understand".  I often wonder if they are only a few steps away from atheism.

(November 18, 2017 at 1:44 pm)johan Wrote: At first I was having trouble wrapping my head around the question as it was posed. They don't believe god but they believe one more gods exist...

But now I think I get what you're saying. They don't believe in the bible god, but they do believe there's some sort of magic sky daddy out there. But for all they know, that sky daddy doesn't necessarily have a book with this commands and rules for us in it. Is the gist of your question? If so, the answer is easy. You call those people theists. 

THEISM
noun
1.
the belief in one God as the creator and ruler of the universe, withoutrejection of revelation (distinguished from deism ).
2.
belief in the existence of a god or gods (opposed to atheism ).


There is nothing in the definition of theism that ties it to any specific organized religion. Its simply a belief that some supernatural creator/governor/sky daddy exists, i.e. 'something more than just this' as they say.

I guess I didn't express myself clearly enough. I referred to people who practice religion out of comfort. I wanted to include polytheistic religions too.

(November 18, 2017 at 11:35 am)Die Atheistin Wrote: That type of religious people, who don't really believe in any God, but imagine that one or more exist because it gives them comfort. Are they atheists who don't wanna leave the religion? Is there a name for this exact type of people?

This very much sounds like 'belief in belief' the idea that we must believe 'something', what that something is; they never define. Most cultural Christians belong in this category in that if they were subjected to close interrogation they would admit to no firm convictions regarding what they do actually believe, they don't know what they're supposed to believe. If they attend a church at all it is to meet family and friends and or, show of the new babby or the BMW, or catch up on the latest gossip. They know as much about the story of Christianity as a pig knows about going on holiday.

Mostly harmless.

(November 18, 2017 at 2:57 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: Someone who isn't honest with themselves, I guess. Don't think there's any particular name for you to call them.

I was refering to people that imagine that a God exist for comfort. If living a lie means that they're true to themselves, then they shouldn't be themselves.

They're just coping with existence. No reason to begrudge anyone for taking comfort where they can find it.

I was thinking, secular Christian (or insert other religion here). But I guess they don't really believe in god still, they just practice their faith for social reasons.

(November 18, 2017 at 7:09 pm)Succubus Wrote: This very much sounds like 'belief in belief' the idea that we must believe 'something', what that something is; they never define. Most cultural Christians belong in this category in that if they were subjected to close interrogation they would admit to no firm convictions regarding what they do actually believe, they don't know what they're supposed to believe. If they attend a church at all it is to meet family and friends and or, show of the new babby or the BMW, or catch up on the latest gossip. They know as much about the story of Christianity as a pig knows about going on holiday.

Mostly harmless.

My family fits this description pretty well. I was taught religion in school the fundamentalist way, and I believed that nonbelievers and pagans will go to Hell among other things. When my parents found out, they didn't talk enough to me. They talked, but not enough. Moderates are mostly harmless, but some of them, not necesarilly out of religion's fault, can do really stupid things.

Got to go with "xtian hedonist", though it does stretch the imagination for anyone to actually find it pleasurable.