Do We Need God?

[idiosyncrasy]

The Bible tells us that man has an inborn spiritual yearning. - Matthew 5 v 3.
But some people feel that they have no need for God because they find many puzzling issues in life incompatible with belief in a loving God.
Enter Further Question Details Here...

[ludwig]

// It really doesn't matter whether you need god or not. //

Good, thanks.

[David H]

How can we need something we have no awareness of? We would like some sort of security, a safety net, but as for God if there is one then it is regardless, and if not then you can't need something which doesn't exist. But as for a loving god, viruses and parasites which only exist to destroy their hosts isn't a very good start.

[Hypognosis]

@naomi

A second conversion after barely five years only reinforces my point.

Well, it's not as if they're going to pass through the middle east, after they've become apostates and it's not as if it's the kind of data to be stamped on one's passport. (Famously, barely one in ten even possess a passport).

If they are willing to change religions as rapidly as they change spouses then it reduces religion to the status of a "lifestyle choice" item. Other things in that category get treated as disposeable. I'm sure deities (if they existed) would not take kindly to being treated like rubbish.

[beso]

Some people live most of their life with an abusive partner who claims that they love them but controls them completely while telling them that they are worthless.

Read this page and explain why your God is not an abusive partner.
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/daylightatheism/essays/is-the-christian-relationship-with-god-healthy/

[RATTER15]

I certainly don't need a murdering, genocidal and misogynistic God in my life, I really don't think I need his guidance to be honest.

The people who think they do need him, well I'm sorry but you have been brainwashed to believe that nonsense. We can all stand on our own two feet if given the chance!!

[mikey4444]

NO !

[naomi24]

Hypognosis //A second conversion after barely five years only reinforces my point. //

Indeed.

[birdie1971]

Naomi - "... According to studies in the US, a very high proportion of converts to Islam... abandon their new found faith within five years..."

Can I trouble you for a link to the study?

I've found something on t'internet about recently convicted criminals who, upon entering their new home, suddenly find "God" of one flavour or another. Interestingly, it doesn't seem to matter which particular God they find; any will do, be they Christian, Muslim, etc. but the crucial thing appears to be to spontaneously "believe" in the exact same flavour of God that the majority of your immediate fellow inmates "believe" in.

I understand it's a very good survival tactic while inside but one that can be dropped immediately upon release into the real world.

[naomi24]

Birdie, I don't have copies of the original studies, but see here:

//According to research carried out by the respected Pakistani-born American Muslim Dr. Ilyas Ba-Yunus (1932 - 2007), 75% of new Muslim converts in the US leave Islam within a few years.//

http://wikiislam.net/wiki/Fastest_Growing_Religion

[birdie1971]

↑ Thanks.

[redvanman]

NO

[Canary42]

A dog thinks "This man feeds me, loves me, grooms me, houses me, pets me, and takes good care of me. He must be God."


A cat thinks, "This woman feeds me, loves me, grooms me, houses me, pets me, and takes good care of me. I must be God"

[redvanman]

No god no wars