Where does belief in God come from?

[TooBusyByHalf]

I want to believe in God but I just don't. Can't make it make sense. Am vaguely thinking of returning to the church anyway, without faith, cos I like the singing and smells and all that but I think that would be dishonest.
Atheists, I know, ok? No need to explain why not to believe. Thank you.
Believers, why? Where does your faith come from?

full why is it arrogant? Resurrection and miracles are things that cannot be explained, scientifically, people do not really understand how these events would happen. A lot of people might have trouble believing these events are genuinely possible or unexplainable. So to say they are 'tricky' does not seem that out there, to me.

These are things that didn't actually happen though- so nothing to explain.
Not tricky at all.

So you find believing that miracles and resurrection could happen, in theory, problematic, full?

I have no problem with your miracles.

So it just the belief that resurrection could be possible, in theory, you find problematic, then full?

I reckon half the church going population don't believe in God really. Not deep, deep down. They just think it's a nice idea and a pleasant way to spend a Sunday morning.

I don't believe in zombies, no.

But the zombies of folklore and popular culture are not usually believed to have come fully back to life, full. They are often described as the 'undead', often described in terms of not feeling pain, having greying dead flesh and having and pathological urge to eat people.

Resurrection is different in the sense it means the person has come fully back to life, from the dead. They do not have a pathological urge to eat people or decaying flesh like zombies. A resurrected person is not a zombie.

I am glad though you see that a zombies is as likely as a resurrected person.
No evidence for either.

full People are brought back to life, medically, through resuscitation all the time. I have no problem believing God, who I believed creates life, can resurrect from the dead.

Is there anything, that is generally considered supernatural, that you think might be possible, full?

^believe not believed. Typo.

I don't understand why you need to declare a belief in god though. I mean, if god exist, it exists. I struggle with why you (anyone) needs to make a decision about whether they believe or not.

But these people "brought back to life" are not dead.

Jesus was supposedly dead for three days.

full people who are resuscitated are dead if the heart has stopped, they are resuscitated from death. It is why people say, who have experienced this, say they were dead for however many minutes.

Jesus rose on the third day, He did not spend 3 whole days dead. However, of course I know, this was a miraculous occurrence. Lazarus, whom Jesus rose from the dead, had been dead for so long he would have began to decompose - that is why his relatives were wary of opening his tomb.

full Is there anything, which people would generally consider supernatural, that you do believe in?

" people who are resuscitated are dead if the heart has stopped"

That isn't true though. People can be still alive with a mechanical heart, or if their heart is stopped during surgery and the pumping function taken over by a heart lung machine.

THese people are not dead- there are other functions that mean they are alive.

Are you saying jesus was not dead in his tomb- just not feeling good for a couple of days? THat would certainly account for your "miracle".

For what it's worth, I don't have a problem with any of the miracles which have been recorded as such. There is a perfectly rational explanation for all of them.

"full people who are resuscitated are dead if the heart has stopped, they are resuscitated from death. It is why people say, who have experienced this, say they were dead for however many minutes"

No, they say that because that is colloquial language. They are not actually dead because there is still brain activity. Once the brain dies, you are properly, officially dead and nothing can bring you back.

No, I am not saying Jesus was not dead in His tomb.

But people can be kept alive mechanically and not be considered alive, though, full - if they are 'brain dead' for example.

You never said whether there was anything, you personally believe in, that would generally be considered supernatural by others, full, is there?

^fully alive that is.

X post Hak. Colloquial language...and the states in between life and death, interesting isn't it? Is 'brain death' always tested for? I thought someone could be declared 'dead at the scene'.

Swedishedith, it depends on which god doesn't it? Let's say it's the RC god who exists, and I was in a position to repent before death, and I didn't. Then I would go to hell for eternity (I think, I'm not particularly up to speed with RC doctrine). So in that case it would matter that I had not reached a view wouldn't it? That's just an extreme example but a belief in god, or in the afterlife, would be comforting (for me) so that is why I ponder it.

Hello OP, and everyone.

Am vaguely thinking of returning to the church anyway, without faith, cos I like the singing and smells

This is just what I did a few years ago. I think some people would say that the Holy Spirit is moving you, I think that in a way, because I think the holy spirit is consciousness and intelligence and thought.

I believe in God, but I didn't used to. I think that's because my 'concept' of what God is has changed and evolved over the years. My concept of God now is that he/she/it is the life force that runs through everything, the electricity that atoms are full of, our consciousness, love, compassion, communication and shared understanding.

I also believe that Jesus existed and was trying to share some very radical ideas, based in love and compassion. I have no problem believing that he was the son of God, because I think we are all children of 'God', and I think that that's kind of what he was trying to say. So, I'd say I was a Christian.

I used to think that in order to believe in God, I had to actually hear a voice from heaven or something like that- I don't now. I also thought that if I believed in God and was a Christian, I'd have to subscribe to every aspect of a churches teaching, but I don't. I'm pro gay marriage, pro women priests/bishops/popes and do not think that using contraception or having an abortion should be classed as sins- I am a catholic, and I want the church to change to be more inclusive and humane.

Of course, this is all very personal, and it might sound a bit mad. I wish you all the best, whatever you do.

That's to do with religion, rather than belief in god though, TooBusy. If someone wants to believe in god, they can do so and then just get on with their life. If they believe it's because they think it's true but the other rules about having do something with that belief are just religion aren't they? I'm ex-RC but I doubt (??) even the Pope talks about people going to hell any more (because it doesn't exist )

Isn't it rather natural to share your beliefs with people, though, as you get to know them, Swedish? This does not necessarily have to be religious beliefs but any beliefs, concerning your take on life and life experiences? To me, not to do so, at all would be like denying a part of myself as my beliefs are part of me. Not that I share to all and sundry, regardless, but I don't make an effort to hide my beliefs either.