Why is that those self-sufficient, active, healthy and happy people I know do not believe in God?

Question

I have some family and friends who are like that, and they're so "wholesome", healthy, intelligent, friendly, energetic, positive -- you name it -- and at peace with themselves. They told me that they believe only in themselves, and they're very accomplished people. It seems to me that they're blessed and loved by God because they're doing so well in everything and have a wonderful life. And yet they have no religious inclination at all. How do you explain it?

Possible explanations:

A. There is really no God, and only the "losers" (pardon me, you know I don't mean that -- and I'm one of them anyway ^_^ ) and people who need something would want to believe in God.

B. They're actually blessed and favored by God without knowing even though they don't believe in God. But isn't that strange? If they don't believe in God, how is it possible that they seem to be filled with God-like qualities (e.g. the "wholesome-ness")?

C. ???

What do you think?

(Please, no rude comments!)

I appreciate the many interesting, kind, thoughtful, and sincere answers!

This extra comment is for people who actually believe in the Christian God:

The better I know these people, the more I think to myself: "Well, if there really IS a God, these people sure don't seem to need Him -- at least not at the present moment!" And any means of evangelization would definitely be totally lost on them.

Perhaps, just perhaps, it's still too early in these people's lives (even though some of them may be in their 60's and some of them are in their 20's)? I have heard that "God chooses his moment" and also that "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17)

I guess it's possible that these people are "healthy" in that regard or, at least, STILL healthy... :)

And no, I've never tried to "convert" them or even talked to them about religion at all, and I do not plan to. I have only been observing lovingly and feeling intrigued and fascinated ;)

Answer 1

C. Some people are genuinely decent, humane, kind, caring and wholesome ON THEIR OWN. I know that, for some, it's a strange concept of which to conceive, but I'll tell ya... it's not as black and white as you've theorized. Grace, dignity, compassion, honor, generosity... from what I understand, at least from the Christian point of view, those are things we have to CHOOSE. Supposedly the Christian god can reveal the wisdom in and necessity of these characteristics, but only if we ask to be shown... only if we're a willing participant.

If your deity secretly "blesses" people (namely non-believers who never ASK for this "blessing) with qualities that motivate them to think, reason and behave in a way contrary to the dictates of their "preblessed" or "unblessed" consience, then this "blessing" interferes with "free will". If your diety has implanted a mechanism by which appropriate mindset is coerced, then forget coming to your own conclusions... this deity has already reformated the hardware.

Humanity isn't a privilege your deity bestows upon individuals. It's isn't a blessing, it's a perception. It's a way of being attained without the aid of any deity.

Answer 2

My thoughts? Different strokes for different folks. While a lot of Christians believe that you can't be successful or happy without God, it's not true. Many people are, as you've evidently seen. These positive, wholesome qualities are not ONLY to be found in Christians. They can be found in anyone across the planet. You do not need to be Christian to obtain them. I also find it difficult to believe that their success and positive lives are a gift from your God.

Most likely, the two have absolutely nothing to do with each other. You can be happy and positive and wholesome WITH God, or without.

This doesn't necessarily negate the idea that God doesn't exist, though I, personally don't believe in the Christian God. But I do believe that while religion can play a significant part in your life, and certainly doesn't mean you're a loser ;-), it also doesn't mean that only those who believe will ever find happiness and live a good life.

I suppose how you view this depends on whether you believe that anything good that happens to a person is a sign that God is working in your life, or whether it just means that... good things just happen to people, with or without God's direct influence. :)

Answer 3

The answer is obvious (to me at least):

C. Because it's possible to be wholesome, healthy, intelligent, friendly, energetic, at peace, self sufficient, active and healthy without believing in God.

Those qualities are not "God-like" qualities, they are merely some of the positive qualities that humans have. Why don't you ask yourself why there are plenty of self-professed Godly Christians who have some very unappealing qualities? It's the same question - with the same answer: because there are good people and bad people and these people each have good qualities and bad qualities and every shade of gray and combination in between.

Answer 4

As far as their values, those don't necessarily come from the Bible, as many would expect. It is possible to be a good person and have no religious background. As far as how well their lives are going, maybe they are just good people who don't stir up any bad Karma for themselves and as a result of that they have been blessed. I am sure that God understands that information is a wierd thing and some people don't trust the information they get from others. The belief in God is one of these things. Everythign that involves religion has to be interpeted by some person and passed along. Some people don't trust the info they get. My personal belief is that as long as you treat everyone the way you would want to be treated (which is the most important thing above all) you will go to heaven. Whether or not you believe in God is another thing entirely, and is shaped by what you were taught as a child and the experiences you have had in your life. God is all knowing, so I am sure he knows people's reasons for not believing in him.

Answer 5

Well, just as you choose to believe in God - some people do not and that is their right. Some believe in a higher power - some believe in nothing - in the power of themselves. It is great that you believe and that that works for you - but this is not something that can be overgeneralized by two possibilities - religion is a very personal and private matter and just as these people respect your beliefs, I feel that you should respect theirs since that is what works for them. I mean you clearly care for and respect these people so why question what their beliefs are or be bothered if they aren't the same as your beliefs - life thrives on diversity - being different and having different races, cultures, religions, and beliefs is what makes us all special, unique and an individual. So, if I were you, instead of questioning this and having to come up with some answer to explain their beliefs to yourself, I would just respect them - you don't need to understand why they believe in what they do. You may believe that the things in their life are blessings of God and that God helps make them the person that they are - but does it really matter? You love these people so just do that - love them. Loving people is accepting them - all of them, without need for explanation or questioning. It is unconditional love - so just try to do that. I am sure they don't ask you how it is that you can believe in God so why wonder about them -personal preference, beliefs, - it is our right to differ and that is what makes life beautiful and if their beliefs work for them and make them the people that they are - the people that you care about so much - then why wonder? Just accept them as they do you - God would approve of that.

Answer 6

look Niya! There are so many people and there are so many religions in the world. There are so many people of the other religions or of having not any religion, but you see and observe that they seems to be more blessed than you.
Look, God doesn,t take side of any religion, He is GOD, GOD of whole the universe. Equal to everybody and every thing present in the universe.
Religion guides us to lead a good life. According to the rule which God has shown or told through MOSES.
There will be very few people who are completely obeying the only TEN commandments of God. We, the christians, how many of us feel ourself fit for all the ten commands of God. i think there will not be any one.
Still God loves us. Cares for us . Bless us.

Likewise, the people you have seen, disobey only first command, but as you have mentioned their qualities, They are indirectly obeying God's will.

Try to find out and observe people and count how many people obey how many commands, May be they are doing more things then us according to the ten commands.

As many as you fullfill those commands as much as you will be blessed. Even though you are of the other religion or of not any religion.

They are may be doing according to the will of God not knowing that they are infact going on God's way.

Answer 7

First of all, it would be a good idea if you get a broader sampling. I know people on all sides of that -- happy, healthy agnostics, sick and miserable ones, same with religious folks -- so the religion factor isn't everything. What I've observed is that miserable doesn't coincide with at peace with oneself, and it's easier to be happy if you're healthy or vice versa.

IMO, God, however you picture Her/Him, doesn't take sides in the matter. The rain -- and everything else -- fall on the just and unjust equally.

Answer 8

God allows the rain to fall on the just and the unjust, I had more material wealth and cultural status before I became a Christian, I gave it up knowing that the real reward awaits me in the Land to come. We are strangers and aliens here and we shouldn't be too shocked when all the goodness of this life isn't dropped at our feet. We were never promised a happy wonderful life here on Earth, in fact the opposite is true, in this life we will have trouble, but we have to remain faithful till the end. I think it is a testimony to the reality of your salvation that life is not all peaches and cream. I also believe those who were rejected by the world were accepted by God.

Answer 9

It always bugs me that people say "They are successful because of God." Couldn't just be that they are hard workers? They made good decision, heck, maybe they even got lucky a few times. But they did most of the work. And if something happens that is bad, the is assumed that they did something to anger God. Stuff happens, people get screwed over, it isn't always God or the Devil, people make their own choices and should be held accountable for them. I am sick of hearing "The devil made me/him/her do it" That isn't a valid argument, that is an argument made some one with no feelings.

Answer 10

The deeds that men (and women) do are the measure of the type of person they are. If you believe what is written in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, then you could only reasonably believe that B is the correct answer.