Why do people believe in God?

Question

The former generations created a nonexistent entity that we call god. It is abstract and unknowable. They needed to explain the universe through such an entity of mystery by means of which they can herd thousands of people. And it worked for them. It works for us now. AND it will work for another 1000 years to come. Man needs herdsmen. But man resists the idea of being herded by his own species. Therefore, the herdsmen thought it better to create a superior herdsman whom we call God or Lord or whatever it is...

Answer 1

People believe in God because....
1. It feels good to believe in God
2. People are afraid of death
3. Their parents told them to.
4. It has been in their memory and history
5. It brings a sense of pride
6. It keeps them sane(no god, no afterlife, OH NO!!!)
7. Religion has worked in old society so it propogated
8. It is an excuse for domination
9. It brings peolple together(we are a social species)
10. People are chickens
11. People can't accept reality
12. Those big beautiful churches are inspiring
13. People think that they have perfect logic, so even though it is tainted when they hear the God arguments they believe
14. It is a way to conform
15. Feel a part of a group
16. They don't know that they are really athiests
17. There are some really cool people that are religous, so why can't I be?
18. It brings them an extra friend.

Answer 2

They refuse to come to grips with the reality that after we die we are gone forever..dust in the wind..like turning off a light switch...The idea of a almighty god and heaven gives them a warm fuzzy feeling inside as apposed to the harsh reality of permanent nap time. I don't know why this bothers people so much...you're not going to know your dead!!..lol

I just don't see why god would give us free will then punish us for using are free will not to believe he exists. Religion was created to control the behavior of people and it worked..its worked for years and like stated above it will continue to work..what makes it work is nobody ever comes back to say yeah its there I was drinking mohito's with Elvis and Frank Sinatra..its all based on blind faith and people would rather live a lie then except reality...

Answer 3

Hello there,
What you believe is an enabler to reinforce who you are. How can you assert that there is nothing more superior than yourself, besides the purple beast named Barney? (JK) Being serious, it is not good to assertain that we as beings posessing intellectual reasoning, are just a combination og spontaneous combustible materials that merged to create a chemical reaction, and in turn out comes this very complex creature? Think again, as I am unable to do something simple like wash my baby jeans seperate from the colors, still I am able thru faith and belief in the perfect word of God, so see that he does exist, and that he plan for salvation, being the Lord Jesus Christ, is the light for those who believe.
Be objective: Did you create yourself? Are human able to even maitain life outside what is essential for our existence? (rain heat etc) Are you able to delineate between whats evil and good? I believe in GOD! I am holding on to the hope of Salvation thru CHRIST. I dont care what color he is, he is my Lord, and I seek to serve him.
People believe in self mutilation, what God do they believe? You too have a god that you believe in, even if it is yourself.

Answer 4

It is extremely difficult for me to understand why someone who is obviously as intelligent as you are cannot believe in a supreme being. Look at your surroundings, the earth, Consider the mechanics of your own body, how intricate and complex it is, Think of the vast amounts of foods and supplements provided for our benefit. How can you possibly believe that all these things came about haphazardly. To me, that is an obvious indication that a supreme being exists, Call him God, Allah, Buddha or whatever. And he has proven in other ways that he does in fact exist. When I think of all the things I have prayed about that God has delivered on, that simply cannot be a coincidence. Why do I believe in God? Because he is very real. He cares for me, protects me, loves me and wants me to enjoy this beautiful place he created for us. And i believe that one day I will be able to see my creator, (face to face) and thank him for all the wonderful things he has done for me, including sacrificing his own son so that I might live. Man might take away everything I have, even my life, but no one will ever take away my belief in God. And I pray that one day, your eyes will be opened, and you will be able to see for yourself.

Answer 5

The simplest answer is: Because their parents did.

Practically all religions began with contemplation of mortality. We all know we're going to die, but we have no means of knowing what (if anything) happens after that. Hence religion, which usually promises some such reward as "immortality" in one form or another. But when religion becomes organized, hierarchies develop in which those at the top exploit these hopes and fears in the "laity," usually for mere financial gain and political power. Also, the original, primal spiritual Truths become formalized and vulgarized, so that we wind up with people who seriously consider it a point of religion to believe in ridiculous physical theories of the universe like "Young Earth."

God "Himself" has been a victim of a similar process. The abstract idea of a "Supreme Being" is difficult to refute. But religion editorializes on this idea and makes it ridiculous. "God" is noble and lofty until we envision Him sending Abraham up the mountain to offer his own son as a blood sacrifice, or, for that matter, God Himself sending His own Son to earth to be offered back up as a blood sacrifice. Our "Supreme Being" is sullied by association with these savage mythologies.

Answer 6

An interesting thesis if true, but that's not how all of us who believe in a higher power see deity.

Religion may fit your description better than God. Religion herds, spirituality leads. There's quite a difference.

Answer 7

Do you believe in building?

When you see a building how do you know that there was a builder? If you were not there to see it being built, didn't see the workers, the materials, or even the plans. How then do you know that there was a builder?

Simple logic but it works. The building itself is evidence or the builder. The same simple logic works with creation. I call it the duh factor, here is how it works.

Building duh builder.

Creation duh Creator.

I didn't have to be there when the world was formed to know that creation screams out that there is a creator.

Here is something for you to ponder.


Are you a good person? What a question, most of us believe that we are good people because we can look around and find someone that is far worse than we are. We can always point to the things that we think make us a good person.

But how good are we really? Dare we take this test and look at ourselves and see if we really are good? Hmmm.

If you are willing try this and see just how good a person you are.

The Good Person Test.

How will you do? Pass or fail?


Have you ever told a lie?
Doesn't matter how big or small, just a lie.
What does that make you? Before answering think about this, if I told you a lie what would you call me? A liar?

Have you ever stolen anything? Cost doesn't matter, a piece of gum, failed to give back an ink pen that you borrowed, anything.
What does that make you?

Jesus said, "You know the saying of old, you shall not commit adultery but I say that if look at someone to lust after them you have committed adultery in your heart.
Have you ever lusted?

Jesus said that hate is equal to murder.
Have you ever hated anyone?

See one day we all are going to stand before a Holy God on Judgment Day and he is going to judge us based on His Holy Law, the Ten Commandments. These are just 4 of them and how did you do? Guilty? I have broken all of these and more, what about you? How well will you do on Judgment Day?

If we break just one point of God's Law we are guilty of breaking all the law and Gods Wrath abides upon us all. Based on God's Law we are all guilty and all are deserving of punishment. But there is an out for us.

Jesus paid the price for each one of us, took on himself God's Wrath so we wouldn't have to face it on our own. Jesus was beaten, battered, bleed and died so we wouldn't have to face God's Wrath. He rose again so that we would life in his presence. Our crimes, His payment.

The real question is where will you stand on Judgment Day. Pay yourself or have it paid for you. Think about it.

Answer 8

Umm nicely i have self assurance in the darkish God and Goddess, they dont truly care if I make mistakes....see you later as I dont reason damage to nature, which i'd not in any respect do because i'm vegetarian and that i respect the Earth =)

Answer 9

First of all its not a question...and I believe in a higher power so what that makes me dumb? I'm not trying to be rude but it kind of hurts my feelings when people try to make me look bad because I believe in God. Yes it worked then, yes it works now, and yes it will work in 1000 years because its real...he's real...and one day he will come back for us. If you don't believe thats fine, but don't put me down because I do. Focuse on the good things in your life not the bad.

Answer 10

Could be.

Or maybe its just a matter of shifting the blame.
"Its all God's will..."

Or maybe, there really is an all powerful entity
that is interested in every event in the Universe.

Who knows?

Militant agnostic: I don't know, and neither do you!