I've seen theists posting questions to atheists, asking how they can have any hope/happiness, etc. when they don't believe in god. I always found that question to be rather ignorant.
But just now, I saw an atheist stating that she doesn't believe in anything - fate, karma, psychic ability, etc. And suddenly, I got a glimpse of what those christians were thinking.
I found it rather sad that someone doesn't believe in ANYTHING magical or mystical. It just sounded so flat and final. Remember what it felt like to believe in Santa? Well, some of those things can bring the same sort of feeling.
But then I paused to reflect. DOES that person truly have a flat, meaningless existence? Is their life without purpose, without joy? Hell no! It may be without THAT type of joy, but there is so much to life that can uplift us. Nature, music, family and friends, etc.
What do YOU think? Is belief in something - anything - outside of our five senses necessary for a happy life?
2006-08-30 10:31:40 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Most people want to believe in something because they don't understand the reality of their true destiny. Religions help to ease this quest. As science progresses, fewer and fewer people resort to religion to explain what they don't know. Imagine yourself in a time 500 years ago. Religion ruled and controlled everything. Now religion is more of an accessory to one's personality that they may wear to work one day and leave it at home the next day.
Others recognize this, don't want to pretend there is some alternate reality of understanding, and live their lives. They may live their lives happily or sadly. It really has nothing to do with beliefs.
From personal experience, I have found that the people who really push their religions on others are the ones that understand reality the least.
As a scientist myself, and raised Catholic, I have found that my Catholicism does not conflict harshly with my demand for evidence in this world of hype, unreliable sources, and here-say.
There are parts of Catholicism that I tend not to believe; however, the concepts, the unity, and the goodness involved in the religion far exceed my doubts in some of the wacky bible stories carried along in it for thousands of years.
2006-08-31 08:48:16 · answer #1 · answered by x 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great question. I personally believe that we need something outside of our five senses. Think about why you are here in the first place. What is the meaning of your life? Is it just to be happy while you're here, or is there more to it? I'm one of those theists who believes that you need God to have hope. I'm not talking about hope for a fun day tomorrow, or for a sunny day when you want to golf. I mean a real hope...knowing that no matter what happens, even if things arent' working out for me right now, I have an ETERNAL hope. My family and friends bring me joy for now...temporarily, but my focus is on an eternal joy.
2006-08-30 10:40:04 · answer #2 · answered by Mark 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Belive in something outside the five senses, be it God or otherwise, and having a happy life do not necessarily go together. I am quite secure in my lifelong faith in God, although I also firmly believe that organized religion is inherently evil. I've also got quite a strong tendency toward "the Sight" (i.e. bizarro psychic hotline-style mental weirdness) in my family, which may also explain our low-level tendancy toward benevolent insanity. So I have no problem believing in anything outside the five regular senses. However, as a sufferer of a lifelong depressive disorder, I have no concept of "happiness" let alone a happy life. So I've go faith and the mystical, majik 8-ball spiritual connection, but I don't have happiness. So I've gotta go with no on this one. Besides, there isn't necessarily anything wrong with belief in yourself and your own five senses. I may just be a bit boring, but not unhappy. Peace! (peas...)
2006-08-31 07:17:30 · answer #3 · answered by badkitty1969 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mainly, there's a difference between Happiness and Joy.
Happiness comes from outside experiences - kids going to school in the morning, self-cleaning litter boxes, raises at work, SpongeBob marathons, etc.
Joy, on the other hand, comes from the inside & does not depend on external experiences - getting saved, knowing God is in control of your life, worshipping Him in a refreshed spirit, fulfilling a particular purpose for Him, etc.
Of course, I'm a Christian, so my Joy may be a bit different from others.
2006-08-30 10:40:02 · answer #4 · answered by azar_and_bath 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
How do you know what you don't know? This is the basic issue regarding fulfillment of our purpose. I believe we were created to fellowship with our Creator. Nearly everybody is trying to fill that purpose with something else because we sense an innate need to worship. Maybe we don't recognize what the need is (trying drugs, adventure, wealth, music, fame, etc.,) or maybe we just don't want to submit ourselves to our understanding of God's will (make their own religion or find one that fits their will, etc.,) but non-believers are sooooo vehemently against submission to the Designer's design that they seek out opportunities to attack believers' faith in the good will of our Creator..
The wealthiest, the famous, the successful are no happier for their achievements than are those who never achieve their dreams. They actually suicide more often per capita than less fortunate folks. I think the greatest happiness we can achieve is to busy about working toward good goals, and to know that you don't have to worry about the rejection of your Creator because you are aligned with His will.
http://judgeright.blogspot.com
2006-08-30 10:52:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most people in a situation like that simply believe that things can be better, they can make a difference, the world is simply a beautiful place. They just believe in things tied to here and now or things that actually could be, but maybe aren't right now. You don't have to believe in something magical to believe in something great and certainly not to have hope.
2006-08-30 10:35:21 · answer #6 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's part of a persons internal self. For some people, religion gives them what they need to feel complete. When that thinking is attacked they will defend their belief because it's personal. Those person's who state they are atheist and attack religion confuse me though. If they don't believe...why argue the existence of Deity?
2006-08-30 10:41:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
True, believing in things of this world might bring a momentary happiness to this life...but wouldn't anyone rather want a happy eternity to go along with that? That is my opinion. Prayers =)
2006-08-30 10:35:25 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it's impossible. Your mind is not availible to my senses, but I believe you have one. I believe the earth revolves around the sun, even though my senses tell me otherwise.
As far as happiness goes, my experience tells me nothing external is absolutely necessary, but many of the things you mention help me express my joy, which adds to it.
2006-08-30 10:45:15 · answer #9 · answered by neil s 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cold sunny weather makes me happy. baby laughter, country songs, and meditation make me happy. Not everyone has the same taste.
What were talking about is ETERNAL life. Now, if you are happy, wouldn't you want it to go longer as time is going so fast for you.
2006-08-30 10:38:16 · answer #10 · answered by Clubadv 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋