How to select which supernatural to believe?

[Pat Mustard]

And what is the Logic in this subject;
God talked to us via his messengers during history.
And we have his last message protected for 1500 years.
We literally have a book showing his existence.

God exists.
How do we know that?
Because of the bible.
How do we know that's true?
Because god tells us in our hearts.
How do we know that's not just voices in our heads?
Because the bible tells us.

Well, lad I've read the bible and I decided to substite its myriad of lies for reality.

[Astreja]

In this case, there are actually only two important words. Love and mercy.

I disagree. Truth and knowledge are more important to me.

Because of these two, God, that colossal power beyond the grasp of man, speaks to man in his own language and in a way that he can understand.
He comes down to our level because of his mercy.

I've never seen any evidence for your alleged god (or in fact for any other god) that was up to my evidentiary standards. That's why I'm a nonbeliever.

Regarding the thread topic "How to select which supernatural to believe?" I see one glaring problem with this: I do not see belief as something that can be selected or chosen; it either happens or it doesn't, and true belief starts at the level of the subconscious mind, outside our control.

I also don't believe in any supernatural things.

[LinuxGal]

To believe in ANYTHING supernatural one may as well believe in EVERYTHING supernatural; like witches, goblins demons, gods, talking trees, vampires and dragons to name a few. Why be selective? When no evidence exists for any of them, why dismiss any and not all?

The only things I believe are unobserved things that are quite likely due to the reliability of physical laws, such as dawn occurring tomorrow. For everything else, I either understand them or I do not.

[Jehanne]

To believe in ANYTHING supernatural one may as well believe in EVERYTHING supernatural; like witches, goblins demons, gods, talking trees, vampires and dragons to name a few. Why be selective? When no evidence exists for any of them, why dismiss any and not all?

The only things I believe are unobserved things that are quite likely due to the reliability of physical laws, such as dawn occurring tomorrow. For everything else, I either understand them or I do not.

Everything resulting from natural phenomenon is observable if not in its sources then in its effects; even particles that last a billionth of a billionth of a second will leave daughter particles that are observable.

[Objectivist]

To believe in ANYTHING supernatural one may as well believe in EVERYTHING supernatural; like witches, goblins demons, gods, talking trees, vampires and dragons to name a few. Why be selective? When no evidence exists for any of them, why dismiss any and not all?

Good point.  I discard the supernatural, in all its various claims, as arbitrary.  But we know why people believe in it.  It's because they aren't satisfied with reality so they imagine another reality that's more to their liking and pretend that one day they'll go there and it will be a combination of the candy garden from Willy Wonka and star trek where you can have anything at the push of a button.  Tea, Earl Grey, hot.

[Jehanne]

To believe in ANYTHING supernatural one may as well believe in EVERYTHING supernatural; like witches, goblins demons, gods, talking trees, vampires and dragons to name a few. Why be selective? When no evidence exists for any of them, why dismiss any and not all?

Good point.  I discard the supernatural, in all its various claims, as arbitrary.  But we know why people believe in it.  It's because they aren't satisfied with reality so they imagine another reality that's more to their liking and pretend that one day they'll go there and it will be a combination of the candy garden from Willy Wonka and star trek where you can have anything at the push of a button.  Tea, Earl Grey, hot.

The reason that people believe is that religious faith serves their psychological, social, emotional, familial, economic, political and (yes) sexual needs.

Ask yourself this, "What would you say to a toddler whose mother suddenly and unexpectedly died, say, in a car accident?" and was wondering where "Mommy went?" I would not lie to that little one but would do my best to meet them where they were at this very fragile stage in life. Maybe a bit of agnosticism would be appropriate in such circumstances?

[Objectivist]

Good point.  I discard the supernatural, in all its various claims, as arbitrary.  But we know why people believe in it.  It's because they aren't satisfied with reality so they imagine another reality that's more to their liking and pretend that one day they'll go there and it will be a combination of the candy garden from Willy Wonka and star trek where you can have anything at the push of a button.  Tea, Earl Grey, hot.

The reason that people believe is that religious faith serves their psychological, social, emotional, familial, economic, political and (yes) sexual needs.

Ask yourself this, "What would you say to a toddler whose mother suddenly and unexpectedly died, say, in a car accident?" and was wondering where "Mommy went?"  I would not lie to that little one but would do my best to meet them where they were at this very fragile stage in life.  Maybe a bit of agnosticism would be appropriate in such circumstances?

That would be a hard situation but I know what I wouldn't do.  I wouldn't lie to them either to make them feel better.  I'd break it to them as gently as possible.  I remember being very young when both of my grandfathers died and my parents told me that they died and I wouldn't see them.  They took me to see the coffins and I went to the funerals.  I wouldn't tell them that they'd see them in heaven and that they're in a better place.

[Jehanne]

The reason that people believe is that religious faith serves their psychological, social, emotional, familial, economic, political and (yes) sexual needs.

Ask yourself this, "What would you say to a toddler whose mother suddenly and unexpectedly died, say, in a car accident?" and was wondering where "Mommy went?"  I would not lie to that little one but would do my best to meet them where they were at this very fragile stage in life.  Maybe a bit of agnosticism would be appropriate in such circumstances?

That would be a hard situation but I know what I wouldn't do.  I wouldn't lie to them either to make them feel better.  I'd break it to them as gently as possible.  I remember being very young when both of my grandfathers died and my parents told me that they died and I wouldn't see them.  They took me to see the coffins and I went to the funerals.  I wouldn't tell them that they'd see them in heaven and that they're in a better place.

And, that's fine. When my children were young, we filled their little heads with stories of Santa Claus, the Easter Benny, fairies, unicorns, etc., but, we also taught them to think critically. While in elementary school, my youngest son ended-up going to school telling his teachers quite innocently that Santa was real but that God was not, with no "prompting" from me whatsoever. His public school teachers threatened him with "hell fire" and were, supposedly, quite offended by his statements.

[UniversesBoss]

Nothing and no one is supernatural. Worry about mortality.