Do theists really not know why they believe in god?

Question

I've been asking theists for a while now why they believe what they do and the only conclusion I can make from it is that they honestly don't know why. Correct me if I'm wrong on any of this but surly there must be some reason to believe in god. Are they just hiding all the secret evidence or are they just too stupid to understand science it or do they honestly no know why they believe in god and they just do? But they seem to defend it a bit too strongly for something they don’t understand.

paj
And what did you discover on your reserch?

Kitten
What do you think I am stupid? I understand electricity. And the bible is just a story book nothing more.

arewethereyet
Prove he is there.

inlovewithou...
what design do you see? Because all I see is nature being the only way it could be.

Answer 1

I understand completely what I believe in. I believe in God because of research I did on my own, because of things He has shown me in my life, and because of how my life changed once I let Him take control. I believe in God because I choose to. Why should it matter to you? I completely understand my God.

Answer 2

I believe in God because I have felt a presence in my life that really only could be described in the kind of language we use for God - Holy, ever-present, love itself. I don't have to explain myself, but that is the 'why' for me, and so can say that I do know why.

As to nature being "the only way it could be" - given the necessarily random nature of subatomic physics (quantum mechanics) - well all I can say to that is that such a statement is a far sillier thing to believe in than God, since the statement is completely falsifiable. Every time a photon strikes your eye, you change something in the past.

http://www.metanexus.net/metanexus_online/show_article2.asp?id=8580

Due to the uncertainty built into the universe (both in terms of quantum mechanics and the second thermodynamic principle), nature in fact could be anything - the odds against nature being what it turned out to be are.... a rather large number. A larger number than could be managed in a 32 bit byte anyway, unless its a float with a very, very large decimal for an exponent.

As to the Bible being "just a story book" - that betrays a rather poor understanding of what the Bible is. Parts of it are mythological, certainly, although as Tolkien has said, mythology is often truer than history. Some of it is poetry, some of it is prayer.l Some of it is actual history - few doubt that the Bible fairly accurately represents the story of Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Judaea and raiding the temple, and Babylonian steles confirm that the Babylonian exile of the Jews was quite real. The New Testament gospels likely have some basis in a real story, and Paul's letters aren't stories at all, but read as what they claim to be - instructive letters.

Answer 3

I agree that many do not know alot about God or why they think they believe in him. Most are just afraid not to,(the whole stupid hellfire doctrine). I guess for the rest like myself, the most obvious reason we believe in a Creator is the visible creation. For me, design means a designer. For me it is really that simple. I have other reasons as well. Is the reason mentioned good enough for you? If not, ask again and be more specific as to what kind of reason your looking for.

I guess we just see things differently. I'm sure we read the same science books and mags. Some of them push creation, some push evolution, big bang, or a hundred other theories. Still, I see design. I'm sure you've heard the old illustration about the house in the desert. You can't expect me to believe that it grew out of the sand. Their is evidence that someone built it even though I wasn't present to see it built. Likewise, the human brain, heart, the earth, and other planets, laws of time and space, and everything I have ever read or studied about science and history lead me to believe in a creator, designer.

Have to leave work now, I'll visit this question later...Promise

Okay, I'm back to work. I read a few other questions of yours, like 50 or something. Seems that this subject is important to you. May I ask why?

I've spent almost 15 years of my life teaching others to understand the Bible, science, and history. I've also spent much time teaching how these 3 can be harmonious.

If you would like to know more, you can email me. But please, email me only if your reasonable. I don't like to argue. My beliefs are not set in stone and I'm not a fan of blind faith. However, when I detect that someone's mindset is stubborn or unreasonable then there is no point in continuing discussion.

My initial email contact is [e-mail]

Answer 4

Theism is the belief in one or more personal deities. More specifically it may also mean the belief that God/god(s) is immanent in the world, yet transcends it.


Atheism, in its broadest sense, is the absence of theism (the belief in the existence of deities). This encompasses both people who assert that there are no gods, and those who make no claim about whether gods exist or not. Narrower definitions of atheism, however, typically only label people who affirmatively assert the nonexistence of gods as atheists, classifying other nonbelievers as agnostics or simply non-theists.

Many people who self-identify as atheists do tend to share common skeptical concerns regarding the evidence of the world's many deities and creation stories as well as questioning the goodness and morality of religions that have brought us such things as holy wars and inquisitions. Yet while some adhere to philosophies such as materialism, naturalism, and humanism, there is no single ideology that all atheists share, nor does atheism have any institutionalized rituals or behaviors. Indeed, atheism is inspired by many rationales, encompassing personal, scientific, social, philosophical, and historical reasoning.

Although atheism is commonly equated with irreligion in Western culture, some religious beliefs (such as some forms of Buddhism), though not often so identified by the adherents, have been described as atheistic.





there is alot of information at www.wikipedia.com about theists and atheists

Answer 5

We understand hon, we know why we believe in God, because He's there and He loves us. That's sort of like asking "why do you believe you have a mother?".

Here's the thing, and I'm trying to say it in a loving way ... telling you the most valuable thing they have is throwing their pearls before swine ... why would they allow you to trample through what they hold precious?

Answer 6

Do you believe in electricity? though you don't understand it, you know it works somehow. Same with God. He has changed me and done so much in my Life. You can't argue with experiences. As far as the Bible saying what it does; well, all I can say is--God said it--I believe it-- that settles it!

Answer 7

If there is a God i believe she is a cruel and vengeful GOD. You are a weird dude in trying to get into my head. You know absolutely nothing about what I and other Atheist think. Tell me one thing GOD ever did for anyone. Be precise..No other way to explain it.