Do you believe in God/a higher power?

[CuriousAboutWhatYouThink]

Not religion. I have no time for organised religion and the associated man made rules.

But do you believe in 'something'?

For context, my grandad was a CofE vicar but my parent rebelled against it and we were brought up broadly l in the religion (eg we celebrated main religious festivals like Easter and Christmas) but not as practising Christians and without a particular belief in God.

As an adult, I have friends of different faiths and none and it's something we have discussed from time to time. It's also something I used to discuss with my grandma who had a very strong belief in God but also believed the Bible until she became older when she still had a strong faith but admitted she thought the Bible was largely nonsense!

I suppose I've always felt that there is 'something' but I refer to it as the universe. I don't know, I always feel that there has been 'something' looking out for me.

That doesn't mean bad things have never happened because they have and religion/belief doesn't protect anyone from that. And it doesn't mean my life is anywhere near perfect because it's not. But the universe has always seemed to 'step in' when needed.

I don't know. I'm going through a tough time at the moment but I have a feeling everything will turn out to be OK because it always does.

What fascinates me about religion is people's need to believe in it. It's not surprising that the need developed when there was so little scientific knowledge around, because people need an explanation for things they don't understand, but it is surprising that people feel the same way now despite the lack of any evidence of the existence of any god - and sometimes they are extremely intelligent people. Yet I've never heard even the most intelligent person come up with a good reason for believing that god exists.

Yes, I do. Human beings need a belief system. Those who are atheist will put faith in other (not necessarily divine) things. No matter what beliefs are held, they have to exist, because then otherwise a person feels like a void, a husk, and we all know where such feelings can lead. Makes me shudder just thinking about it.

Hard disagree. I’m an atheist and have no belief system. There are things I (think I) know and, and I have opinions and principles, but all of these are subject to frequent change if I see, hear or read something that convinces me otherwise.
I am not an empty husk, I’m a very active, content and productive person who enjoys life.

Try actually looking at some snowflakes. They crystallise with sixfold symmetry (thats physics) but not perfectly. They appear somewhat symmetrical because each of the six branches is under very similar conditions to the others. But look closely and you’ll see the defects. It’s a myth that they’re ‘mathematically perfect’. They’re a beautiful artefact of nature, but no proof of a designer.

You could do the homophobic Alpha course, or you could just do a Philosophy course instead, and avoid the same old christian nonsense dressed up as something more modern and 'relevant' to the 21st century.
Spoiler - it is the same old drivel, with bits of trendier philosophy thrown in.

Yes I do. But then I'm also part of an organised religion.

Absolutely . The poster you’re quoting is quite breathtakingly arrogant and ignorant tbh.

I’m an atheist but married to a Catholic. I occasionally attend church for family reasons and even though I don’t believe any of it, I can see the appeal for some people. There is a sense of community around it which even I find attractive.

@Ratafia

Well, I don't think that's quite true to say that there's no evidence at all - I suppose it means by what you're defining as "evidence".

There is absolutely ZERO scientific evidence of the existence of any deities.

But there's anecdotal evidence and personal experiences. I class personal experience as a form of evidence.

I am a polytheist because of the testimonies of the polytheists, pagans and occultists in my community who report their own experiences which they believe to be with various gods and goddesses and because I have had my own experiences which I believe are with certain gods and goddesses.

None of this is scientific or empirical evidence, but scientific and empirical are not the ONLY forms of evidence.

They aren't mathematically perfect, but you believe that a big man in the sky is more likely to be responsible than chemistry and the natural world? That's insane to me.

No

I understand what you are intending in your post.

The issue of war and religion is more complex than you suggest and whilst I absolutely agree that some people use religion to further their own agenda. Suggesting that it’s not a factor in many conflicts is either naive or willfully ignorant.

Likewise your final paragraph, people have turned off religion in large parts because of problems within organised religion. Child abuse in the Christian church being just one of those. People care about eachother because of human compassion and societal cohesion, not because they’re scared of what will happen when they die or because they can do what they want then ask for forgiveness and still get in heaven, or because of a community of secrecy within a church which allows them to get away with whatever they want. The most heinous people I know with the most intolerant views are held in high esteem in their church communities and the most compassionate and community minded have no religious beliefs at all and it is my experience (I realise not at all scientific) that this is true of many others

I’m at risk of getting angry about this now which is pointless because are none so blind as those who will not see and in its self religion is a harmless thing. It’s when people and egos get involved that it becomes problematic.

I wish you well and I’m glad that your religion works for you, I hope that it brings you and the wider community peace and cohesion.

Yes, and you could also call it intelligence .

Yes

Following a religion doesn’t make you a better person - why would it?

Yes, I believe and practice my faith because I want to improve my understanding of faith and it keeps me grounded.

No. Wish I did but just don't.

What’s your AIBU?

Yes, I believe in a higher power. It's called cats!

Like people then, maybe, who are, of course, more amazing than snowflakes.

But then I wonder where the rules of physics come from. Chance?

Where do the rules of physics come from?

Random chance?

We are aware of our own mortality. Religion has over time offered comfort, purpose and hope. It emerged to help communities survive
through shared beliefs and moral rules.

I don’t believe in anything. And that’s despite, or possibly because of, being brought up Catholic. My children were also raised Catholic (purely because of school
choices), and they are happily atheist. My parents are both dead. My dad was very devout, my mum admitted to me in private that she had no faith at all.

I actually find it comforting to know death is simply a return to nonexistence, like before birth.

No - I believe we are fundamentally no different to slugs or grass. We are living things that have evolved from the same place and will continue to evolve (or get wiped out - but I'd expect some mammal off-shoots to make it much like dinosaurs and chickens) until what is currently known as Homo Sapiens is replaced with something even better suited to the environment in millions of years time.

Slugs don't have god and neither do we. We are just dust motes on a rock that orbits a star. It's even more magical that way I think. If all the dust motes in all the universe we are here now... Make the most of it as your time is limited.

I remember my MIL saying how religion was necessary for stopping everyday people from killing, hurting and generally doing bad things; that it taught people how to behave.

If you really think you’d be out doing terrible deeds if not for your faith, then you must be a fundamentally pretty dodgy person!

No. And personally I find it really strange that people can believe in God or a higher being.

Very unsure!

I’d love to believe there was something, but then again there are many things that could be worse than nothing.

Reincarnation for example sounds pretty risky when you think of all the parts of the world you could be born back into, or the creatures you could come back as - in terms of having an extremely unpleasant next life.

If it’s nothing then at least we won’t know about it!