the book called 'the god part of the brain' lays out the idea that self consciousness can bring with it the fear of death
this is something unique to the human species
if you want, read 'the premise', an intro to the book, here:
http://www.godpart.com/html/body_the_premise.html
The Premise
basically, it says how religious belief and the belief in an all powerful, all good and all knowing god who looks after one's welfare comes out of the need for a coping mechanism for the stress of being confronted with one's mortality, due to being self-conscious.
so if we stopped wanting to be immortal, like we felt BEFORE we became self-conscious (if i'm getting The Premise right...) AND we develop better ways of thinking about the threat of death and failure, then will Faith evaporate?
will people's willingness to sacrifice so much, and so many lives, and the peace of the planet in the name of religion disappear when this stage of mental development is attained?
2006-07-24 08:26:39 · 13 answers · asked by Smegma Stigma 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Isn't it bizarre, the effect reading that has had on us? I felt it was my responsibility to bring that information to their attention as well. But, the simple truth of it is, the ones who are caught up in the mental defense mechanism of it, need it for their peace of mind. We don't want to have mentally weaker people who think they will have no morals if "god" doesn't exist, walking around depressed and maybe armed, now do we. Be careful who's mind you awaken. Knowledge is power. Doesn't it feel great, and liberateing?
2006-07-24 08:33:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Will religious non-believers face up to the fact that their beliefs only change their world, not the one in which they live?
You can explain away just about anything if you try hard enough, and if you can't, you can just ignore it.
Ask yourself something even more to the point I suspect you're actually pursuing.
What does it matter?
If you were truly as 'enlightened' as this question would appear to imply, why do you worry about all these other people whose fears drive them to 'invent' gods? Why not just write them off as ignorant and be done with it? Surely you don't imagine you can bring them to the same state of resignation.
The real question: Is it all just psychological compensation, or is there a real god out there? And if there is, what does that mean to me?
Please give this a little thought, and then ask a better question.
2006-07-24 08:39:17 · answer #2 · answered by kaththea s 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe in life-after-death and in paradise, but if there weren't any I will still believe in my existence which is an unquestionable proof (at least for me) of the existence of my Creator. I certainly do not believe that my body and my soul are just a random result of something or are just out of coincidence. My soul and this painful thing inside me called conscience are much more elevated and developed to be thought of that way. And, honestly, I think that every one is born with the feeling of God inside. A child does not run away from something or seek false areas of inner peace but still asks about his Creator and wonders what He looks like till time and place change or change not his perspective of Him or of His existence. As a result, I will always move on thanking God and praising him for each breath coming in and going out even if i would never be immortal. I would thank him for my existence and for that of all the people I love. I will thank him for what i have gone through, be it painful or joyful. And I will go to my grave thanking him for having known Him one day.
2006-07-24 13:05:26 · answer #3 · answered by Basma 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont know about all Christians but I am one that would just rather not exist when I die because that's easy. No matter how you slice it, eternity is a long long long time and I would really rather NOT do anything for eternity. However, God has more than proven Himself to me in my life that I cannot deny Him. Knowing this, I then believe in eternity... it's there whether I wish it was or not. So, I choose to follow God so that at least I can have eternal peace. If you have to have eternity anyway, best take the peaceful route. What can you lose?
2006-07-24 08:33:21 · answer #4 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are right religion kills, even Jesus spoke against the religious experts. All the coulda, shoulda, woulda's of religion are not needed to be holy in God's eyes because He looks at the heart not what you do or don't do. Those religious leaders didn't get it and many still don't get it cuz they are stuck in religion...
2006-07-24 08:31:09 · answer #5 · answered by AlwaysLaughing 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My belief in God has nothing to do with wanting to be immortal. It has to do with knowing that His presence has always been with me, and finding out later in life, when I began studying the bible, who that presence was.
Faith in Jesus Christ means I will be in heaven after I die. I'm glad, since I love Him. But it's not the reason I believe. I believe because all He has said makes sense to me and rings true.
2006-07-24 08:31:23 · answer #6 · answered by christian_lady_2001 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, I would believe in God even if I didn't believe in immortality. I'm way to grateful for having a chance to live at least once...
2006-07-24 08:30:38 · answer #7 · answered by ioa_3000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the human brain is WIRED for spirituality/God. How is it that finite fallible humans can come up w/ the idea of a infinite and infallibe Being (God) unless we recieved this information from a extra-personal source (God himself revealed himself to us)
2006-07-24 08:31:21 · answer #8 · answered by esero26 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You really think people are going to stop wanting immortality?
You're fightin' an uphill battle, bro...
2006-07-24 08:31:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
immortal in what sense? i will remember who i am forever? i dont know and do you? no.
wanting religion and such to disappear my friend is like wanting to destroy all oxygen everywhere... its just not going to happen.
2006-07-24 08:32:41 · answer #10 · answered by Evan P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋