Why do you people believe?

Question

This is my first question here at answers. I am an atheist always have and will be. I have always wanted to know why people believe in religion. I have been researching and have come up with some theories of my own, but I have always wanted to hear from real religious people why they believe (but have always been afraid to ask) in something that has absolutely no real proof, has caused millions of people to die, validates slavery, hate , segregation and oppression yet still promote and believe that this is good for the world. I know that religion has done some good things but in my opinion the cost of one life does not make up for it ,let alone millions.

Answer 1

This is in my own opinion...i kind believe in my own thing, not so much any certain religious I have just gathered info and made up my own opinion. It goes like this...most of the time ppl who are deep into religion believe in it as a self starter or motivator, its like when they are down and need something to lean on they believe in God to lean on and give them that strength. So to me God is really like a self confidence thing........i mean the numbers are staggering, look at most successful ppl who have great self confidence and they will more than likely say they believe in some kind of religion where as if you ask a "depressed" person they are typically atheists/non believers....God is that inner self telling them they can do it, they can achieve their goals if they put their minds to it. They are usually very spiritual ppl......

Thats just what I have seen....

Answer 2

You know what? I made this statement too, "I am an atheist always have and will be." Ok, not exactly, but anyway. I also guess that many of the believers had also made such statement too!

So, may be some researchers might like to do a survey to find out how many who made such a statement became a believer, and who many theist who made the reverse of such a statement became an atheist?

By the way, if something has real proof, we don't need to believe :) And by the way, have you proven that your parents are indeed your parents?

those tragedies were due to lack of love, hatred, false love, etc. and thus similar tragedies are still possible with or without believers.

Answer 3

Why do I believe?

My own personal relationship with God.

I found God for myself.

I had not been to church since I was 4 years old and my mother is no longer a believer.

I overheard a general discussion about God and going to church one day and asked my mother 3 questions.

Who is God?
What is church?
When is church held?

When Mom told me I said "Mom, we're going to church".

And I have been going ever since.

That was when I was 12.

Why do I continue to believe?

Again, my own personal relationship with God.

You can't see the emotion love but you can sure feel it, know it's there and that it is real.

That is what I feel from God every day and especially when I'm most in need and alone.

He's always guided me to do His will and too many miraculous things have happened for me to still be alive to ever doubt He exists.

He's that still small voice that tells you things you would not otherwise know about yourself and others, like when to slow down or an accident is about to occur or to not do something or go somewhere and you find out later that something really bad could have happened to you had you gone.

I've also been witness to the power prayer has to heal incurable diseases, injuries, etc. and the healings have been permanent.

Answer 4

I believe, because I need to know that someone, or something is greater than anyone or anything else on earth and that I am loved and protected always... I do not believe in everything the church says, I know that church is ruled by men and men make mistakes and lie etc... but I have grown up in the love and belief in God and I still do and I try to teach the same thing to my children. Religion is a guide to how you should live your life, but you must still use your intelligence to understand what you are told, not believe everything. That leads to fanaticism.

Answer 5

I don't believe in" Religion",I believe in having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Many people call themselves Christians but they don't live what they believe. I am sorry that you have never been told that Jesus Loves you, you probably have had a hard life. I wish there was some way I could help you to understand the depths of Gods love for you. All I know is that Jesus died for you and for me, for the sins of all mankind, so we could be with Him in heaven and truly know Him here on this earth. I do believe that if you asked the Lord if He is real, He will show himself to you in someway personal. I know more than anything else, that He is real, and He knows your name, and loves you deeper than any ones ever loved you. Give Him a chance what can it hurt right :)

Answer 6

Uhh, just so you're clear, atheism has also been the cause of millions of deaths. In fact, if you look over the last 100 years you'll find only about 1% of the 150+ million deaths due to wars caused by religion.

Atheists (I am technically an atheist) like you pretend religion is this great scourge, but it simply is not the case.

Also, you don't really understand religion. Religion is primarily about transforming the mind. What you describe are beliefs and mythologies that may help do this, but on their own they have nothing to do with what religion really is suppose to do.

Answer 7

Christianity is not a religion. It is a working relationship with God the Father. Religion is man-made, thus already broken and not worthy of believing in anyway. Religion was created because people did not want to obey all the rules that God puts forth in the Bible. They picked the rules they 'wanted' to follow and 'ignored' all the rest.

In Christianity, obeying is believing in God.

Have you read the Bible? Do you have chapter and verse to support your statements about slavery, hate, segregation, oppression, etc...?

Are you in love with the word 'always'? This word will get you into trouble because the only thing constant about 'always' is God's love.

You have just heard from a very Christian person!
God Bless You and Keep You. I pray that the Lord deliver you from your sins and bring you into the family of God.

Answer 8

The Son of Sam killer blamed his dog for all his killing. Yet I don't recall anyone railing against the Sam the dog.

So, why is it, when people do things-- awful horrible things-- in the name of Jesus, everyone rails against God?

The way to know a person is to seek them out and get to know them yourself.

I'm a high school teacher, and oftentimes, a student will try to manipulate me into doing something by telling me, "Mrs. X said it was ok, so it's ok." My reply is always, "Really? That's what Mrs. X said? Well, when I hear Mrs. X for myself, then I'll decide what we're going to do."

I'm not religious. I was an agnostic as a teen. I sought out God when I was 18. He proved his reality to me beyond the shadow of a doubt. I have an awesome relationship with the living God who is there.

Why why why all your questions? All I gotta say, is before you judge a person, read the book they wrote and get to know the person. Not all the people who name-drop, saying they know Him and are doing "his will."

Disclaimer at 1:35a.m. : am tired-- don't judge my teaching ability by my typos!! G'night!

Answer 9

Organized religion is man-made, thus, human error exists.

The proof is not in books. It is in direct experience, direct perception. You cannot research the existence of the Divine, you must experience it. When you desire something better than the mundane life on this plane more than anything else in life ... you will discover what many already have.

"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear."

Answer 10

I believe because I have seen God's love expressed in people I know---in the way they interact with others, support one another, and give of themselves. I also believe because I have seen how God has taken some difficult times in my life and helped to turn them around. I have seen the power of prayer heal people.

A famous quote that has always stuck with me "For the non-believer, there will never be sufficient proof. For those who believe, proof is not needed."