The Inherent Human Need To Believe In Something...

[joko]

some people cite the fact that, all over the planet, for thousands of years humans have believed in gods of some sort - as a kind of proof that gods must exist - if so many people believe it.

but actually i think this argument really just proves the opposite.

it proves humans inherent need to feel there is a higher purpose.
it shows its in our NATURE to search for more and to invent it if necessary.

all these gods take so many different forms and have many different ways, ways that suit the paticular society.
they also note the really remote tribes who have no outside contact who also know about god etc.
but each one totally believes that theirs is the one true god - so doesn't that show how it all MUST just be all in our minds?

if there was only one true god - wouldn't all these remote tribes all be worshiping the same one?
wouldn't the 'real' god, make sure they knew about him?

if all these other gods are false idols - why wouldn't 'god' try to correct them? why would he just let them blindly believe a fake one?

it cannot be the old chestnut of freewill - because that can only work when someone knows the 'truth' yet chooses the wrong path - so what about people who don't even know a path exists in the first place?

how can god expect people to follow him, if he does not make himself known to them...?

[goodlife]

You see as far as some atheists are concerned, belief in God has produced far more massacres and conflicts than goodness and altruism. They may recognize that faith has a good effect on some, but they themselves remain profoundly sceptical, I wonder why.

[naomi24]

Goodlife, Unless you start thinking for yourself and stop listening to people who know no more about life or death than you do, the answer to that question is very likely to remain a mystery to you forever.

[RATTER15]

Goodlife, grow up and stop making such a fool of yourself!

[goodlife]

A fool will believe anything, smart people watch their step.” (Proverbs 14:15, Yes, only a fool would go through life blindly accepting everything he hears, basing his decisions and actions on frivolous advice or baseless teachings.

[naomi24]

Yes indeed.

[RATTER15]

You got it in a nutshell Goodlife, you have described yourself perfectly!

[jim360]

Hah, the irony!

I'd like to think I've thought carefully about this all, and also that I know quite a lot about Science and religion. A consequence of having an attentive godmother and mother who both gave me plenty of exposure to Christianity, while also buying me Science books. So I have seen both world views and know which one in the end I am going for.

[Khandro]

jim: Could you not have perhaps learnt something from both of them?

[jim360]

Who's to say I didn't? It would be dangerous of you to assume that my entire life experiences can be summarised in a single post on AnswerBank. Not only that but it's possible I learned more from Christianity than even I realised. But certainly I don't think i learned the truth about the Universe, if that's what you mean.

[Khandro]

jim; sorry for any misunderstanding, but your own words were; "So I have seen both world views and know which one in the end I am going for" the implication being that you are 'going for' only 'one'. I found this surprising myself, because your posts are usually among the more tolerant of diverse views.

[jim360]

Well I must say I'm flattered and I do try to be tolerant if possible. I believe there is no God but that religious views overall are an important and good part of life. I've seen too many religious people who are also very kind and wonderful people to feel that it's really an excuse for evil, even if people have twisted it to be that.

So in that sense the only world view that I'm really referring to is whether or not there is a God, when I say I've made my choice. Sorry too for any misunderstanding but I don't think that my latest post will have cleared things up much!

[doctordb]

Birdie, it is also worth remembering that the German army (the soldiers actually carrying out the atrocities) was almost entirely made up of catholic Christians.

[goodlife]

Ratter@ Yes, courage, honesty and humility will help us to avoid the trap of saving face. Paul said that some viewed him as a fool. (1 Cor. 4:10) I do not mind if people view me as a fool if you know in your heart that you are doing God’s will. Or does fear of other people’s opinions prevent you from doing what is right.

[RATTER15]

Goodlife, try to come up with something original for a change, your "copy and pasting" is so boring and I really dont need quotes from a book that is full of lies and silly nonsense written for gullible fools like you!

[Noth43]

Sorry for not reading through all the replies, but if this hasn't been mentioned yet and to answer the op may I recommend reading 'why we believe in God(s)' by J. Anderson.
He is an eminent psychiatrist and the book has a forward by Richard Dawkins.
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[joko]

the problem with all the good deeds done in the name of religion - and there is no doubt there are many of them - is that often they are done through fear ... from a belief that if they don't do these things god will punish them and they will go to hell...

and if you believe that those people only did good because they were religious and believed in god, then you are saying that if we had no knowledge of god, then they would not have done those things - therefore those people are not TRULY good people ... they do it because they think they have too

its easy to be 'good' if you are terrified not to be...

anyone who only does good things through fear and force, is not a truly good person...

the reason why many atheists are much better people than theists - is because they do good - but expect no reward in heaven for it ... they do not do it through fear of hell or of angering god - they do it because they genuinely want to.

that is the mark of a truly good person ...

[jim360]

That's an interesting point joko that I've heard before. I don't know how much truth it holds with the Christians I know - will have to ask them why they feel motivated to do good. Even so I probably wouldn't think of any good I do as "better" just because it is not motivated by any "fear". After all, they do more charity work than I do, andeven if it's motivated by fear then it's still good work nonetheless and thank goodness that someone does it. What is perhaps more troubling is that so many people wirthout this motivation of fear just aren't good people.

[vetuste_ennemi]

I remember Dawkins (I think) quoting an Anglican (I think) bishop as saying something along the lines of: “If you don’t ultimately have to answer for your actions what is to stop you raping, murdering and so on?”.
Now this is from Thomas Williams LC ThD in “Greater than You Think”):
“Let’s say you are a typical secular humanist, who believes that God doesn’t exist, death ends everything, and man is nothing but a clod of matter…Maybe you have some natural compassion, so you treat your fellows well – when you feel like it. Other time you don’t, SINCE IN THE END …IT REALLY DOESN’T MATTER [stress VE], Now let’s imagine you’re a Christian… not naturally empathetic …but you are convinced that after death you will be judged by your deed and whatever you do your least brethren you do to your Lord. Which of these two hypothetical persons – Sam the Secularist or Chrissy the Christian – is more likely to work for a truly humane society? You make the call”.
Oh dear, what a mean and shrivelled account the Right Reverend gentleman and the Legionary of Christ give of their own motives. And (forgetting us atheists) what a calumny on the millions of decent Christians who do good things to others not for profit, not from fear, but because they are good people.