I have some friends that are REALLY religious, theyve told me sometimes that I need to accept god and all that stuff, but when I talk about that seriously with any of them, they say the same arguments and the same stuff, like their brain is clogged, what makes a smart person accept something without reasoning it?
2006-11-06 06:28:49 · 13 answers · asked by mazakadou 1 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
That's because faith and science are not even remotely related. Faith is taken on... well, FAITH. Science is the use of logic and principles in pursuit of truth. So when you start asking questions of reason such as, "Why?" "How?" and "What happens if...?" faith tends to fall apart.
You might also do well to ask them questions that you know the answer to concerning their faith. I was at a ralley once (I poked in out of curriousity) concerning the removal of a monument at a public park. This monument had engraved on it the Ten Commandments, hence the protest. I questioned several protestors on an individual basis to see if they could tell me what the Ten Commandments were--not necessarilly in order, mind you... just what they were, 1-10. Nobody out of the ten people (Seemed fitting--ten people, Ten Commandments!) I asked could tell me. Since they're only the rules their God demands that they live by, I had to laugh and move on.
People need something to believe in. Often times, it doesn't matter how illogical it is--it's something to cling to. The alternative is the painful reality: "I don't know." The truth is that they fear death, yet realize that there's no avoiding it. To feel better, they turn to religion. The more people they convert, the more they feel their path is right--the pretentious man in the glorified bathrobe told them so. That's also why they can't tolerate other faiths very well: To admit that another faith could be right is to admit that yours could be wrong. The self-imposed lie slips. It slips even further when they face sickness--rather than prey to their all-powerful imaginary friend, they turn to doctors first. Even the late POPE did this. It falls apart when there's a death: They mourn when their beliefs dictate they should party and celebrate the life of the one they lost. That's because when you lie to yourself, you always know you're doing it. The lie's going to slip once in a while.
I know, I know: There will be readers who will "thumbs down" my post, because they believe converting people is saving their souls, and it's what God wants. The pretentious man in the glorified bathrobe said so on Sunday! But let me ask them this: If God really is a God of Love, a forgiving God... then what's all this "you're going to Hell" attitude if you don't convert to a given religion? Doesn't sound like love to me.
Blind faith is illogical. That's why it never stands up to a reasonable question.
2006-11-06 06:58:55 · answer #1 · answered by writersblock73 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think that the problem is when people like your friends don't accept other opinions about religion. I hate that, you should formulate your own opinions and not what people have been telling you for years.
I came from a very religious family but when I got older I started to question what I have been taught by experiencing dialog with other people from other religions and studying science.
When people think that their way is the one and only and that there is no alternatives is ridiculous!
2006-11-06 07:20:40 · answer #2 · answered by Keif 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK...this may sound a little harsh...i grew up with both of my parents very devoted pastors. I went to church 3 days a week and bible studys on Fri nites...Through my experience half of the "religious" population actually LIVE the life of the religion that they believe in. The other half only go to Church/Mass...whatever just to save FACE.... True believers have no problem talking about it and if really know it can usually back it up with some type of literature or something.
2006-11-06 06:39:52 · answer #3 · answered by turtle girl 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have many deeply religious friends who are also extremely intelligent. In fact, most of my good friends are evangelical Christians.
I am an agnostic, but that has never gotten in the way of our friendship.
I believe that there are several reasons for that. For one thing, I never question their right to believe whatever they want. To me, religion is based on faith, not reason. So, it is virtually impossible to argue a religious point with someone whose basic tenet is unflinching and all encompassing faith in a god.
It's not about being smart or stupid. It's about having faith.
Some have it and worship it. Others don't.
My best advice to you is "let it be."
2006-11-06 06:45:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes I have. It is very common.
I have said many times: Just because a string of words has a period at the end does NOT make it a true statement.
People do turn their thinking parts off in order to 'believe' without question.
I don't know why people are so willing to self lobotomize in this way.
It must be the desire to think they 'belong' to something really big and important.
2006-11-06 06:36:41 · answer #5 · answered by mysticathiest 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A really smart member of my family is seriously considering that there is something to being an atheist. He is quite convincing, and while initially horrified, I realise that the God of the bible is a very cruel being indeed. I also realised that I didn't even WANT to consider that there is no God, as we all want desperately to belive in Something or Somebody, but maybe there is Nobody ..... :(
2006-11-06 07:12:10 · answer #6 · answered by Juliette 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've found that it doesn't matter so much whether people are smart when it comes to religion. Emotional and psychological issues often conspire to render an otherwise smart person irrational when it comes to religion.
2006-11-06 06:40:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No . But who wants such a judgmental friend ? Maybe they're thinking the same thing about YOU . Do yourself & them a favor and move on down the road if you aren't happy .
2006-11-06 09:38:19 · answer #8 · answered by missmayzie 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
rationally, religeon IS stupid and arbitrary- it appeals to emotions by way of symbols that are so old, that the adherents are just plain spooked by them. that's why BELIEF and not CRITICISM is stressed in religeon. so naturally, debates to sell religeon will always end in "you just have to believe." IMHO, all religeon is a myopic human construct to make sense of the inherently meaningless questions: "who/what am I and why am I here?"
2006-11-06 06:38:22 · answer #9 · answered by saturndescends 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think anybody that believes there is only one "true " religion and that only theirs will get you to heaven are all stupid...
2006-11-06 06:38:27 · answer #10 · answered by Evangeless 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋