What is it that makes you believe ... or not?

Question

Is it the beginning of the universe?

The complexity of life?

The absense of physical proof?

Answer 1

I believed the bible until I really read it. I believed the LDS doctrine until I realized that the LDS church is more a culture of conformity than a search for truth. Now I wonder if there is a truth out there that humans can find.

Answer 2

I assume you mean about the existence of the Christian god. I don't believe for many reasons. The absence of proof is important: extradordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and without that evidence, its hard to see why one extraordinary claim should be believed, especially over other extraordinary claims (other religious claims). But that is not even the most important reason. The large degree of suffering in the world, especially suffering felt by animals who could not have sinned (since they lack free will) is probably the number one reason I find belief silly. There are countless other reasons too: the large number of other religions which also claim to be true and the inability of Christianity to explain why faith should be placed in Christianity and not any of the others; failed biblical prophecies; the Great Flood Story; the overwhelming proof for evolution which would indicate that the bible is not literally true; the certainty that the form of the bible today is not the original; etc, etc, etc. There are too many to get into. Those are just the first to come to mind.

I would like to add that the complexity of life is not a good reason to believe. If complexity is what you are trying to explain, appealing to even greater complexity does not solve the problem. If I am trying to explain the complexity of existence, appealing to an even more complex existence explains nothing. If comlplexity is the problem, the infinite complexity of God is probably the worst solution you can have because it poses an infinitely complex being to explain finitely complex problems.

Answer 3

I believe that there was a begining to the universe and that we will never know the truth. Anyone that claims to know is a liar.

I believe in the complexity of life and that no one will ever truly figure it out. Anyone that claims to have it figured out is the one with the most problems.

I believe in the absense of physical proof only for love.

Answer 4

What makes me believe is what I was raised to believe in, and factual information.

I believe the beginning of the universe because something must begin to be able to exist, though at some point I wonder if it'll begin and end as well.

The complexity of life is something I don't believe in. We make it complicated by saying things that we don't necessarily fully understand, yet we somehow make it acceptable.

The absence of physical proof I do not believe because claiming that something existed without physical proof is only like a hope to have a way of life, like with religion. Understanding is not proof, nor is it not proof. It is opinion, and therefore it cannot contribute to the absence of physical proof, which would make things simply theoretical.

Answer 5

I don't believe in the existence of a supernatural intelligent-designer God.

I think "the absence of physical proof" is too strongly worded. I think there is just "absence of any evidence." People often say things like "what do you mean there is no evidence? just look around you!". But everything we see can be explained more simply without the existence of intelligent designer. In fact, I think that anyone who invokes an intelligent designer is "hoist by their own petard" -- if to explain complexity you need to hypothesize even greater complexity, then where did God come from?

Finally, most people define God as the God of the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament). My opinion is that book is of the same genre as Greek Myth.

Answer 6

Yes the universe had a beginning. Computers are complex but there not Gods creation.(and there getting more complex) Evolution is just a theory but it makes more sense then God made a woman from a shoulder and then a snake came along. Physical proof is one thing i still dont understand how time relates to God. Maybe there is a God but if there is i think its absurder for mankind to claim to know his will. (ie Mullahs, Imans, Priests)

Me agnostic!

Answer 7

What I find the most fascinating about all the questions & answers in this category, is the overhwhelming NEED TO BELIEVE. None of you choices applys to me, since I have no "need" to ask questions that have NO ANSWERS. & why should they? Some of the answers here are so convoluted, they almost, (almost!) make me sad. "The Truth" states: "No where else in the universe are they [sic] such livable features as the earth." Hmmm. Assumption? Nonsense? Presumptuous? "Andy D": "...we are changing science theories, & laws every day, while the bible's word stays the same. Think about that." Well sir, I did, (briefly), & in NO way does this confirm a durned thing other than--in science, yes, we change theories! We grow, & learn. The bible is a BOOK, (often, mostly, misinterpreted at best), how can it change? & once upon a time, my children, the earth was flat...
"JellyBean" keeps getting bashed all over the place, as if her opinion is worthless, unless it agrees with someone else's. Good grief! The VERY BEST, most cogent answer was "student_o." NOT because of any subjective, carved in stone opinions of my own, but because--surprise surprise! He really made SENSE. (Not nonsense.) I will say it again--sigh--LINEAR THINKING, i.e., THERE WAS A BEGINNING & THERE WILL BE AN END is a quick trip to insanity. Stifling! I LOVE to look at the stars, (most of them are long dead but beautiful), yet I see no reason to follow with--THEN SOMEONE CREATED THEM! Perhaps the primary motivation for "faith" is a comfort, like being a small child & having a "daddy" who will try to make some sense out of things you don't understand. Also, the patriarchal religion that "punishes" or "rewards"--so be it. How small the universe is! How could one possibly consider that in their "belief" or lack of it. The complexity of life? In what way could that direct us? The absence of proof? There are many dimensions that can't be proved. SO WHAT? (Yawn.) I'm going to go have a pleasant read, before a pleasant sleep, because I don't "worry" at things the way so many people do. Great question, by the way. The answers were an incredible "study" of the human condition.

*** Before I turn this off, I want to mention yet again, something a Jesuit friend recently told me--(perhaps referring to "Watchman")-- "It says in the bible that a fool's voice is known by it's multitude of words." I'd want to add, that a "multitude" of words is not necessarily an indication of a fool, only if they are quotations & PREACHING.

******So here we are, 9 hours to answer, 83 answers--disparate as they may be. I "respect" whatever belief, or lack of belief that you have. I feel that my answer--true to research in this category confirms that PHILOSOPHY & RELIGION are galaxies apart. We can all express ad infinitum--our pros & cons. We have the right to do so! Yet. I attempt to introduce a PHILOSOPHICAL question, as to the ROOT of belief, i.e., the NEED (which I'd never deny or be critical of the fact that many have this need, & it's comforting to them) & I get 3 thumbs down. Frankly, I weary of this category--often mean spirited, but rarely "open minded." I also feel that this lack of "open mindedness" creates so much hostility, hatred & anger--which I had "thought" would not be in the teachings of ANY relgion. The search for "Insight"--in abstract, or logical progression of thought is lacking here. I AM NOT TRYING TO FORCE ANYTHING ON ANYONE. There can never be any harm in asking questions of "oneself" unless the bias is so strong, it will not be deterred. ENOUGH.

Answer 8

The complexity of life AND The absense of physical proof. makes my NOT believe.

more accurately, it's the complexity of the human mind that makes me not believe in god.

Answer 9

There are many things that make me believe in my religion. I mean scientists theory 'The Big Bang" How was that caused? There was nothing but then they say some chemical reaction. If there was nothing, then how was there a chemical reaction. They leave that blank. This is because there is no 'logic' in it. They do not want to use religion, since it supernatural'.But it is spiritually logical that the Lord created us. I mean, you know the first man theory, how was he/she created? If there weren't any people to reproduce, how was there the creation of the first man. And yes, it is a proven fact that humans are created from sperm, etc. (you know), but how miraculous is the reaction?? I mean, just from cells meeting the egg, and create us, with minds, feelings, souls, and a way of life. That just proves that there are miracles, and beliefs doesn't have to be scientifically logical to be correct. But I'm not saying science stuff aren't correct, but what I'm saying is that not everything you hear about science is true. I'm really talking about theories, of how world was created, how the world end up in this way, etc. Life's meaning cannot be explained by science, but by religion it can. Science does bring hope, but you may never know if its false. I mean, we are changing science theories, and laws everyday, while the Bible's word stays the same. Think about that.

Answer 10

Light. Walk outside and look at the sky. That's your physical proof. You didn't make it.

Also, after studying even the most basics of microbiology, the more I learned, the more I knew there was someone other than arrogant humans responsible for life, plants or animal. Turn off the damn tv sometimes.

and lastly, a general belief that souls continue on. and I'm not saying they do as ghosts or flashes of mistyness. They talk back sometimes, and you can feel them when you need you family and loved ones. Just tune up and listen closely.

Answer 11

What makes me believe is The bible, Creation-heavens and the earth, and ME. First no body can disprove the existence of God. I think God proven himself loud and clear with the creation of the human body. I mean the eye takes in light and bends it to make a upside picture which when it reflects back to the retina is a up right picture that you see. The little ear drum can distinguish between the little movement or vibrations of sound which how a baby can recognize his/her mother from dad. your breathing, heart beat, blinking,and even the digestion of your food doesn't need you to remind it to do so. You sleep and are dead to the world yet you wake up and find that you are still alive and your body didn't try to evolve for you to survive another day. i doubt early humans could have evolve because if they were waiting for all these things to come to pass you would't be here because you can't evolve if your dead!