Why does anyone need a god?

[Minimalist]

Why does anyone need a god?

It's easier than thinking.

[FlowingFlame]

Many people don't do so well with the whole "you're an insignificant speck on the cosmic calender of the universe" thing. I suppose, even if I'll never understand it, that the safety blanket of eternal candy land that religion offers is a comfort to them. There's a certain amount of vanity and pride that seems to go along with it. "God loves ME." "God chose ME." "MY faith is more special than your faith!" People are willing to do just about anything to feel all special and warm and fuzzy. Things be a lot more cozy in the herd but in the herd you shall remain.

Personally, I find the idea of a finite life to be a comfort and a motivator. Besides, us 'lone wolf' types dare to explore beyond the herd and get to have all the cool adventures! ^_^

[Minimalist]

There is, in fact, no worldview more reprehensible in its arrogance than that of a religious believer: the creator of the universe takes an interest in me, approves of me, loves me, and will reward me after death; my current beliefs, drawn from scripture, will remain the best statement of the truth until the end of the world; everyone who disagrees with me will spend eternity in hell.

--Sam Harris Letter to a Christian Nation

[ComradeMeow]

The concept of an all knowing, all powerful god is petty at it's core. If one has those powers and knows the outcome prior to the start, it is nothing more than knowing the end of a movie because you wrote the script yourself. What is the point other than self satisfaction? If you are a God the movie always ends the way you want it to. It seems reality is far less scripted than the utopias people needlessly dream up and kill each other over.

When you think about it, there is already an omnimax entity although it is not what people look for. It is called the cosmos and if you hold to a deterministic philosophy about the nature of reality and cognition you will conclude that the cosmos contains everything any alleged god has and more. When a person is grounded in reality it seems that they come up with something more tangible, grounded and more powerful than any conception of god.

When has the universe stopped giving us it's message(reality)? The answer is never. I have proof of the universe and it is objective unless you are an idealist who denies the ground under his feet.

People who are religious often crave a god because they wish to be in control but this is not the case since it is false comfort. On the other hand an atheist or skeptic knows he or she is born a slave to the world around them and cannot exist beyond it.

Atheists get accused of nihilism but this is not the case. We are quite the opposite and become fruitful as we do not rely on delusions and hopes. Coming to reality about your own destiny is not nihilism it is honesty.


...Meow

[ShaMan]

Hello, my name is "Anyone". I'm a generally insecure person, and as such I have a deep need to project my insecurities onto others so that I may feel better about my fears. Despite my having such radical insecurities, and my need to make others into objects of my wrath, I have found a method whereby I am able to lift myself above my betters, and place the reasoning for my wrath upon an obscure reference. I call this "god".

This is why "Anyone" needs a god.

[ComradeMeow]

The omniscience part of it is ludicrous considering that an omniscient being denies itself free will. An omniscient being must be aware of the past, present and future and not just the possible future. I must know which choice will be made in the future as well. It is an auto enslaved being and totally worthless at that.

...Meow

[MJ the Skeptical]

Most theists I've encountered need a god for a security blanket, emotional support or some kind of rationalization of the world.

[psychoslice]

Its that most people need something to give them hope, if you take this away from them, what are their beliefs, your beliefs ? . No, we all have to understand our own beliefs, and whatever that means to us, is what means to us.