Why do people believe in things that have have no evidance to back it up?

Question

I don't have proof that a pink and green spotted weasel that makes rain doesn't live under my porch (I can't see in there), so does that make itn acceptable avenue to explore for the cause of rain? Should I ignore all meteorological "proof" (bastard scientists, what do they know?) simply because I can't prove the weasel isn't there?

You can apply this metaphor to any situation where religion bumps against science: Evolution vs Creationism, the existance of god, etc. Take your pick.

Answer 1

Y'know, I've never really gotten a close-up look at an electron. But I believe that they exist. That is because there is some evidence to back it up. But if you said that "no, electrons don't exist and that solids are really solid" then I would look at electricity and measure the flow of positively-charged thingamajigs and think to myself... hmmm... I think that person was wrong.

I also believe in many other things that have some evidence to back them up. Like, f'instance, a young earth and creation as the origin of life. And then someone comes along and says that "No, the earth is billions of years old and we evolved into existence from a combination of random chance and survival of the fittest" and I look at chickens and sheep and think, boy they aren't very fit... how did they survive? And then I look at all sorts of things in the cosmos that totally contradicts the old-earth theory and I come to the conclusion that the earth is young, just as I suspected.

That's how. Religion has very little to do with it. Common sense, that's more what it involves.

Answer 2

ah, so thats where my weasel is....

Chris K...Another misuser of the term "theory" Science is taught so badly in schools, especially in the USA Have you heard of the theory of gravity, or the theory of electromagnetism....you depend on those theories every single day, without questioning the science behind them. They are technically both theories, though we don't use that in everyday conversation. What you are refering to is actually a hypothesis....i.e the hypothesis that a supernatural being created the universe. If the ID guys ever actually did some research and provided some evidence, perhaps you might progress towards a Theory of Creationism. Unfortuneatley, ID scientists don't actually do any originial research, they just try and poke holes in the hard work of real scientists.

Science never has the arrogance to absolutely with 100% reliablity say anything is ccertain, as we recognize that future scientists may discover new details. We leave the hubris of absolute certainty to religion and other faith based dogmas.

Evolution is supported by a convergence of evidence...thats EVIDENCE...please show me the evidence of supernatural creation...a convergence of independent evidence in every field of scientific endeavour...zoology, botany, astronomy, microbiology, paleontology...etc etc...and the age of the earth and the universe is well established at about 5/15 billion years respectively.

Answer 3

There is no proof the weasel isn't there, but there is proof of where rain comes from, and it's not from that weasel. So therefore, your idea of the weasel's purpose is in fact, false. You can apply this metaphor to any religion. There is proof (the same kind of indisputable proof that explains gravity) that explains how we got here and where we came from. Your question leaves it's self unexplained and with many holes, as does religion.

Answer 4

People will believe in things as long as there is no evidence contradicting their beliefs. Anyway, you don't honestly believe that there is a weather controlling weasel under your porch do you? Look at the things people believe in for example the existence of god. People want questions answered such as where did everything come from, how did that unusual event occur, how do all these intricate systems in nature exist. To answer that they say that there must be a divine presence because that makes the most sense to them. also believing in things like that can give people a 'purpose' for example to follow that religion, to prove or disprove it. There are many reasons why people believe in things with no or little conclusive evidence, so it cant be put down to one thing. I know a guy who thinks we were genetically engineered by aliens!He believes in that because he wants to believe we are not alone and it makes him different.

Answer 5

Mohammed confirmed up six hundred years after the delivery of christ. The jehovahs witness`s confirmed up 1872 years after the form. If the unique experience is gaping with blunders how can all and dissimilar come approximately hundreds and if no longer hundreds of years later and make an attempt at plugging the holes ? it nevertheless all hinges on blind faith. did you help write the Matrix videos ? because of fact what your suggesting is the two "open" to interpretation and as for "evidence" nicely without it , shall we blindly have self belief in something say the holy toenail which created each little thing your argument would motivate the pre-brainwashed yet thats so a procedures because it is going.

Answer 6

People believe what they want to believe, and these beliefs are reinforced by experience. I can believe that each time I blink the clock changes. I can then look at the clock, and see it change once, maybe twice, and now I've reinforced my belief.

People believe in God, and they pray to him for something, and when it comes true, they believe even more.

Belief is good for many people. If you don't believe in anything for which there is no proof, then fine, but I'm sure we're all guilty of it, just a little. How about if I blow the dice at the craps table, maybe it will come up in my favor???

Answer 7

pshaw!
Everyone knows it's the yellow bellied platypus that causes rain as it splashes around in the big blue ocean we call Sky (clouds are froth because he moves really fast).

More seriously, I don't think that it is right to claim people have no evidence -- many believers claim to have had spiritual experiences where they are sure they were in God's presence. Real or imagined, the best anyone else can do is to say "to each his own."
There's also a fair bit of fascinating religious scholarship by straight-thinking people. Try Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy (Taken as Christian, but it's not really...was written by a man sentenced to die though)

Answer 8

What does the fact that people often put a tribal or human face on the creator of the universe have to do with the creator. Scientific proof is this IF you believe that a cake can bake itself all the ingredients magically appear in the baking pan and just magically bakes by accident that's as silly as the tooth fairy. If you believe that the universe as complex as it is can just appear without a guiding force then that's as silly as Santa clause.
Your the one who is failing to observe the universe scientifically
I have never observed anything happening by magic.

Answer 9

That' just it! people who has received the LORD & Saviour JESUS do have the evidence to back it up Spiritually!...that's why they serve & love Him!..we wouldn't expect a non-beliver to know spiritual things because they are not saved, so spiritual things are not given to them!...simple as that! (John 3: 3)....so it goes like this: carnal (natural man) feels they have their proof of what they believe natuarally, and the spiritual people who has received Christ knows they have their Spiritual Proof! (Romans 8: 6-14).......Simple as that!........ps. GOD was here long before science came along, and always will be!.....

Answer 10

Everybody believes in things they can't prove: For example - prove you exist, prove you know what salt tastes like. Prove you're mother loves you. Even scientific proof is based on statistical significance (and if you've ever taken a stats class you know those can be manipulated).

My simple answer, we have to believe in things we can't prove, or we couldn't freaken function from day to day, we'd all be paranoid schitzophrenics!