How come Religion is taken as the Standard?

Question

Shouldn't stories as fanciful as these be forced to prove themselves? And, how come a non-believer is more apt to have to explain his/her position and a Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, et al. are not?

There is just too much on the line as far as Big Religion is concerned. How come they don't have to explain their views beyond pointing at a Bible and saying, "See, says so right here." ?

Answer 1

It requires faith, can you disprove it?

Answer 2

You ask some good questions. But I think you're kind of missing the point. Religions are based on faith. That means "belief without seeing." The scripture in question is all that a believer needs.

As for non-believers, I think it's precisely because they say they must see something to believe it that they need to answer that question. It's kind of a "put up or shut up" type of thing. You demand proof from the believers, so you'd best have some proof for your non-belief.

As for belief being the norm...it's only been in the last 200 years or so that, in the Western world anyway, religion has not had some major say in the government. Religion was the norm because it was a policymaker, and anybody who was openly non-religious wound up being burned at the stake or something equally gruesome. And while that's not true anymore, the faith has been passed on, and many more people are religious than aren't.

Answer 3

Here is my humble opinion.First of all you obviously live in a social circle that is dominated by religious people hence you perceive religion as the standard.Do not be intimidated by standards they are usually determined by the opinion of the majority(a few centuries ago the standard was that the world was flat and whoever thought differently got burned at the stake).
Secondly if you are more apt to have to explain yourself this means that the good religious people have intimidated you(but who can blame you-now that you know about the stakes)
Thirdly the Bible -argument is the ultimate confession of religions weakness when it comes to reasoning and logic.They can not explain anything that is why they do everything to avoid arguments(at least arguments based on logic and reason)Let me put it this way: a child can not know why it should not talk to strangers,it only knows that his father prohibited him from talking to strangers.The child does not have the ability to grasp what stands behind and motivates this prohibition,it is self sufficient and self explanatory to it.The Bible works the same magical trick for the religious people.They have chosen-unlike the little kid-not to question it and to accept it as a standard and standards only work if they are applied to everybody.That is why religious people make us feel like we have to justify ourselves-they stand on the impenetrable ground of belief and faith(or self-delusion if you prefer)

Answer 4

Maybe it is easier for them to qoute on what they think will support their views. Oftentimes it is dangerous to make your own point without a basis specially when you are talking about something beyond the ordinary. Non-believers for that matter have their knowledge taken from authors of references most of the time or from people they respect to have the authority to learn from and some are knowledgeable enough to discuss matters from their researches and experiences. Most often than not the experience of the believers draw more attentions to be doubted rather than being believed because his facts could only be proven by his own faith in the experience. The non-believers will always have to be supported by tangible facts or probable theory.

Answer 5

they do, both sides want proof that the other side is right before they convert over. however neither side can prove which is right which then leads to the ultimate stalemate of, "you cant prove god DOES exist, vs. you cant prove god DOES NOT exist" but i think they want more from athiests cause athiests dont make up fairy tales to explain the beginning times (cmon we all know samson couldnt kill 1000 philistines with a donkey's jaw bone.... i know you all have exaggerated once or twice in your life)

Answer 6

Historical it has been taken as the standard of any society.

It is only in these modern times that ""Anything Goes"" and ""Situation Ethics"" have even been entertained, let alone accepted.

The break down of our society, as we know it, is proof the futility of trying to do it""on our own"".

Answer 7

The majority rules, I suppose. Atheists make up less than 2% of the world population .. why should they be the standard?

Answer 8

If you want proof, read "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis. He does a better job than I could ever do of proving God.

Answer 9

SImple, Religion came first. Timing is everything.

Answer 10

Good question. It's a horrible thing.