Why do people believe in God if all you know of him is in a book and what other people say?

Question

I know one answer is faith, but how can you put your faith in a book? How can you choose one religion if they're are so many different religions out there? Who's right & who's wrong?

Answer 1

No offense, but believing in another man and believing in a deity are two very different things. To trample the idea of faith by using such a petty analogy is disgusting. Yes, radio waves and electron trains may seem like magic, but they are also nowhere close to being an all powerful and all knowing being. To subjugate the idea of faith to such ignorance is the reason people have difficulty accepting religion.

As a matter of fact, if you follow the syllogism that was set up in the past few comments it would go a little something like this:
1.) I do not know if there is a squirrel in my oak tree.
2.) I have read, and people have told me that squirrels like oak trees.
3.) There must be a squirrel in my oak tree.

Many religions have steady foundations for morality and can help people live happier and often longer lives, but the sheer ignorance that is spread by faux-zealots often cheapens those principles.

Answer 2

Its not about which religion is right or wrong...its about which you feel the most comfortable with, at least for me. I don't base my beliefs on what a "book" says, I base them on how I feel. If I had nothing to look forward to I'd go crazy. In my opinion, almost everyone has a religion, but that doesn't necessarily mean that everyone believes in a God, it means that there's something there for you at the end of the day that only you are in touch with, only you know what it means to you. I also believe that if a person is concerned with trying to convince themselves that their religion is the only "right" one...they might need to re-think their faith. Sorry if this was too long =)

Answer 3

It's not that simple. A relationship with God is a spiritual experience, so it can't be put into words easily, nor can it be "shared" with another person. Those of us who are serious about our belief are that way generally because we have a relationship with him. It's not that I believe in God because there is a book, or other people, who have told me about him. But I can understand how someone outside of that relationship would tend to see it as blind faith - without the spiritual connection, it would seem pretty pointless.

I suppose that's why it's not possible to "prove" the existence of God, because He is not physical.

As for "who's right & who's wrong", I can only tell you that I am convinced in the authenticity of Jesus. But nothing I can say will likely convince you if you are looking for proof. Unfortunately, it is a "faith" thing. While that seems strange, I didn't make the rules - it was God who chose to set things up this way.

I know that it seems like a Catch-22: God won't reveal himself to you until/unless you believe in him. But how can you commit to believe in something/someone that is otherwise hidden? Some would argue that people like me have created God in our minds to satisfy our beliefs, but I know better. However, as I said, there is no way I can prove God's existence to you.

It takes a step of faith - you have to make the first move.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

People have believed in some kind of supreme Gods as far into history as artifacts will allow us to study. Stone age peoples used the symbols of fire, air, earth; animists thought that the life-force could be seen in creatures, whilst druids explained existence through the natural world also. In more modern times, man has chosed to sense the divine through his superiority over other forms of life (a move away from the cycle of life perhaps?). For example, the Egyptian Pharaohs were considered divinities, while today's Christians believe they are made in the image of their own God.

Ultimately, it is thought that mankind's need to explain and order his existence has brought about this sort of faith. Not all faiths have particular 'books' to follow, but most have some kind of values/behaviors/rituals to follow. All people of faith inherently believe they are right (hence the long and tedious arguments in Yahoo Answers) and disparage others' beliefs. Those who may be humanist, agnostic or atheist are more likely to consider science and empirical explanations for existence.

As for right or wrong? Faith isn't based on measurable right or wrong - it's based on belief. Science is based on what can be proven and what can't. The choice is yours....

Answer 5

God has been present in my life on a number of occasions. I believe.

Why do people believe in dinosaurs if all you know about them is what people say and what is written in a book? Same thing.

It's called faith. Both God and dinos are supported by historical reports.

My faith is not based on a book. The book contains history and provides us with God's plans for our lives.

The different religions were created by men. That's not a belief structure. That is a way for people to bond and be supportive of one another through a common view.

Answer 6

Well, I don't know President Bush personally, but I believe he really is in the White House because I read about him in the papers and hear about him on the news. What I read and hear makes me believe that he is real. It is the same with God. Either what you read and hear makes sense to you, or it doesn't. I think that people mainly choose their religion based upon seeing that religion at work in the people around them. If you like what you see, you want to be a part of that.
I don't think anyone can answer for you who's right and wrong, everyone decides for themself. I thinik each person needs to ask though, whether a belief system helps people or harms them.

Answer 7

I put my faith in Jesus who told us the He was the way the truth and the life and that no one could come to the Father apart from Him.

As to putting my trust in "a book". The Bible isn't just some book written by Dan Brown you know. It's the largest selling book in the world written by 40 authors on three different continents that tells an unfolding story of God's redemptive plan for creation that doesn't contradict itself the whole way through.

Jesus is a real historical figure and millions upon millions of changed lives over the centuries testify to the supernatural power and working of God on this planet. Not one historical fact mentioned in the Bible has ever been proved to be wrong but many, many prophecies have come true.

Personally, God has proved Himself to be real in my changed life and in the answers to many prayers and situations where He has led me by his Holy Spirit.

Answer 8

I told my Sunday School class this just this morning. The Bible is merely a road map to find God. Some people have a terrible sense of direction and need the map to find him. Some people have a great since of direction, and can find God without it. But there are a lot of people who know how to find him, but still like to look at the map to check out the exciting tourist areas.

How do I know he exist? All I have to do is look into the eyes of my amazing Children and I know he exist..

And yes, it's the great thing about religious freedom. You can choose. If you are seriously considering joining a Church, visit several different denominations, visit several within a denomination. Then choose. Because of my husbands job, I have moved several times to different areas of the US. Each town we choose a different denomination, and I have thoroughly enjoyed learning their customs and traditions. Good luck

Answer 9

God lives in me. That's how I know. The Bible is the instruction and yes, faith is a part of it. The Bible says that the only way to get to God is through Jesus. I am not sure about other religious. I think that it's great that you asking these important questions.

Answer 10

How can you believe in President John F. Kennedy when all you know of him is in a book and what other people say?

How can you believe in George Washington when all you know of him is in a book and what other people say?

How can you believe in television when all you know of it is on a screen and what other people say?

How can you believe in the radio when all you know of it is what you hear and what other people say?

How can you believe in telephones when all you know of them is what you hear in your ear and what other people say?

How can you believe in your favorite music group when all you know of it is what you read, see on the TV you can't believe in and hear on a radio you also can't believe in?

How can you believe in electricity when all you know of it is contained in a bunches of switches and plugs?

In fact, how can you believe in your own great grandfather when all you know of him is some notes written here and there, some likenesses on a piece of paper, and what other people say?

You put your faith in books and on screens and over air waves and in little plastic plugs and switches, and in other peoples' words hundreds of times every day. Why would believing in God be unusual?

As for which religion, how do you decide which phone to buy? Which cd? Which TV program to watch? Which car to buy? Why would choosing a religion be unusual?

And as for who's right and who's not: Each person has to decide that for him/herself.

God bless!