Why do you believe the way you do? (bible, God)

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

I agree with your reasoning, but I will add: "Because I believe it to be true."

Is that true?

[Reverend Chris]

Originally Posted by PureX

There are a lot of reasons. Partly I believe what I believe because I want to. Partly because I need to. Partly because I think it's logically and reasonably likely to be true. Partly it's intuitive. And it's almost always accompanied by doubt.

Because you want to. Ok is that due to fear or because it feels good? Because you need to; does this keep you in morality check or do you feel like you need to be a part of something?

[Comprehend]

I believe the way I do because the Holy Ghost has told me it is the truth.

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by PureX

The difference is that you could be wrong.

Wrong according to whom? (..if you see my point.)

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by Willamena

Is that true?

I believe it to be

[Reverend Chris]

Originally Posted by Comprehend

I believe the way I do because the Holy Ghost has told me it is the truth.

How did the Holy Ghost tell you this, was it a thought? Was it in speech? Was it in writing?

[PureX]

Originally Posted by Reverend Chris

Because you want to. Ok is that due to fear or because it feels good? Because you need to; does this keep you in morality check or do you feel like you need to be a part of something?

I want to believe in some things because doing so creates an image of existence that's more positive and agreeable to me, and reaffirms my own concept of what is valuable and meaningful. I believe in a loving and forgiving God because that's the kind of God I would value existing, for example. I need to believe in some things because doing so helps keep me balanced and focussed and better at living life than I would otherwise be. To believe in a loving and forgiving God gives me a kind of conceptual ideal that I can use to more easily keep track my own behavior in life. I think our concepts of "God" are often idealized versions of ourselves. And they are actually good for us in that way. "God" is a collection of all those characteristics that we consider good, and perhaps aspire to, and so can be quite useful to us in that way.

[PureX]

Originally Posted by Willamena

Wrong according to whom? (..if you see my point.)

Wrong according to actuality. Remember that the truth is what is, not what we think it is. If what we think is true is not what actually is true, then we are wrong in thinking that it is true.