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Original poster

Why do some people find it hard to believe in God?

999 replies

MosEisley · 15/01/2012 22:49

I believe in God.

However, I am attending an adult confirmation class and we have been asked to consider why some people do not believe in God. DH and I came up with:

  • there is no absolute proof of God's existence
  • they are rebelling against a strict organised religion that they can't accept as literallly true

If you know someone who doesn't believe in God, why don't they?

OP posts:
wonderstuff · 15/01/2012 23:36

Doesn't make any sense to me. Surely Christianity was a method of explaining existance in the absence of science. Now we have that why would we still need religion. I also think it is a way of controlling people - organised religion.
I think that Jesus was fairly cool - I went to church with dd for Christingle - I saw it as a cultural experience - the message they seemed to be pushing was repentance, whereas I thought Jesus' message was love, tolerance and charity. Very odd.
Anyway - god seems like a made-up fairy tale like thing - I'm baffled as to why anyone would belive in it all.

LunarRose · 15/01/2012 23:39

If there is, he is a fucking sadist

why on earth would I want to worship a sadist?? Confused

Grockle · 15/01/2012 23:40

Because there is no evidence that God exists.

I come from a family of atheists and am Pagan. My beliefs make sense to me and there is no dogma to tell me what to believe and how to worship.

GrimmaTheNome · 15/01/2012 23:43

Thanks for the question! Smile

I used to believe in God because that's what I'd been brought up with, and I was never encouraged to consider anything else. I am delighted that whoever is leading your confirmation class has raised this question and given you pause for thought. You may still believe after thinking about it - fine, that's way better than unthinking faith.

When I started questioning, I found no proof, and plenty of reasons (as previous posters have given) for not believing - certainly not in anything like the personal 'good' god of christianity. Everything made so much more sense without a god. Since then I've not had the slightest reason to believe.

Conversely, its quite easy to see ways in which religions may have evolved and propagated themselves. They are a product of the human mind.

lovebeinganana · 15/01/2012 23:44

I waiver want to believe and like a lot of people I do when I want something e.g. praying when someone ill etc.
How can I believe when science disproves it?

Hammy01 · 15/01/2012 23:44

I've just spent the worst 6 days of my life being told that my ds who is five, has suspected lymphoma.
In that 6 days I spent five of them in a oncology childrens hospital sharing a ward where children as young as two battling cancer, crying all night, vomitting, in pain and scared.
If there is a god, why put his sons and daughters that he loves so much through all this pain and do not quote me 'freewill' as those poor babies havent had a chance at life yet.

YuleingFanjo · 15/01/2012 23:49

and what AnyFuleKno said.

Snorbs · 15/01/2012 23:53

I don't believe in an Abrahamic God in much the same way I imagine you don't believe in Thor, Zeus, Shiva, Ra or Imhotep.

There are thousands of gods you don't believe in and probably wouldn't seriously consider even attempting to believe in. I simply don't believe in one more than you don't.

goodasgold · 15/01/2012 23:53

I have faith, maybe not in God, but that things will turn out right in the wash.

My sister is very sick with cancer, I have faith that she will get better, what else can I do?

Original poster
MosEisley · 16/01/2012 00:01

I am amazed how many people have posted in such a short time.

Grockle, I admire your point 'my beliefs make sense to me and there is no dogma to tell me what to believe and how to worship'.

Grimma, I've been thinking about this my whole life, and in fact my process of questioning my beliefs seems quite similar to what you have described, but with a somewhat different outcome.

Anyhow, I am off to bed now, but I have so many good answers from this thread I am now worried I might have a few too many points for the course leaders!

OP posts:
workshy · 16/01/2012 00:09

because how can the old testament produce so many differing religions, all of which claim to be the one true path?

because if God created the Earth, why did he leave all the other planets un-inhabitable while the earth is becomming over populated?

because too many bad things happen to good people, while 'bad' people remain fit and healthy with their families around them

reddaisy · 16/01/2012 00:39

Have any of the points raised made you question your belief that he exists MosEisley?

reddaisy · 16/01/2012 00:40

HammyO1 - I'm so sorry about your DD. Do you know if she has it?

exexpat · 16/01/2012 01:07

What Snorbs said.

I was brought up going to church but realised by the age of 7 or 8 that all the stuff I was being told made no sense whatsoever. And the various other religions I have encountered over the years are just variations on a theme.

It seems blindingly obvious to me that god(s) is/are a concept created by people to explain things they don't understand or are afraid of. The human brain has a natural tendency to find patterns, create explanations and anthropomorphise or rationalise things, and god is a handy catch-all 'reason' for all sorts of things.

exexpat · 16/01/2012 01:13

And Hammy01' so sorry about your daughter. I hope she gets through the treatment and back to full health as soon as possible.

My DH died five years ago, suddenly at the age of 41, and some people did try to feed me the line that it was god's mysterious plan, he was in a better place etc. but from the look on my face most of them had enough sense not to push the point. How is the death of a good, much-loved father of two small children in any way compatible with the concept of a benevolent, omnipotent god? Luckily I didn't believe in the concept before DH died, because I certainly would have had trouble continuing afterwards.

befuzzled · 16/01/2012 02:01

Evolution makes sense to me. Creationism does not.

seeker · 16/01/2012 06:25

To be air, not all believers are creationists.

rarebreed · 16/01/2012 06:52

I have no reason to believe, just like i don't believe in Egyptian/Greek Gods. I don't really understand how someone can read the bible and think 'oh it all makes sense' Confused

When people believe in God and say evolution doesn't conflict with their faith i just think how convenient.

RobinSparkles · 16/01/2012 07:09

Exactly what RedHotPokers said, on the first page. Exactly that!

Also, I find it really convenient that the founders of many religions - Jesus, Mohammed etc all happened many many years ago. Funny that! Hmm

CheerfulYank · 16/01/2012 07:12

Oh Hammy. Any news on your son? I'm so sorry, and I hope everything is going as all right as it can for you.

OP I have questioned many times why I believe in God. And I just do. Vera Farmiga once said of her father that "he is just one of those people who feels the breath of God on his face," and without meaning to sound grandiose, I am as well. It's there. It's always been there and It will always be here.

I'm not afraid of death, and not afraid of there not being a God. I just think that there is one.

ScroobiousPip · 16/01/2012 07:30

Hammy, I'm so so sorry to hear about your week - I really hope your DS is ok.

From my perspective, OP, god sits up with father christmas and the easter bunny. perhaps nice easy fairy tales to tell children but utterly unsubstantiated by evidence and not something an adult could rationally believe in.

having said that, i think some of the teachings of Jesus (whether he existed or no) are sensible guidance for how we should live our lives. I just cannot believe that he was the son of God. Neither do i need to - the Golden Rule is as much a humanist principle as it is a Christian one.

Acumenoop · 16/01/2012 07:36

It seems very unlikely to me.

In general, it's not necessary to believe in real things. The sun will rise, the apple will fall, the tide will roll back, whatever I think about it.

CheerfulYank · 16/01/2012 07:36

ScroobiusPip, every time I see your name it makes me smile. :)

Lizzabadger · 16/01/2012 07:38

Same reasons they find it hard to believe in fairies or pink elephants.

HAWKS01 · 16/01/2012 08:14

I dont normally comment but im a bit suprised with some of the harsh comments posted in response to a simple question.
I was not brought up religiously but have faith and respect other people beliefs even if i dont agree with the ideas but would not label it as bollocks or compare them to father christmas and the tooth fairy...which by the way is ironic that most of the people will slag off religion but happily celebrate christmas and easter...i think to have faith in something (anything or anyone) is special and thinks that it shows alot about people that feel the need to attack those that have faith....just saying....