Do you really believe in god? (ritual, myths, spiritual, God)

[LogDog]

Is it the case that seemingly intelligent, sharp minded, critical thinking, rational, generally skeptical individuals who profess belief in a god are deceiving themselves and in all actuality do not believe?

“There is something feeble and a little contemptible about a man who cannot face the perils of life without the help of comfortable myths. Almost inevitably, some part of him is aware that they are myths and that he believes them only because they are comforting. But he does not dare face this thought. Moreover, since he is aware, however dimly, that his opinions are not real, he becomes furious when they are disputed.” Bertrand Russell, Human Society in Ethics and Politics

[Willamena]

Myths, if done properly, provide little in the way of comfort. They should, in fact, rock your boat, so to speak.

[Popeyesays]

I won't judge anyone else's degree of belief.

To me the existence of God is obvious.

Regards,
Scott

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by LogDog

Do you really believe in god?

Yes, is that a problem?

[Hacker]

You know, I have contmeplated my belief in God and during my contemplation I've concluded that the universe and human body is too magnificantly structured and created to just be out of chance? Tell me LogDog, are you capable of creating this universe and another human(of course without resorting to the process of reproduction and cloning)? Please explain, I'm so curious.

[Pariah]

Almost inevitably, some part of him is aware that they are myths and that he believes them only because they are comforting. But he does not dare face this thought. Moreover, since he is aware, however dimly, that his opinions are not real, he becomes furious when they are disputed

In earlier stages (chronologically speaking) of my spiritual development, this question cropped up much of the time. The religious myths, whatever they may be of (not restricting to fables and didactic tales) could not be true - they just couldn't be and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't bring myself to believe in them. However, my idea of what myth is, is a bit different now. While I did read them metaphorically before, I do so more now than I did before.

It was impossible to tuck it away neatly in the nether regions of my brain before they crept back into my consciousness. And then eventually I removed them completely.

This story in now way, however, shows that I have not simply replaced old mythologies with new ones. I might have and I wouldn't have known it myself.

[LogDog]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

Yes, is that a problem?

I guess it's an unfortunate reality.

[robtex]

Originally Posted by LogDog

Moreover, since he is aware, however dimly, that his opinions are not real, he becomes furious when they are disputed.” Bertrand Russell, Human Society in Ethics and Politics

I have wondered if this is true or not before. I think there might be some merit to the idea that "furious and disputed" are signs of insecurity. I find the word "sacred" and phrase "religion is personal " are many times smoke screens for the religiously insecure. It obvious doesn't apply to a site, which features daily debate and discussion on the topic but certainly to many theists in general. And on a tangent note a cousin of the "furious dispute" is many times an appeal to ambiguity, with answers to divine inquisitions being "no one can no for sure" and "anything is possible." Ambiguity being a shield to exploring religion and or spirituality.

I think that fideism and its relationship to evidencable claims and epistemology could be a strong focus point for qualifying how one comes to decide, and with what convectional level and tools, that a God exists or does not exist or is completely un-ascertainable . .

[Mr Spinkles]

Originally Posted by LogDog

Is it the case that seemingly intelligent, sharp minded, critical thinking, rational, generally skeptical individuals who profess belief in a god are deceiving themselves and in all actuality do not believe?

I have no doubt that this is the case with some intelligent, sharp minded, critical thinking, rational, generally skeptical individuals. But I think this is not the case with a great number of them if not most of them.