Why do people believe in God ?

[comic boy]

Interesting;

www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xm ... god130.xml

[jay_a2j]

Because the fool says there is no God.

[Frigidus]

Because the fool says there is no God.

Oh, of course!

[Simon Viavant]

I think humans are naturally inclined to hold religious beliefs because it was instilled in them hundreds of thousands of years ago. It made people who usually fought each other come togethor under a common cause. People then voluntarily stuck to their place and didn't challenge the system instead of having to be suppressed. Empires have always run more smoothly when the lower class didn't challenge the system, but accepted their "god given place in life". And that worked down to a small tribe. Later it was a good instrument of suppression and mob control. Today, people WANT to believe in some benevolent higher being watching over them, they WANT to feel as if they have a purpose in life (people don't like the reality that they're a random collection of particles that's irrelevant to history). As in the article, if there's something that gets a persons conscience going and makes them feel guilty, they can use god to justify it and feel better about themslves.

[Snorri1234]

It's an usefull tool for waging wars.

[comic boy]

Because the fool says there is no God.

Amazing that you spend your life lapping up every conspiracy theory in existence but are too afraid to acknowledge the biggest fraud of all

[Dancing Mustard]

Because the fool says there is no God.

Amazing that you spend your life lapping up every conspiracy theory in existence but are too afraid to acknowledge the biggest fraud of all

You're right. That is a fairly impressive irony...

[hulmey]

I think humans are naturally inclined to hold religious beliefs because it was instilled in them hundreds of thousands of years ago. It made people who usually fought each other come togethor under a common cause. People then voluntarily stuck to their place and didn't challenge the system instead of having to be suppressed. Empires have always run more smoothly when the lower class didn't challenge the system, but accepted their "god given place in life". And that worked down to a small tribe. Later it was a good instrument of suppression and mob control. Today, people WANT to believe in some benevolent higher being watching over them, they WANT to feel as if they have a purpose in life (people don't like the reality that they're a random collection of particles that's irrelevant to history). As in the article, if there's something that gets a persons conscience going and makes them feel guilty, they can use god to justify it and feel better about themslves.

humans havent been around hundreds of thousands of years!!!

And yes there is a God..............How can us mere mortals refute the Almighty? He will judge and you will be judged

[Frigidus]

I think humans are naturally inclined to hold religious beliefs because it was instilled in them hundreds of thousands of years ago. It made people who usually fought each other come togethor under a common cause. People then voluntarily stuck to their place and didn't challenge the system instead of having to be suppressed. Empires have always run more smoothly when the lower class didn't challenge the system, but accepted their "god given place in life". And that worked down to a small tribe. Later it was a good instrument of suppression and mob control. Today, people WANT to believe in some benevolent higher being watching over them, they WANT to feel as if they have a purpose in life (people don't like the reality that they're a random collection of particles that's irrelevant to history). As in the article, if there's something that gets a persons conscience going and makes them feel guilty, they can use god to justify it and feel better about themslves.

humans havent been around hundreds of thousands of years!!!

And yes there is a God..............How can us mere mortals refute the Almighty? He will judge and you will be judged

What an arrogant prick.

[hulmey]

I think humans are naturally inclined to hold religious beliefs because it was instilled in them hundreds of thousands of years ago. It made people who usually fought each other come togethor under a common cause. People then voluntarily stuck to their place and didn't challenge the system instead of having to be suppressed. Empires have always run more smoothly when the lower class didn't challenge the system, but accepted their "god given place in life". And that worked down to a small tribe. Later it was a good instrument of suppression and mob control. Today, people WANT to believe in some benevolent higher being watching over them, they WANT to feel as if they have a purpose in life (people don't like the reality that they're a random collection of particles that's irrelevant to history). As in the article, if there's something that gets a persons conscience going and makes them feel guilty, they can use god to justify it and feel better about themslves.

humans havent been around hundreds of thousands of years!!!

And yes there is a God..............How can us mere mortals refute the Almighty? He will judge and you will be judged

What an arrogant prick.

you shall be judged to

[Iliad]

Why god?
Very simple. From the beginning of humanity gods and magic were used to explain all the things we didn't understand: fire, seasons, stars, the moon, the Sun, life, death, etc.

As the tribes grew the many many gods became less and less and they had myths and legends about them. We had polytheism for quite a while and then monotheism started with Judaism. And after that it was a matter of a tradition.

Religion is nothing but a fading superstition

[KoE_Sirius]

Most Nations that have been built from religious believes have prospered.
The fanatics of this world preach a very different religion twisting the words of a holy book to suit their needs and reach into our society destroying what we all know and love.

More and more people do not believe in God and its a sad thing.

[hulmey]

Why god?
Very simple. From the beginning of humanity gods and magic were used to explain all the things we didn't understand: fire, seasons, stars, the moon, the Sun, life, death, etc.

As the tribes grew the many many gods became less and less and they had myths and legends about them. We had polytheism for quite a while and then monotheism started with Judaism. And after that it was a matter of a tradition.

Religion is nothing but a fading superstition

coming from an atheist that doesnt hold much wait. Its prophesied that we leave in the time of the Devil. In plain english its his job to make us believe that he doesnt exist and neither does God. He is doing a very good job and fooling you all :

Here’s Revelation 20 in its entirety:

“1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20, King James Version, with verses left in).”

[Iliad]

Why god?
Very simple. From the beginning of humanity gods and magic were used to explain all the things we didn't understand: fire, seasons, stars, the moon, the Sun, life, death, etc.

As the tribes grew the many many gods became less and less and they had myths and legends about them. We had polytheism for quite a while and then monotheism started with Judaism. And after that it was a matter of a tradition.

Religion is nothing but a fading superstition

coming from an atheist that doesnt hold much wait. Its prophesied that we leave in the time of the Devil. In plain english its his job to make us believe that he doesnt exist and neither does God. He is doing a very good job and fooling you all :

Here’s Revelation 20 in its entirety:

“1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20, King James Version, with verses left in).”

That's all nice but I think it does hold "wait". Let's just look at the facts
Cavemen and tribes used gods and magic to explain away phenomenon: Fact
Said gods had more and more myths and legends built upon them, reaching zenith of complexity and depth in the Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Norse pantheons: Fact
Monotheist religions such as Islam, Judaism and Christianity were started and thrived Fact

Christianity is just the branch of a very old superstition. A complex and fading(because of science that filled in the blanks) superstition

[comic boy]

I think humans are naturally inclined to hold religious beliefs because it was instilled in them hundreds of thousands of years ago. It made people who usually fought each other come togethor under a common cause. People then voluntarily stuck to their place and didn't challenge the system instead of having to be suppressed. Empires have always run more smoothly when the lower class didn't challenge the system, but accepted their "god given place in life". And that worked down to a small tribe. Later it was a good instrument of suppression and mob control. Today, people WANT to believe in some benevolent higher being watching over them, they WANT to feel as if they have a purpose in life (people don't like the reality that they're a random collection of particles that's irrelevant to history). As in the article, if there's something that gets a persons conscience going and makes them feel guilty, they can use god to justify it and feel better about themslves.

humans havent been around hundreds of thousands of years!!!

And yes there is a God..............How can us mere mortals refute the Almighty? He will judge and you will be judged

You are entirely missing the point ( what a surprise ) the question is why certain people feel the need to believe in a God.

[ParadiceCity9]

In response to the article: "As scientists prove that faith can relieve pain"
Well if you have a strong enough mind (mind over matter) you wouldn't need religion to relieve pain/suffering. And if you don't have a strong enough mind, then you can develop one.

[PLAYER57832]

Because the fool says there is no God.

Amazing that you spend your life lapping up every conspiracy theory in existence but are too afraid to acknowledge the biggest fraud of all

You're right. That is a fairly impressive irony...

Except if God does not exist how could God create a conspiracy?

For the original question ... if you want an honest answer it is that those of us who belief have seen enough to prove to us it is so and find our belief helps us in many ways.

But my church does not believe we have to go out and convince everyone we are correct. Show who we are, answer questions .. but not everyone will believe, at least hear on Earth, for many reasons.

[mpjh]

Well, Christians of all churches have truly shown who they are. They go to war and murder in god's name. They participate in a system of unjust economic distribution that keeps millions of children ignorant and in poverty. They pray for money. They pray for advantage over others. They blame economic and physical hardships on the victims. etc. etc.

Yeah, wonder why I don't believe in god. You guys convinced me.

[comic boy]

Because the fool says there is no God.

Amazing that you spend your life lapping up every conspiracy theory in existence but are too afraid to acknowledge the biggest fraud of all

You're right. That is a fairly impressive irony...

Except if God does not exist how could God create a conspiracy?

For the original question ... if you want an honest answer it is that those of us who belief have seen enough to prove to us it is so and find our belief helps us in many ways.

But my church does not believe we have to go out and convince everyone we are correct. Show who we are, answer questions .. but not everyone will believe, at least hear on Earth, for many reasons.

Nobody said God created a conspiracy , plenty of suspects in human form though, Moses,Jesus,Peter, Buddha.Mohammed and vast numbers of their disciples keen to spread the word ....hardly far fetched is it to conclude that less than the entire truth has been in evidence.

[hulmey]

I think humans are naturally inclined to hold religious beliefs because it was instilled in them hundreds of thousands of years ago. It made people who usually fought each other come togethor under a common cause. People then voluntarily stuck to their place and didn't challenge the system instead of having to be suppressed. Empires have always run more smoothly when the lower class didn't challenge the system, but accepted their "god given place in life". And that worked down to a small tribe. Later it was a good instrument of suppression and mob control. Today, people WANT to believe in some benevolent higher being watching over them, they WANT to feel as if they have a purpose in life (people don't like the reality that they're a random collection of particles that's irrelevant to history). As in the article, if there's something that gets a persons conscience going and makes them feel guilty, they can use god to justify it and feel better about themslves.

humans havent been around hundreds of thousands of years!!!

And yes there is a God..............How can us mere mortals refute the Almighty? He will judge and you will be judged

You are entirely missing the point ( what a surprise ) the question is why certain people feel the need to believe in a God.

i was replying to a statement made by simon! Why dont you feel the need to believe in God? Your statement reeks of bias and ignorance

[hulmey]

Well, Christians of all churches have truly shown who they are. They go to war and murder in god's name. They participate in a system of unjust economic distribution that keeps millions of children ignorant and in poverty. They pray for money. They pray for advantage over others. They blame economic and physical hardships on the victims. etc. etc.

Yeah, wonder why I don't believe in god. You guys convinced me.

thats a very negative and view you have there! Can you not see where religion has also done good?

[mpjh]

no

[comic boy]

I think humans are naturally inclined to hold religious beliefs because it was instilled in them hundreds of thousands of years ago. It made people who usually fought each other come togethor under a common cause. People then voluntarily stuck to their place and didn't challenge the system instead of having to be suppressed. Empires have always run more smoothly when the lower class didn't challenge the system, but accepted their "god given place in life". And that worked down to a small tribe. Later it was a good instrument of suppression and mob control. Today, people WANT to believe in some benevolent higher being watching over them, they WANT to feel as if they have a purpose in life (people don't like the reality that they're a random collection of particles that's irrelevant to history). As in the article, if there's something that gets a persons conscience going and makes them feel guilty, they can use god to justify it and feel better about themslves.

humans havent been around hundreds of thousands of years!!!

And yes there is a God..............How can us mere mortals refute the Almighty? He will judge and you will be judged

You are entirely missing the point ( what a surprise ) the question is why certain people feel the need to believe in a God.

i was replying to a statement made by simon! Why dont you feel the need to believe in God? Your statement reeks of bias and ignorance

Oh do f*ck off you prick, this thread is for grown ups !

[Haggis_McMutton]

I think humans are naturally inclined to hold religious beliefs because it was instilled in them hundreds of thousands of years ago. It made people who usually fought each other come togethor under a common cause. People then voluntarily stuck to their place and didn't challenge the system instead of having to be suppressed. Empires have always run more smoothly when the lower class didn't challenge the system, but accepted their "god given place in life". And that worked down to a small tribe. Later it was a good instrument of suppression and mob control. Today, people WANT to believe in some benevolent higher being watching over them, they WANT to feel as if they have a purpose in life (people don't like the reality that they're a random collection of particles that's irrelevant to history). As in the article, if there's something that gets a persons conscience going and makes them feel guilty, they can use god to justify it and feel better about themslves.

humans havent been around hundreds of thousands of years!!!

And yes there is a God..............How can us mere mortals refute the Almighty? He will judge and you will be judged

You are entirely missing the point ( what a surprise ) the question is why certain people feel the need to believe in a God.

i was replying to a statement made by simon! Why dont you feel the need to believe in God? Your statement reeks of bias and ignorance

I am deeply offended, why do you not feel the need to believe in Thor? You are smelly and ignorant and Thor shall strike you with his mighty hammer.

[PLAYER57832]

Well, Christians of all churches have truly shown who they are. They go to war and murder in god's name. They participate in a system of unjust economic distribution that keeps millions of children ignorant and in poverty. They pray for money. They pray for advantage over others. They blame economic and physical hardships on the victims. etc. etc.

Yeah, wonder why I don't believe in god. You guys convinced me.

Christians? Or humanity?

War and evils of all kinds are a part of ALL human history. Christians are not exempt. But, that some people happened to have used Christianity as their excuse does not mean the religion itself is the cause of those things.

As for the "keeping millions of children ignorant... and in poverty" specifically .. The protestant Christian ethic has long been attributed for part of the reason allowing for the scientific and Industrial revoliutions. Granted, they began on the backs of their Eastern and Greek predecessors, but took it forward.

AND, though bashing the US and Christianity has become quite fashionable, especially in Europe, the FACTS are that the US contributes more, per person, on an individual basis to world charities than any other nation in the world. Christianity is a big reason.

Are there people doing evil in the name of Christ? ABSOLUTELY!!! BUT they do NOT represent the true church.

Christ himself warned us that Saten would come in the guise of light. That is why faith and study ... forgiveness and love are the TRUE foundations of Christianity.

Is it not strange that the greatest charge made against Christianity is that which Christ himself put forward ... "you hypocrite!" and it is why Christ is about forgiveness rather than strict obediance! Humans are incapable of perfection.