why is it that people find it so hard to believe in God?

Answer 1

It boils down to 2 things for me, how does one reconcile omnipotence, omnibenevolence and omniscience with this world and the life on it. And, why are there so many billions of people living in entire, huge countries whose culture has nothing remotely like the xian god and jesus. Here is a post I did before on the topic:

Because I look at what life was like for human beings for the past 40,000 years (maybe 6,000 for you). People lived for an average of 30-40 years. More than 50% of children died before age one (until about 100 years ago!). I look at thousands of children permanently blinded by parasites they get from playing in creeks in underdeveloped countries.

Then I look at children of modern developed countries, of any religion. I see that they live until their EIGHTIES!! Have all their teeth for a very long time. Have excellent health, etc... And I see that this has nothing to do with religion or god. It is medicine and science. So was it god's plan that hundreds of generations of people would suffer and die in their 40's and suddenly in the 19th and 20th century, everything would get better?

That's nothing other than sadistic.

I also look at all the different gods and interpretations of these gods for the past 4,000-5,000 years. I see how silly it is to point to one religion in the roman era and say "Ah, THIS is the correct one!"

I also posted this in answer to that question:
* The bible has many contradictions
* The bible shows the OT god to be violent and bloodthirsty. He also kills thousands of children.
* For thousands of years, man has had a lifespan of 30-40 years. 100 years ago in the US, 50% of children died before age 1. Modern medicine has greatly reduced this. During eras in western history when the catholic church was in charge and belief in god and church attendance was required, this did not change. So prayer seems not to have been the answer.
* The history of religions and gods seems to show that man has no consistent image or view of what god is or does.
* The bible is open enough to interpretation that if you walked into a church and asked 3 people questions about the bible or god's will, you would get probably 8 different answers.
* People kill each other in god's name every day and he apparently does nothing to stop it.
* 50% of conceptions do not result in birth
* 1 in 8 pregnancies result in twins and one twin is eventually reabsorbed.
* Children are born with no brains, with no limbs, retarded, blind.
* Children go blind from parasites every day, children suffer asthma, and other diseases

Notice I focus on CHILDREN, not adults so please don't tell me that millions of children are dying b/c god wants us to have free will. These children barely have free will yet and toddlers don't have it at all.

Answer 2

Pride, my friend, pride. If God exists and the bible is true, then i'm not the good person that i think i am. It's very hard for a person to admit that in todays day and age. Even most christians have a very hard time with this.
Another reason is that christians aren't doing their job making sure that people know the true Gospel. Remember, we are commanded by Jesus to go out and make disciples. How many have you made? Being religous isn't just for sundays, you have to live it every minute. If all you got is that one or 2 hrs on sunday, the devil is laughing his butt off at you.
You see, when it's all said and done, it doesn't matter what you believe. It doesn't matter what i believe. What matters is what is true. Can i go out and stand on the freeway and say that i don't believe in trucks? Of course not. So no matter what you believe, you better make sure you're right.

Answer 3

Lack of proof and cynicism. People don't trust everything they are told to that extent anymore. Some things in Christianity sound ridiculous, my favourite is the talking serpent in Eden. They are no more believable that voodoo. Having said all that.... Personally I am trying to find the way to God and I'm searching for the truth. I'd be lying if I didn't say I (like so many others) that didn't have reservations at this point. But I still beleive there is a God, it's figuring out what he wants that's difficult.

Answer 4

I don't think it's hard to believe, it's just inconvenient for some. Even the devil and his demons believe and trembles. In the bible, it says God draws us to Him, and I believe that. Of course if you believe in Him, then there is the admission that some things are wrong, then you have to admit you do things that are wrong. Most people can't deal with that, they want to be right. They don't want to admit that booze, pot, drugs, sex, violence, filthy language, porn is wrong, or that they are wrong for being involved with that stuff so they take the easy way and say "there's no God" The downside of this is saying it don't make it so. There is a God, He will call everyone to account. even the ones who refuse to believe in Him.

Answer 5

That is a great question! We never got to see Jesus walk on this earth, but I still believe. Faith is believing in things unseen. It wasn't by chance that our intricate bodies, the wonders of nature, and the beautiful heavens were created. There is a higher power and I believe that with all my heart. I thank God everyday for my life, this lovely world, the love of my fellow man, and all the many blessings He gives me freely just because He loves me. How fortunate I am....and I always give God the glory!!

Answer 6

Like Doubting Thomas they don't believe what they cannot see, touch, smell ... It's sad because their lives would be so much better if they accepted God and all He has to offer. They judge God with their human minds and find Him wanting because of the tragedies that happen every day.

Answer 7

The same reason adults have a hard time maintaining a belief in the tooth fairy and Santa Claus.

Either God isn't there, or he doesn't care about you. You have a one in three chance of dying of cancer, even if you pray every day! Did you know that? Joan of Arc burned at the stake. The Pope peed himself and died.

Answer 8

Because it's so simple. This has always baffled man, we want to complicate everything, and figure out everything, we have to see all. People haven't changed have they? Jesus faced the same kind of people didn't He? They wanted proof, even after he had proven over and over again Who He was. Whatever He said was so simple, and they wanted to complicate it. All that He did was in the open, and yet they said who is this guy? People haven't changed, and the messages is still the same, simple, and true.

Answer 9

why is it that people find it so hard to not be self-centered?

Just because YOU believe in god, the rest of us don't have to! Here's a crazy thought - you may be wrong!

Answer 10

People nalme G-d fpor the awful things which happen to them. People do not see it is often their own chgoices which got them into the messes they are in, but people need to lame something or someone, and G-d is often a logical choice. God laughs at human tomfoolery.