(October 9, 2015 at 8:04 pm)Cecelia Wrote: It's quite simple why most people believe.
From a young age people they trust tell them if they don't, they'll burn in a lake of fire for all eternity. It's indoctrinated in them, and they are told if they disagree with what the bible says that they'll go to this lake of fire. Some people are able to see past it, and say "That's ridiculous". On the other hand they're told that if they follow this book, they'll get to see their loved ones in heaven again some day. And who wouldn't like that? Especially after a loved one has died. It's a comforting thought. Coupled together, it makes it hard for anyone who is raised that way to stop believing.
Take away hell, take away heaven, and I wonder how many people would be Christians.
I've said something similar to that, myself, Cecelia, when arguing with Theists.
Christianity wouldn't be nearly so popular if the Bible told Christians that they should worship God simply because He is God and deserves worship;
that they will burn in hell anyway, and should be glad of it
...that is, if they really loved god and really wanted to atone for their sins.
They only really do it to save their own bacon, which, forgive me, is a pretty tawdry purpose.
A true god wouldn't need to bribe...or threaten...people into allegiance.
Religion claims to be the TRUTH,
all the while promising to give people all the things they want:
Unconditional love
Limitless forgiveness (great for guys sitting on Death Row)
Immortality
Answers to the fundamental questions of life
An explanation of why bad things happen
Justice
An Ego Boost (for the holier-than-thou)
But the last time I checked, the TRUTH hurts.
I allow for the possibility of a God (not a likelihood, just a possibility);
but I don't allow at all for any kind of likelihood that if there IS a God,
that he has ANYTHING to do with any of the world religions.
If there IS a God, I could see him as being more of an impartial Scientist or Architect, if anything at all;
the Deist concept of God.
I think that the painful TRUTH might be that there is a god,
but he doesn't interfere or give a shit.
That he is eternal...but we are not.
Why more religious people are not more skeptical of a Religion that panders to all their human insecurities, I don't know.
