Why do you believe? (priests, Creator, Moses, beliefs, choice)

[Lisa S]

Question for Christians
Why do you believe?

Beside the fact that most of you where taught from a young age to believe in god, why do you believe? How do you believe in something with out even a shred of proof? Surly you all must have some doubts (how could you not) so what makes you believe?

Or to put it another way. Why is religion the one and only subject where proof is not needed?

(I hope I don't come off rude, I'm just quite interested in how people can believe in something without any type of proof)

[Inky]

I'm a very recent ex-Christian, so I hope my perspective is worthwhile here--somebody can delete this if I shouldn't be posting in this section.

For me, it was feelings I got from prayer. Since prayer was (or still is for me) supposed to be communication with God, the messages and emotions you get out of it become a guide to truths that couldn't be derived from other observations. I think for a lot of Christians, and members of other religions, it's true because you heard so yourself, whether through prayer, meditation or some other form of communication with the divine. Of course that brings up the question of why you should believe that's what it is, rather than just you talking to yourself, but that's a very personal decision that may have different reasons for each person.

[Lisa S]

Originally Posted by Inky

I'm a very recent ex-Christian, so I hope my perspective is worthwhile here--somebody can delete this if I shouldn't be posting in this section.

For me, it was feelings I got from prayer. Since prayer was (or still is for me) supposed to be communication with God, the messages and emotions you get out of it become a guide to truths that couldn't be derived from other observations. I think for a lot of Christians, and members of other religions, it's true because you heard so yourself, whether through prayer, meditation or some other form of communication with the divine.

What type of feeling do you get from prayer? Don't you think that these feeling may simply be manifestations of your own need to believe? Surely you could reproduce these feelings by other means, (for example, I find some forms of strenuous exercise to be somewhat meditative) When you say that you have 'heard so yourself' you don't mean to say that you hear voices in your head, do you? That would mean your insane.

[PureX]

Originally Posted by Lisa S

Question for Christians
Why do you believe?

Beside the fact that most of you where taught from a young age to believe in god, why do you believe?

To "believe in" a god is a choice. People do it for lots of different reasons. Also, keep in mind that lots of people have very different concepts of what "God" is. I choose to believe in "God", but my concept of God is probably a lot different from most religious Christians. As I am not religious.

Originally Posted by Lisa S

How do you believe in something with out even a shred of proof?

I can believe because there's no proof, if what I'm "believing in" is defined as a great mystery. To me, the term "God" refers to a great and divine mystery. So I don't expect to be able to understand it or to "prove" it's existence beyond my own conceptual experience of it.

Originally Posted by Lisa S

Surly you all must have some doubts (how could you not) so what makes you believe?

Of course there is doubt. Only a lunatic has no doubt at all. But we choose to believe in spite of the doubts, because we want to.

Originally Posted by Lisa S

Or to put it another way. Why is religion the one and only subject where proof is not needed?

Religion is different from theism. That's a different subject.

[Inky]

Originally Posted by Lisa S

What type of feeling do you get from prayer? Don't you think that these feeling may simply be manifestations of your own need to believe? Surely you could reproduce these feelings by other means, (for example, I find some forms of strenuous exercise to be somewhat meditative) When you say that you have 'heard so yourself' you don't mean to say that you hear voices in your head, do you? That would mean your insane.

I answered that in the sentence you left off of the quote--it's a private decision that's different for every person.

[Muffled]

Originally Posted by Lisa S

What type of feeling do you get from prayer? Don't you think that these feeling may simply be manifestations of your own need to believe? Surely you could reproduce these feelings by other means, (for example, I find some forms of strenuous exercise to be somewhat meditative) When you say that you have 'heard so yourself' you don't mean to say that you hear voices in your head, do you? That would mean your insane.

I hear the voice of God in my head and I am not insane by any measure that I am familiar with.

[Super Universe]

Originally Posted by Lisa S

Question for Christians
Why do you believe?

Beside the fact that most of you where taught from a young age to believe in god, why do you believe? How do you believe in something with out even a shred of proof? Surly you all must have some doubts (how could you not) so what makes you believe?

Or to put it another way. Why is religion the one and only subject where proof is not needed?

(I hope I don't come off rude, I'm just quite interested in how people can believe in something without any type of proof)

At a young age I resisted religion. I was against it and refused to accept it. I thought there probably was a Creator but I simply didn't like Him. Then I woke up, I remembered, and now I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that God exists and that God created everything.

You ask how I can believe without a shred of proof? I have no choice. I cannot deny what I have been shown.

You don't understand how I can believe? Of course you don't, you're not me.

Why is one religion the one and only subject where proof is not needed? You set your standards, you decide what proof is sufficient to believe in something. If the universe is not proof enough of God's existence then believe what you wish. Go and believe that atoms created themselves. Go on and think that they also created the physical laws that control themselves and that they then, somehow, created life.

Religions are the creation of man in an attempt to understand that which they cannot.
Religion is a mixture of ancient tribal beliefs and true revelation. God never harmed a thing but ancient priests didn't have any other explanation for storms and meteors and diseases. God is not associated with any religion. In fact, revelation has ALWAYS come to those who are not representatives of a religion (Moses, Buddha, Christ, Mohammed, Joseph Smith, and more).

[Muffled]

Originally Posted by Super Universe

At a young age I resisted religion. I was against it and refused to accept it. I thought there probably was a Creator but I simply didn't like Him. Then I woke up, I remembered, and now I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that God exists and that God created everything.

You ask how I can believe without a shred of proof? I have no choice. I cannot deny what I have been shown.

You don't understand how I can believe? Of course you don't, you're not me.

Why is one religion the one and only subject where proof is not needed? You set your standards, you decide what proof is sufficient to believe in something. If the universe is not proof enough of God's existence then believe what you wish. Go and believe that atoms created themselves. Go on and think that they also created the physical laws that control themselves and that they then, somehow, created life.

Religions are the creation of man in an attempt to understand that which they cannot.
Religion is a mixture of ancient tribal beliefs and true revelation. God never harmed a thing but ancient priests didn't have any other explanation for storms and meteors and diseases. God is not associated with any religion. In fact, revelation has ALWAYS come to those who are not representatives of a religion (Moses, Buddha, Christ, Mohammed, Joseph Smith, and more).

It seems to me that God was responsible for religions being associated with the aforementioned messengers.

[BruceDLimber]

Greetings, Lisa! :-)

>Why do you believe?

My short answer: Great good fortune! :-)

My specific answer: As a result of extensive prayer, reading, research, investigation, and evaluation!

Since coupled with over 36 years' experience during which I have NOT ONCE found any reason to regret my decision!

Simple as that.

Peace, :-)

Bruce

[Mister Emu]

I can't answer your question, I don't, currently, believe anything without evidence.

I hear the voice of God in my head and I am not insane by any measure that I am familiar with.

Amen brother.