My hypothesis about why people don't believe in God.

[Cyberman]

Very good point. Many people tend to confuse "open-minded" with "credulous" or, at worst and as you say, "gullible". Thus they leave themselves wide open to cynical manipulation, then stand around wondering what just happened.

[Simon Moon]

I can only guess as to why people don't believe in God so bear with me, I'm not stating the following as facts, but rather my hypothesis.

I almost stopped reading right there, but oh well, I guess I'm a glutton for punishment.

Seems you're on an atheist forum, why not just ask them why they don't believe? They seem like a forthright bunch. I know I am.

It seems to me that we humans have a spiritual instinct that knows the divine but doesn't quite know it. The more we grow, the more we are capable of growing in knowledge of the Divine.

Humans have brains that are; easy to fool, try to create patterns and connections where there aren't any, misinterpret personal experiences...

These things can easily be mistake for some supernatural or spiritual event. There is massive amounts of evidence that this occurs.

Our early "knowledge" of God, or belief in God, is there, without much reflection. We don't really think about how we know God or whether we truly do, we simply accept it. But as children along with "knowledge" was a lot of "blind trust" in what our parents taught.

No, what you are describing as "knowledge of god" or belief in a god is probably nothing more than humans trying to make sense of a chaotic, frightening world and grasping an easy explanation that brings comfort.

I grew up in a somewhat secular environment. I don't think I ever had a belief in a god. I just sort of mimicked what I heard because I thought it was the only way to behave.

As we grow older, most of us question what our parents taught us, and try to investigate to find the truth. But we do this with a bias. Many people however objectively find that their religion and what their parents taught, was without basis.

What I feel they failed to do is to investigate the knowledge of their souls regarding their "origin" "source" and "foundational basis", which is God. There is a connection between the soul and God, similar to the rays to the Sun.

There you go again. Using terms like 'soul' and 'God' without providing evidence or reasoned argument to support your claim that either exist. You are also failing to provide coherent definitions for either term.

At any rate, part of the reason, is that they find intellectually, is to simply rely upon cold logic + scientific method. This is a lot with due to how the intellectuals of our time are presenting the matter.

What other method besides logic and scientific method do you recommend we use to best determine whether our beliefs are true, or at least likely to be true?

Also with society now become more inclined to "fleshly desires" and the media idolizing from "the animal desire" perspective, the spiritual exalted "Moses" of the Soul is belittled, while the "Pharaoh" of the Soul is exalted, people feel ashamed of any spirituality, and belittle it, and hence we have many people disbelieving in God.

I won't even bother to respond to this load of crap.

I probably shouldn't have bothered to respond to the entire load of crap post, but oh well...

People feel "shy" from connecting to God and claiming spiritual knowledge, because it feels anti-intellectual as well as society structure is belittling the "Moses" and heightening the "Pharaoh" of the Soul.

There's all those undefined terms again. Not to mention lack of evidence, reasoned argument or valid logic to support their existence.

Another thing is that religion has presented a concept of God that truly isn't worthy of Worship while at the same time emphasizing on the attributes of the God that is Worthy of Worship. People then feel disconnected to God all together when they disconnect from their religion and realize that it described a God unworthy of worship.

Yes, none of the gods defined by the various Bronze and Iron age religious texts are worthy of worship. But I'll even take it further. NO god is worthy of worship.

The various factors, make a person feel inclined to ignore their connection to God.

Otherwise, I feel there is a strong connection between humanity and God, that without all these factors, we can easily connect to God and know he exists.

This is my perspective/hypothesis, not stating it as fact.

Again, what is a 'connection to god' that you speak of? You have yet to define your terms coherently.

What does this 'connection with god' feel like? How will I know when I have it? Why does god want to make it so hard for me to achieve it? Why did he create me with a mind that is incapable to believe he exists without evidence? Within your belief, will i suffer any consequence for not believing he exists?

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Mystic: I think your hypothesis is probably right for some people,even for a lot of people. However, I think it may perhaps be a little facile as a general principle.

Call me an old romantic,but I like to think there are large numbers of people incredulous enough,intelligent enough and sufficiently capable of critical thinking not to need the crutch of superstitions to cope with life.

If you could reason with religious people there wouldn't be any (Greg House)

[Cyberman]

I tend to agree with your perception of human nature regarding superstitious crutches. I'm sure that if push came to shove, more people than not would recognise their own inner resourcefulness on what are popularly called spiritual matters and realise that human nature is far stronger and more capable than is often given credit for.

To quote that House thing again (another programme I've never seen but heard so much about):

You can have all the faith you want in spirits and the afterlife, and heaven and hell, but when it comes to this world, don’t be an idiot. ‘Cause you can tell me you put your faith in God to put you through the day, but when it comes time to cross the road, I know you look both ways.

I'm thinking of having that put on a t-shirt.

[Minimalist]

but when it comes time to cross the road, I know you look both ways.

Yep....






They're all full of shit.

[Angrboda]

I always love it when people propose complex psychological theories based on misremembered Psych 101 and what they learned in high school. Here's a thought. Read what actual psychologists have to say on the matter. Naw. That'll never work.

Rhythm and Simon, you are surely built of sterner stuff. When I see an idiot approaching me on the sidewalk, I bolt across the street and try not to make eye contact.

[Mystic]

x Within will i suffer any consequence for not believing he exists?

No I don't believe so.

I think however spiritual connection to God is an enriching human experience. Ignoring that connection, is losing an important aspect of human life.

As for your other questions I don't know how to answer them as of now.

[Cyberman]

Sorry to go off on a tangent again, but every time I see that Popemobile picture or one like it, I imagine running up to it, sticking a hosepipe in it and filling it full of water with the old git still in it. Naughty old me!

[ElijahDrew]

Here's my hypothesis: There's no goddamn evidence.

[The Grand Nudger]

No I don't believe so.

I think however spiritual connection to God is an enriching human experience. Ignoring that connection, is losing an important aspect of human life.

As for your other questions I don't know how to answer them as of now.

Wouldn't be the first time you held a belief that was in no way connected to reality. Would it? All "important aspects" of my life are accounted for, but thanks for the concern.