there is so many self acclaimed christians and when i ask why..they say "cause the bible tells me so" or thats what they say in church" or "everyone else is doing it" why does most people run with a flock of people driven by peer pressure? cant any one give me an answer that i havent heard before? its always the same...
2006-08-23 15:47:38 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A bit lengthy but something I want to share:
Unlike many other people, I was most confused while I was heavily active in Church groups. So many people were telling me so many things. I also became aware of the horrible crimes that have been committed by the church in the past, and contemplated that the church at that time had many supporters just like me who were told what was right and why it was right. I found my church's messages occasionaly hateful. Most of all, I found that the Bible is full of contradictions, with God often being potrayed completely differently in different chapters. I started reading books by Thomas Paine (The Age of Reason) and similar classical liberal thinkers (CLASSICAL- as in Thomas Jefferson, John Locke, Adam Smith, etc.), and I began to develope a strong sense of ethics that I found to be very different from the practices of the church and organized religion. I finally decided that if God is real, the only way to truly study what he says is to study that which he has made- that is, to study nature, the earth, its biology, the universe, and beyond. I soon found that religion is against all these things, and generally tries to opress science and logic, I believe, to keep people from discovering that they are all at one with God and that they don't need a church to reach salvation. It was a very slow transition, but finally I let go of religion. I still study many religions, and almost all of them (including LeVeyen Satanism) have many good points, but most of them I feel are an enemy of logic and only exsist to give power to a few leaders. The faith, security, and wholeness I have now is uncannily similar to that which I was told I should recieve from Christ. I never did truly fill that emptiness; I only played along because everyone else claimed to. As I continued to delve deeper into my religion, it only got worse, untill I became a self-suficient being, always looking to science, logic, and ethics (derived from science and logic). Now I know the truth, or at least know when I don't know the truth. I am a person who is trully at peace. I assure this is certain and definite peace, and for me atleast, the idea that peace and happiness only come from the Christian God has been proven wrong.
This is only my oppinion, which I felt compeled to give to you as your question seems similar to the questions that once gave me alot of grief. Sorry for the length.
2006-08-23 16:26:50 · answer #1 · answered by nick g 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats actually a valid question. One to which they devote entire courses in college . Group Process would be one of those. The social psychology study of groups. The group may not be driven by peer pressure - but there are some benefits to imersing oneself in a group. It seems like alot of religious groups succumb to "group think" which is where they isolate themselfs so much from any one of with different opinions. (remember the bay of pigs?) So people flock together for safety - and a feeling like they have control and that they are right. Basic psychology says "everyone want's to be right".
2006-08-23 15:56:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Answering your questions with the truth we find in the Bible is reasonable. We find the Bible to be an authoritative source. The truths we find there are as legitimate to us as any other source which we consider to be legitimate. In other words, the Bible is our reference. We go to the Bible to find the truth, just as some go to a dictionary to find out how to spell a word, or the definition of a word.
If we are all giving you the same answers over and over--Good for us! We are being consistent. We are sticking to our beliefs. We are not being pulled apart by the forces of the worlds which we see and do not see, which is what the opposition would have happen.
The truth is always the same. It does not change. We do not support relativism. Nothing is relative. God is unchangeable, and so is His truth.
2006-08-23 15:55:59 · answer #3 · answered by hisnamesaves 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually--according to Jesus: Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Jesus teaches men how to overcome their own sins and be FREE. It is those who are still enslaved by their own passions and pleasures that are the peer pressure led flock--as you get older you will see that to stand up for what is right and do what is right--no matter what people say--is going against the crowd.
2006-08-23 16:39:52 · answer #4 · answered by Ken 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, personally I don't believe in religion. There is no proof that the Bible or Quran or whatever are really anything but fairy tales. I choose to believe in the theory of evolution as there is proof of that. So, to finally answer your question I don't agree that everyone believes crap for the reasons you mentioned. Maybe it's just religious people who are brainwashed, and can't think for themselves.
2006-08-23 15:59:07 · answer #5 · answered by Nicky 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe because when I was at my lowest point I realized that I had one constant and good thing in my life. That was God. I don't claim to understand everything. I go on faith that God will show me what I need to know when I need to know it. My questions will be answered in time. And when it is my turn God will use me to show someone one of His many truths. I believe because I know that He made me and loves me. I can feel it. God bless you friend.
2006-08-23 15:53:52 · answer #6 · answered by O 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hear what the bible says just like everyone else who reads it but...in the end everyone is just gonna do what they want to do. Whatever makes them feel good.
2006-08-23 15:51:11 · answer #7 · answered by one_beyond_beauty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same can be said about what is learned in schools. Especially history class.
2006-08-23 15:53:16 · answer #8 · answered by Answerer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok...i believe..cuz no one told me to do it....i believe because i know first hand...and i am not of any religious group...nor do i go to church on a regular basis...it is in my heart from what he has done for me and the love he has placed within me...i dont need to dress up or go to a building of any sort,to worship him or believe in him..i do it right here in my own home ..when i do ..and guess what...to know him like i do u have to understand ..and most ppl dont understand..it really does come from ur heart..and yes u ask for forgiveness,,,but u have to mean it..i could go on and on ..piece!!
2006-08-23 15:56:43 · answer #9 · answered by poppysgirl70 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's all in the programing. Many are just programed to receive and respond, without any calculation process involved.
2006-08-23 15:54:50 · answer #10 · answered by Helzabet 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋