Why you do or don't believe in God?

[summerbloom]

Interested to hear people's views on why they do believe in God or on why you don't believe in God.....

Nope not at all. No real evidence.

I respect peoples right to practice religion but I hate it being forced on others.

I do but not a sitting on a fluffy cloud controlling everything like a video game style of god. More I feel a connection or force that bonds us altogether, I know it sounds really basic but when I feel it it feels very spiritual rather than just a connection between people

talkinpeace
what nonsense. This article puts it into words far better than i can.
www.allaboutphilosophy.org/proof-that-god-exists-faq.htm

Physics on an intellectual level, and pervasive abuse on the emotional one.

"If there is a creator, it behooves us all to become his moral superior" - Havelock Vetinari, Unseen Academicals.

dawn That is the biggest effing cop out.

That website basically says, "Is there proof of God? No, but that's not the point".

Interesting thread, not gone too nasty for a change. where's the OP gone, be nice to get a bit of input.

So what were Adam and Eve's genitals for SleepyOwl? Was it a test? Is that why they're called testicles?

Sorry, dawn, but that article is another circular piece of reasoning. The universe... therefore God! Human beings ... therefore God! Moment of creation ... therefore God! Trees, leaves, mountains ... therefore God!
Takes more faith to believe without proof than with proof....er, yes, but since when has believing in something without proof been a good thing?

When we're not talking about religion, we call people gullible or credulous if they believe stories without interrogating their probability. I understand that the great weight human societies have given to religions make people question them less than they would question other myths. But it's still bizarre reasoning.

@Ta1kinPeace , it is disingenuous to claim the arguments for God is on the same par as the tooth fairy or Santa Claus, yet one I have seen often on this thread. The evidence for God is drawn from philosophy, history and science. Of course there are then the different religions unique claims for their worldview as well as the naturalist worldview. You can reject the different claims but there is a lot more sources of evidence for God being the best explanation for reality than evidence for the tooth fairy. Ultimately when assessing the claims there is a step beyond that of faith but built upon the intellectual arguments.

The evidence for God is drawn from philosophy, history and science

There is no evidence for God in history or science. And philosophy is not "evidence".

I was brought up with it. Cultural norm where I live. Younger generation starting to change that, but very slowly. It's still very much ingrained in Irish society. I do question it, but it's part of the fabric of me, if that makes sense...

I don't believe in supernatural deities, because there is no testable, empirical, verifiable or falsifiable evidence for their existence. I don't believe in the Easter bunny, karma, the tooth fairy, ghosts, homeopathy or pixies at the bottom of my garden for exactly the same reason.

I'm completely open minded, however. If and when the evidence base changes, I would be prepared to revise my view. Extraordinary claims, however require overwhelming evidence.

I'm not holding my breath, though.

@sleepohhowimissyou, sorry I am confused how you are linking sex to original sin. Mmm, let me see - Genitals can be used to enjoy sexual pleasure and also create babies. Perhaps you are referring to the Genesis story that talks about the very possible symbolic Adam and Eve covering up their genitalia?

I haven't yet seen any compelling evidence to prove God exists, but that doesn't change the fact that I choose to believe. All the people who ask to be shown conclusive proof, well, there isn't any, surely those asking the question know that?

That's why I think of it, and call it faith, or belief. Faith in God is often defined as "strong belief based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof"

Exactly, ontop. Honestly, dawn, after all that complaining about how people don't respect believers, how on earth can you expect respect when you seem entirely incapable of understanding bias or argumentative credibility? That website, while calling itself the neutral 'All About Philosophy', is in fact a Christian website which aims to evangelise. Once you click 'About Us' you get linked to a sister website rather more honestly named AllAboutGOD.com, ask you to donate to All About God Ministries in Colorado and

WHAT DO YOU THINK? - We have all sinned and deserve God's judgment. God, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him. Jesus, the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buried, and rose from the dead according to the Bible. If you truly believe and trust this in your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your Savior, declaring, "Jesus is Lord," you will be saved from judgment and spend eternity with God in heaven.

And if you click through to their annual report, you'll see where they spend your donations, on building Christian websites and boosting them up search engines -- there's also written testimony from people who chose to follow Jesus after reading one of the AAG articles, including a New Zealander teenager who had been gay but chose Jesus instead. 'Please pray for continued victories over these perverted feelings as she grows in her faith' notes the Annual Report.

Did you even read the website you were linking to as 'proof' of the existence of God, and are you comfortable keeping that kind of company? An organisation that sets up what looks like self-help/philosophy webpages dealing with anything from eating disorders to suicidal ideation, and sneaks in Christianity to vulnerable readers?

Yes and it gets a bit tiresome when people constantly ask for proof when they know there isn't any, so why ask. There are more things than what we can see.

Same all over the world then isn't it enemy all out to make money, regardless of that it doesn't alter my beliefs, and what it said was true whatever their motives.

I believe in God and I don't know why. It helps me, I suppose. It helps me to believe I will see lost loved ones again. It helps me to believe in an ultimate arbitration where dickheads heads get their comeuppance. It helps me to be a good person when I feel it will be finally rewarded in heaven cos it isn't here.

I have nothing but respect for people who can just carry on being good without faith.

Well the parts i read were anyway, i didn't click on the links though.

What, 'true' including telling a gay teenager she needs to pray to conquer her 'perverted feelings'? You don't find homophobia and manipulation of the vulnerable problematic accompaniments to the 'truth', dawn?

Pretty much SleepyOwl, yes.

Donning clothes in shame at their nakedness lends itself to that idea. Sorry, but I can't engage in a serious discussion about a man made from dust, his spare-rib missus and a talking snake. Do you really think this is the origin of the human race? Really, truly?

GOod grief i just said i hadn't clicked on the sister website. There was nothing about a gay teenager on the link i put up. So don't even pretend you thought i had.

It's been a very interesting thread. Hasn't changed my position as there is no evidence. I do think that religion should have less influence in society - it should be a private matter between believers and their chosen deity.

Well i'll guess you'll find out when you die. But i wonder if people come on these threads expecting to get proof. I also wonder what kind of proof is required.

Why would you find out if you did? Why not when you're alive?