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AIBU?

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Why you do or don't believe in God?

999 replies

summerbloom · 28/03/2017 21:03

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

OP posts:
olderthanyouthink · 28/03/2017 22:06

sleep there were other homo whatever's around at the same time, I think there were some thing like 4/5 different types around at the same time, it's relatively recent that there's just one kind. We blended and theme others died out

ProfessorPickles · 28/03/2017 22:07

I believe religion is a man made way to make money. I see no evidence for god existing what so ever other than an ancient book that could've been written by anyone.

I'm always quite bemused by people when there is a natural disaster etc and people say it is a miracle because one person survived. What about the hundreds of people, including children and babies? Where's their miracle?

I just see absolutely no evidence of a god existing.

I'd genuinely love to believe but I simply can't.

sabi333 · 28/03/2017 22:07

For those who believe the world is too perfectly designed to be without a god - where did God come from? Who created/designed her?

Ta1kinPeace · 28/03/2017 22:09

I'd like to pose a question, of we all (every single person) followed Jesus' philosophy and teachings, don't you think the world would be a better place?
Catholics and Protestants used to burn each other alive
while both following Jesus "teachings"

and what about other versions of God - Allah, Buddah, Thor, Jain, you name it
or are they all wrong and you are right

Dozer · 28/03/2017 22:09

If people all behaved like jesus, by which I presume you mean with kindness, selflessness and so on, that would be nice, yes.

But there wouldn't need to be a jesus or god for that to happen.

Dozer · 28/03/2017 22:09

There would, however, need to be some changes to humans' make-up!

Deadsouls · 28/03/2017 22:09

No i am an atheist. And after reading Hitchen's 'God' is not great', I'm appalled by the horrendous acts committed against other human beings in the name of god, whichever version of god that is.

Sara107 · 28/03/2017 22:09

I don't really. I'm pretty pragmatic and a scientist, I have no shrift for religious beliefs like creationism etc. However, I do feel that there are many things we don't understand, that there are dimensions to our existence and the existence of the world which are mysterious - maybe that is 'God'. I am a churchgoer, and have often wished I did have faith, as it seems a greatly comforting thing to have that absolute belief that there is someone there looking out for you, and that there is a point and a reason for your existence. Especially when I was a teenager, I so much wanted to achieve this faith but now I think it is simply a way of interpreting your feelings. I lost my last parent last Easter, and at the Harvest Festival I was overcome by a wave of grief during one of the hymns. That seemed easy to explain to me - I was thinking of my parents, and the hymn was about death and I started to cry. Normal grieving. But speaking to a woman of faith afterwards she interpreted that as God touching my heart and starting to heal me. Different ways of interpreting the same feelings.

olderthanyouthink · 28/03/2017 22:09

OP what's made you find god and which religion did you pick and why?

sweetkitty · 28/03/2017 22:10

I don't

Not one shred of evidence for the existence of a God or Gods plenty for evolution.

If there is a God he's a majorly messed up one if this planet is his creation and we are the top of it. Far too much destruction and suffering.

Every culture has their God or Gods to explain how life was created which one is true and why do people feel the need to murder each other to prove their God is better?

babybythesea · 28/03/2017 22:10

Summer - yes. But not because some bloke arrived and told us to behave that way. But because they are basic rules about being nice to other people. Which I am because this is their one shot at their one life and I have no right to make it miserable for them. And many, many religious people haven't stuck by them either. Might have talked about them but haven't actually walked the walk as well as talked the talk. Starting as far back as the crusades - let's go and batter people who don't believe what we do.

EC22 · 28/03/2017 22:10

I don't.
It just doesn't compute in my head that this beyond massive universe was designed by someone/ something.
To me it just 'is'. Why would it have to be created? The universe is just a big freak of nature, just like everything else.

LineysRun · 28/03/2017 22:11

I'm clearly not as ambivalent as God about it.

throughgrittedteeth · 28/03/2017 22:12

I don't (I would say I'm agnostic) and as a few posters have said too, as long as religion doesn't lead to people being mistreated or harmed then I respect other people's right to faith. I've had people look down their nose at me though because I'm not married and have children and openly abuse my brother because he's gay - all in the name of religion.

For contrast my nana found enormous comfort in her last few years after she found religion. She had had some terrible times in her life and suffered from bipolar but finding the church changed her outlook on life and improved her life. Plus the other church goers were so so lovely - truly Christian.

Kittymum03 · 28/03/2017 22:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

123rd · 28/03/2017 22:13

Wow, what a question. I fundamentally don't believe. How can any God / religion allow so much hatred to exist.
I actually can't understand how anyone of any belief system or religion or cult or what ever they decide to hang their hopes upon can. It's made up. I just don't get it.
I'm not trying to be disrespectful. I just don't get it.

LoupGarou · 28/03/2017 22:13

Thanks summer and typed

Thank you Goldfish I suspect there are a lot of people who believe for the same/similar reasons I do. DH doesn't believe, and we aren't raising DS to believe, we're raising him to make his own choices. I don't attend Church and I don't advertise the fact I believe, much the same as I don't advertise the fact I'm vegetarian, they're my personal choices.

DedicationToSparkleMotion · 28/03/2017 22:14

Because science. I believe in documented, evidence based conclusions. Big Bang, evolution, dinosaurs etc. The idea that it was all created by a man in seven days flies in the face of all reason.

I think it was useful back in the day when we needed something bigger than ourselves to govern our behaviour - the fear of hell, the promise of heaven. There needed to be a set of rules (Ten Commandments) and a reason to follow those rules. So it served its purpose.

I think it has outgrown its usefulness at this point in society. We have the law, we have a much deeper understanding of people and the world we live in. I think if you need the promise of a reward or the threat of a punishment in order to do the right thing, you're not doing it for the right reasons. A lot of the teachings are outdated and encourage harmful 'traditional' ways of thinking/living, I've seen first hand the effect on mental health growing up in a very religious household can have and the physical effects some religious activities/beliefs can have. I think we need to move away from it as a society in general.

However I do recognise the comfort it brings. I have a friend who cannot fathom the concept of death, he absolutely can't handle the idea that he may no longer be here one day. For him, I understand why he needs to believe in an afterlife. For my poor auntie who lost her daughter too soon, I understand why she needs to believe there is a heaven where she will be reunited one day. Far be it from me to challenge those coping mechanisms.

For me though, I quite like the idea that I am simply stardust. I take much comfort in the idea that I am a tiny, meaningless speck in time and my life on this one small planet in an infinite universe matters not. I like the idea that I will simply go back to the earth when I die. I don't need any bigger being or plan.

annandale · 28/03/2017 22:14

If we all behaved according to Jesus' teachings, yes I agree that would be much better than the world is now. The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most beautiful and inspiring passages in all literature.

Orangebird69 · 28/03/2017 22:14

I don't. Too much bad stuff happens. No way is there anything or anyone up there loving or forgiving. You're having fucking laugh.

MortalEnemy · 28/03/2017 22:16

What Dozer and others said. Religion, which I'd group along with superstition, folk beliefs and magic, is both a cultural product and an obvious form of 'magical thinking', projecting a very human desire for protection by a beloved authority figure and for a meaning beyond death, and linking it to various taboos, practices, sacrifices.

I genuinely sympathise with those who need it as a crucial psychological crutch.

Deadsouls · 28/03/2017 22:17

summerbloom

Well, firstly that's a presumptuous question. How do you or anyone know who or how 'jesus', was or what he taught or even if he, if indeed Jesus lived, said whatever he is supposed to have said. It's presumptuous to assume the world would be a 'better' place. I'm sure religious Jews may think the same about their teachings, or Muslims. Why are the teachings of Jesus any better than any other teachings.
Have you also heard of the many genocides, crusades, massacres, crimes against humanity committed by believers in Jesus, god, the holy trinity whatever, throughout history? Not much love, kindness and understanding there.

olderthanyouthink · 28/03/2017 22:18

dedication I like that, a meaningless speck of stardust.

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 28/03/2017 22:20

I do not believe in god

I just don't I can't list reasons becuase there are no reasons why o don't I just don't

I have read quite a few religious texts and I find religion interesting but my feelings didn't change (I wasn't looking for them to)

I do not think I am right and others who do believe are wrong we just feel differently

Deadsouls · 28/03/2017 22:21

You can be secular and choose to conduct yourself with kindness, empathy, compassion etc. One doesn't need to follow the alleged teachings of an alleged person called Jesus in order to choose to behave in these ways.

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