...that people hold onto religion and refuse to accept facts of science that contradict that religion because they are afraid of the uncertainty it will bring to their lives? I mean, many people have devoted their entire lives to religion. It informs every thing they do. It's a culture in which they understand how to act and what responses they can expect. Do you think some are just afraid of living outside that comfort zone? They don't want to rock the boat? They've spent years trying to figure life out and don't want to have to start all over with a new way of thinking and framework for viewing the world, not to mention how scary it could be to realize that life might just end at death?
I think it would be very frightening to change the most basic beliefs you have about the world. Is that why people are so resistant to letting go of ridiculous religious ideas?
Religions were created to explain the unknown. Are some people just not able to live w/o that safety net?
2007-05-04 02:48:39 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Some things remain unknowable despite our advances. There still needs to be an explanation for basic questions like, "Why did that child have to die?" and "Why is that good person suffering?" As long as questions like that exist, I think religion will to some degree, too.
2007-05-04 03:30:27 · answer #1 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why do people continually say religion was created to explain the unknown? Science explains something, how it works for example, how planets are formed and because we might understand the process then that inadvertently means there is no God... God is a scientific God He never said anything otherwise. He created the world we just catching up to the processes of how, he made it in a shorter time than what science is estimating because he is God and he controls matter and everything. Why would you rather believe in nothing than believe in a loving God who cares for and wants grant you eternal life? Would you rather just live for a few years on this earth and then die and never more?
2007-05-04 02:54:48 · answer #2 · answered by Damian 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Everyone needs something to believe in. We all do it. For the most part, when people learn something, and then believe it, it puts them in a comfort zone. This is the reason people don't like change. When human beings believe something passionately (equality, war on Iraq) they defend it to the death. Same thing with religion. This subject causes every emotion human beings are allowed to feel to be touched upon. It shakes the foundation of their passion, their lives. It causes people to doubt their faith in what they believe in.
I have found many Atheists on Y!A asking why Christians, or religious followers of any faith, try to "beat" their beliefs over non-believer's heads. Well, I have the same question for y'all. Why do you (plural) think it's so important to change a believer's mind? What is wrong with having someone or something to believe in? If the issue is the "bashing", is that why the "bashing" is reciprocated? Would you all leave us alone if we left you all alone? Would that be enough to stop y'all from trying to tell "us" "we" have made a terrible mistake in believing?
I believe y'alls safety net is knowing that religious believers provide the safety net for everyone that does not believe.
2007-05-04 03:03:34 · answer #3 · answered by swilson_lewis 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I reject the entire premise of your question. The problem with this type of question is- you assume you can speak for the motives of other people. You assume you know why people are religious. I don't presume to know why someone is an atheist! I have some ideas based on the answers I have read on this forum, but I would be repeating what atheists have said about why they don't believe in God. I wouldn't presume to speak for them- I would repeat what they said when they spoke for themselves!!!!!
You know, atheists are quick to label Christians as "judgmental" but this is one of the most judgemental questions I have read. You just took an entire group of people and judged them as ignorant, narrow minded and afraid of change just because they DON'T AGREE WITH YOU!!!!! How arrogant and narrow minded is that!
As a scientist I don't think I am afraid of the "facts of science". I have spent many years studying evolution and know more about it than most people on this forum, but I don't believe it. I never have. I'm certainly not afraid of it! I still try to keep up with the research and have taught it in the classroom. It is an interesting theory, but I have rejected some of its basic assumptions. Once you reject those assumptions you interpret the data in a different way.
2007-05-04 03:08:42 · answer #4 · answered by anne p 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
But the scientists and atheists have the same problem of comfort zone with the spiritual (note, I did not say religion).
Mysticism and spirituality is about direct experience of the Divine...which many have had. Many religions were built around revelations from spiritual masters - not to explain the unknown.
~ Eric Putkonen
2007-05-04 02:56:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't know. As a religious person and a scientist, I don't know what it's like to be "people hold onto religion and refuse to accept facts of science" so I can't guess.
I think fear and social control are involved.
2007-05-04 03:02:27 · answer #6 · answered by LabGrrl 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
some people have a scientific point of view, and some a religious. for extremly religious it is hard to accept scientific facts because it goes aginst what they have been taught their whole lives. And some extreme science beleveivers dont beleive in god. so i guess it all depends on the person and how strong their beleifs are.
2007-05-04 03:01:40 · answer #7 · answered by whadadileo 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
WAIT A MINUTE! I've been a Christian for some time now and have yet to find said "comfort zone", and here I find out that even the atheists know about this thing!!! I feel like I'm getting shafted here!
2007-05-04 02:54:15 · answer #8 · answered by Soundtrack to a Nightmare 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you are not "religious" how can you tell me why I am?
No one has actual put your hands on proof of how things came to be, not even scientist. Sure a lot of things can be explained, but many can not be and will not be. Each of us choose what we want to believe.
Tell me how did the world start? From the very very beginning . . .where did what come from that started the whole evolution process. . .it just was, it had a creator, what?
2007-05-04 03:01:29 · answer #9 · answered by sparkles9 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
BAM! You hit the nail right square on the head...and some of the answers here are laughable....the one who said...."evolution is still just a theory"....people like that refuse to even try to understand what a scientific theory means...I've basically decided to write them off as willfully ignorant people...they have decided what they believe and no amount of education will change their minds....good riddance....
hehehe...looks like you struck a nerve with quite a few people here...
2007-05-04 03:18:53 · answer #10 · answered by Stormilutionist Chasealogist 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋