To believe in what can't be sensed or measured is a sign of mental illness, but in religion its OK? Why?

Question

If I said I believed in someone that no one else could see or detect, it would likely be called an hallucination or delusion. But when believing in the imperceptible in a religious context, it is seen as a good thing, a sign of strong faith. Why do the rules change? Isn't the point of logic to maintain a consistent method of thought across situations? Even with things like radio waves and electricity, which we can't see, we can measure and manipulate them, so they do exist, or else I couldn't run my computer. But god(s) and spirits cannot be percieved by the senses, measured or maniupulated, so why is belief in them so often seen as OK, even virtuous? I come from a religious family and have had many philosophical debates on this, and I still just don't get it.

Marvin the Paranoid Android

I do not deny that religion makes people feel better about thier lives and gives them something to believe in, but I don't think that acts as proof for the belief.

Juniperolocke1

I can go to my bathtub and see there are no sharks there. Where can I go to see if God is there?

Answer 1

(This is all my opinion)

I don't question stuff that brings positive things to the world. Belief in God bonds men, makes them help each other and pull them through difficult times. Yes, families or friends can do that too, but sometimes these people lack a frame of reference to help you in your particular situation. (for example: a young painter born amongst a family of doctors. They can't help him -- they have no frame of reference on how to make it as a painter. A cancer patient in a healthy family -- they try but can't exactly know how to help her cope with the pain.) Some are just without families to fall back on. The God philosophy pulls them together and brings them Hope. If noone cares, Jesus does -- that sort of thing. Often this pulls them together and helps them contribute positively to the society.

Ages ago, as a kid I wrote in someone's slam book -- God is our subconcious. A part of me still believes that when we are praying we are conciously awakening our subconcious. Even the science folks believe in the power of subconcious, don't they? All prayer is indirectly about two things: comforting the self and invoking the good in us. I think that's why it works. It's positive affirmation and self-hypnosis too if you want to perform an autopsy on faith and belief.

I believe in a higher power too. God and prayer have helped me a lot. You won't be the man to pull me away from God.

Yes, there's no proof of belief here. Just my thoughts on why I choose to believe in God. It helps me-- so I do it.

Answer 2

this is actually a good question. not the usual rant that i see on here when people talk about religion.

detect in what way. i don't know a whole lot of people that say they can see god(s). well really i don't know anyone that says they can see god.

i can't see oxygen, but i believe that it's there. and yes i know that there are scientific ways to prove that it exists, but i'm not a scientist. god(s) or spirits can be perceived by the senses. i've felt the presence of "things" that no one else in the room could feel. just because we haven't figured out a way to measure these things yet doesn't mean that we won't.

haven't you ever walked into a room, or a house, and felt welcomed or at home there? or walked into others and felt cold or uncomfortable. there is no reason for it other than that is the way you feel.

i think that our belief (or lack of) doesn't alter the existence of these things. i come from a religious family to. i don't agree with their version of things, but that's ok. they don't believe in mine either. i'm an eclectic pagan. they're christians.

i don't know if this was helpful, but i hope it was. and like someone else said it's my three a.m. logic.

blessed be

Answer 3

I'm stumped! LOL

The only thing I can think of is that belief in spiritual things and the spiritual realm has been around since the beginning of time. Whether it was the God of the Bible, Allah, or Zues, or any other god, people have always believed in a higher being.

It's documented (well, it's written/talked about among the people who believe it) and it's an acceptable belief based on documentation and tradition, while a random imaginary friend or enemy is not.

Answer 4

Yes we can manipulate things like radio waves using certain devices though these things are beyond our natural senses. The same with religion. You need something extra, a sixth sense called faith to be able to harness and tap into the amazing love and power of God.
God does exist or else I wouldn't be alive today.

Answer 5

Here's my 3am logic on this subject so if it doesn't make sense, I'm sorry.

Let's say you have an imaginary friend. Does anyone else see or hear from this person? If not, and you insist that this person is there, it is definitely an illogical assumption and you are probably in need of mental help.

BUT....
in the case of people who believe in God, it's a case that so many people sense His presence and hear his answers that stops it from being imaginary and into credibility.

Answer 6

its diffrent cause if u belived in something other then religen for ex a if u belived that there are strange unknow beings on anotter plantet it doest help u and it might give u some thing to talk about but it doesnt help u spritual, but when it comes to religen for ex being christian , u have hope and confort and faith when ur in pain or depressed and when ur happy u stil a have hope for good things to happy and confort knowing that ur not alone and u stil have faith. u can pray for somones heath or what ever. Religen helps a lot can u really image a world with out it . I didnt include any talk about spirits but i hope that I have helped u understand it as much as any one can.

Answer 7

The only reason a person cannot sense or measure belief is because they've never experienced it for themselves.

I can tell you that I had gallstones & they hurt so bad I thought I was in labor. If you've never had gallstones, you'd have no idea what the pain feels like.

Your lack of belief, due to lack of personal evidence, does not mean that I never develpoed gallstones, & certainly doesn't diminish the pain they caused me.

Answer 8

You don't see a difference b/w believing that there are sharks in the bathtub and sensing that there exists one who holds more power than we do?

Answer 9

,you think to much, yes you can feel the spirit in you when you believe it is a peace and comfort spirit why spend so much time wasting time fighting it, get a life that enriches peoples life not always fighting or condemning there beliefs you will not accomplish anything but cause yourself misery

Answer 10

it all starts with choice and sometimes trying to make sense of things..as a matter of fact its not that u believe in something u cannot see coz u are the image of what god looks like...you **** see him when your eyes are opened..but he is there within u all day..look into your hart a hear every beat it makes..thats god right there...