how can you devote your life to something that you dont know exists?

Answer 1

There are some subtleties at work here that seem to be escaping the notice of most people. They have to do with the nature of 'belief'.

A rational person might say "I believe in the Big Bang." A religious person might say "I believe in creation, as described in Genesis." But these statements are not even remotely similar, with respect to what is meant by the word 'believe'.

For the rational person, the statement of 'belief' in the Big Bang means that they understand that the concept provides a scientifically and mathematically consistent explanation, congruent with the evidence, which accounts for the evolution of the universe from a fraction of a second after the initiating event, up until the present. When the 'inflationary model' came to the fore, rational people said "Well, good... that clears up a few questions and makes things even more coherent." NOBODY threw up their arms and wailed "Oh, no... oh, no... ain't so... ain't so... the Big Bang is the inerrant truth... not this ridiculous, atheistic 'inflationary' model."

See... when we say "I believe in the Big Bang", we don't really mean the same thing as the religious person means when he says "I believe in creation, as described in Genesis," or "I believe in God." Our 'belief' in the Big Bang (or anything else) isn't really a 'belief'... it is more properly a 'paradigm'... a useful way of looking at something, or thinking about something. If additional information is uncovered that adds to the conceptual model, that is a good thing... not a disaster. If part of the conceptual model is discovered to be incorrect, and must be tossed in the trash and replaced with something completely different... that is also a good thing... not the end of the world as we know it. And often, no matter how highly confident we may be of the accuracy or completeness of a particular paradigm, we may have reason to apply a DIFFERENT paradigm to the same thing, in an effort to tease out new insights; for example, we might want to contemplate the potential implications of a change to a theory from the perspective of the Tao Te Ching, the Gaia hypothesis, or ecological homeostasis. We KNOW that all theories are approximations... and that is OK. We KNOW that we don't have all the answers... and that is OK, too. There is nothing wrong with saying "We don't know... yet; but we're working on it."

But these modes of thinking, perceiving, contemplating and understanding are utterly alien to the 'religious' mind. For the religious mind, a 'belief' is not a paradigm... not a useful way of thinking about something... it is an internalized conviction that one knows the absolute 'truth' pertaining to some aspect of existence and/or fundamental reality. 'Beliefs' are one of the key interpretive component filters of the religious person's 'self-description'... a part of what DEFINES them as a person... the very thing that creates their world-view... an underpinning of their 'subjective reality'. Any challenge to one of these internalized 'beliefs' is perceived and interpreted as a vital threat... an attack upon the 'self-description'... and an assault upon their subjective reality.

And here is the key difference: When there is a change in one of the paradigms dealing with a scientific concept, or a new insight into the workings of the universe, to the 'rational' person it merely constitutes an interesting new piece of knowledge and understanding... a new insight. However, if that same new insight, or piece of information (a feature of the universe, for example) seems to threaten a tenet of Christianity, everybody goes to battle stations, goes into 'damage control' mode... for fear that the whole edifice will come crashing down. And, ultimately, it will.

So, when a fundie disparages evolution, for example, it really has nothing to do with a genuine, intellectual dispute regarding scientific details... they are generally scientifically illiterate, anyway. Any 'scientific' arguments that they present are inevitably not even understood... they are just lifted from the pre-packaged lies and misrepresentations that are found on dozens of 'Liars for Jesus' (LFJ) web sites, and parroted. They are in a battle. They are trying to sink science before science sinks them. They are desperate... and science is (mostly, and unfortunately) oblivious to the fact that they are even in a fight, and that somebody is trying to sink them. They are just blithely bopping along, doing what science does... figuring out how nature works.

No... none of this has anything to do with a mere disagreement pertaining to evidence and understanding. It has to do with minds that deal with fundamental issues in an entirely different way. It has to do with a flexible, open-minded, intellectually honest (willing to question and doubt one's own presumptions) curiosity about the universe, contending with a rigid, unyielding world-view that depends from a certainty that certain delusional faith-based (willful ignorance and magical, wishful thinking) 'beliefs' represent the absolute 'truth' of reality.

We might as well be talking to an alien species, from a distant planet.

When the religious enter a forum like this one, they are (generally) NOT seeking new information which might allow them to QUESTION their beliefs more effectively, or might put their beliefs at risk... they are seeking VALIDATION... of their beliefs, and hence, their self-description.

Answer 2

You are not devoting your life to something outside of you, you are devoting your life to something within. That something has been in existence since you were born. Whatever you call it, that "something" does exist. Think of yourself as a fish. Does the fish say "why is water wet"? or does it just believe that water is wet. So, yes, we who believe or think that there is a "something" out there that is greater than us, that there is a thinker behind us doing all the work and it brings to us and through us all that we think and speak. We must have a "something" to believe in, if not, then this world would be left to nothing and that i believe is much worst. So, change the way you think about something and the way you think about something will change.

Answer 3

How can you devote your life to bugging people who devote their lives to something that they dont know exists?

I try to avoid this section, but WHY do you find it necessary to stir them up? If they believe, they believe. If you don't, you don't.

LET IT GO, PEOPLE!

Answer 4

If you don't know something exits then the mere question infers that it might exist therefore if in your heart and mind you feel tranquility and joy, by all means devote all your life

Answer 5

2 unsolved mysteries of life are 'delivery' and 'dying'. purely as a results of fact we can't comprehend this does not exchange data. we've a topic, the difficulty of being! there became right into a time whilst human beings did no longer have confidence in micro organism, a international so small to observe with out the help of a microscope. That international nevertheless existed, even nevertheless human beings ought to no longer see it then. in case you have got a communique with some-one born one thousand years in the past, do you think of they might have confidence you in case you advised them approximately air planes, autos or desktops to call purely some? No! they might possibly say such as you, "If i can't see or comprehend it, it does not exist." good! "guy is constrained in his awareness and stories with the aid of his 5 actual senses, guy whilst in comparison with God is little extra advantageous than an insect. His international exists for below a small distance in any path, and yet he considers his opinion enlightened in all guidelines." What you have confidence or no longer have confidence does not exchange 'certainty'. we at the instant are not speaking approximately Santa Clause here. it would be effective to you in case you studied extra. seem on the sky at night, do you ever ask your self the place you slot in? attempt to think of outdoors the 'container'. with any luck your detrimental experience with Santa, did no longer wreck your Spirit to think of.

Answer 6

You can't.

If you're speaking of God -- the reason why I've devoted my life to him is found in Hebrews 11: 1

1" Faith is the ASSURED expectation of things hoped for, the EVIDENT DEMONSTRATION OF REALITIES though not beheld."

I have found that by studying the bible you will see in day to day life "demonstrations" of a supreme being that prove that the many promises in the bible will come true -- and that many already have. The ones that HAVE come true are the "..evident demonstrations of realities.." And these have assured me that the "...realities ....not beheld" or promises that haven't come true yet , will.
There are so many events and signs recorded in the bible that we can see happening today.
My faith is not blind. God has assured me that he is real.

Answer 7

It's because people who lack knowledge devote their lives to faith. Unfortunately, the ones who's lives are completely run by faith teach innocent children to do the same. It's a vicious cycle.

Answer 8

because, by faith, I believe it (or He--God) exists, then it's easy to devote my life to him. Some evidence is His character shown through those who are selfless, other-centered, sacrificial...God is reveal through nature, people, events...
It is easier to devote my life to something/someone than to just devote my life to myself--too many negative feeling come from doing only that.
In my humble opinion....

Answer 9

Well, you have to have faith to believe. It's pretty simple really. Either you believe or you don't believe. someone can devote their lives to not believing just as well. It's up to you.
No one can prove that something exists and no one can prove that something doesn't exist.

Answer 10

"Faith is evidence of things not seen."

Yikes. That is a silly, scary statement. I can't believe that millions of people devote themselves to nothingness.

Devote yourself to reality, your health, your kids, your spouse, your profession. Look to today and tomorrow.

People, there ain't no forever. Enjoy this life while you have it.