Before I start, I'm not an antichrist or believer, I just don't know whats waiting for me when I hit the end of my road so I choose not to believe or disbelieve anything.
But the question from me is: Is religion just false hope for people who have nothing else in their life to enjoy?
I don't pray to a god, I don't feel the need to be forgiven by anyone other then the person I've upset, and I have a pretty normal life with family and friends that I love. In short, I have no reason to have hope in a god. So to that end, do other people have hope and faith in gods because the rest of their life lacks fulfilment?
As I see it, a god (none in particular) offer enlightenment and fulfilment through worship. Is it not our own our own selves who are responsible for our happiness? To rely on others to give us what we need is weak willed and pitiful, and I think we should work to create our own happiness, not expect it given on a plate.
What do you lot think? Am I just a cynic?
2007-05-11 01:59:47 · 25 answers · asked by Steven N 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Some good answers, and some who let their religion cloud a reasoned answer. This isn't a dig at any religious people, stop making it one!
2007-05-11 03:11:50 · update #1
Er, if I believed in Satan then by proxy, I'd believe in God wouldn't I, since he is one of gods fallen angels is he not!?
I assure you I am no satanist!
2007-05-11 03:13:13 · update #2
No its actually an interesting question. For some people, yes I do think its a false hope. I think they want a magic button to fix all thier problems. Religion shouldn't be like that. Faith is more then wanting someone or something to fix all your problems.
For me, faith doesn't give me false hope. I don't really expect anything from it. Its just something I believe and something that brings me peace. Its a daily thank you to the Gods for the world around me. I don't think they make me anything, they just sort give me the strength sometimes and give a little cheer. I don't find hope, I find a peace to it. So I guess it can be both ways, depending on who you are, and if you have found a faith that works for you yet.
2007-05-11 02:05:58 · answer #1 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not a cynic, a seeker. I can only tell you that I was once quite like you, I thought I was ok and getting through life fine, until the day I actually felt the presence of God, which is a feeling of total love and peace like nothing you get from anything else. It changed my life in the space of about 5 minutes. After that I studied the Bible and other faiths but nothing ever took away the truth that Jesus is alive and is right there.
God doesn't automatically make your life 'happy' or easy, in fact the Bible warns us that we will face troubles in this world. Christianity is not an easy faith to follow at all, no easy let-ups. But it's the truth, and that's all I know.
2007-05-11 02:08:53 · answer #2 · answered by good tree 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Religion in general is about God (or gods). It is nothing about hope in the first place. It is something about modesty. It is about realising that you are not the most powerful beeing in this world. The worst thing for man (or angel as a matter of fact) is to think that he can do anything without having to pay someday. Yehova or Allah or Brahma or whoever is not some old man with a white beard that is willing to give you gifts. It is a higher force. Belive it or not. You are not a cynic. Just a fooll. Wise up.
2007-05-11 02:21:43 · answer #3 · answered by Doru D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It takes strength to be a Christian. Don't think that you're so strong that you don't need God. Strength says, I'll do what's right, not what the culture says. Strength says I'll take a stand despite the fact that it's unpopular. Fitting in and not bothering anybody is a symptom of fear. Not that you should bother people, but if you're doing anything worthwhile, someone is going to naysay. Someone is going to tell you that you're going to fail. Let me ask you this: what do you care if a hope is false, if you still have hope? If having hope is the goal, what difference does it make what source it comes from? Clearly, you're confused, and you're contradicting yourself. You think that it's intellectual to neither believe nor disbelieve anything. Then you turn around and start talking about what you believe and don't believe! Well, you're fooling yourself. You don't believe in God. That's an absolute. You believe you are the source of your happiness. That's an absolute. And you will receive the reward that comes with your beliefs.
2007-05-11 02:16:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
What we all need is a real relationship with Jesus Christ. Why don't you ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He will if you are sincere. The world will fall apart without Christ and you can see that happening already. Look at the schools? Children are killing teachers and other children and there is such fear in the classrooms because God is not a factor anymore. There is lawlessness in the land like no other times in our nation's history because God has been shoved away and picked apart by so many. Why would you think that the world is a great place? Look around you and you'll see that it isn't. What you see in government now is people pleasing themselves because they don't care about anyone else. They don't care what the people want and desire. If this health care goes through that's just one more proof of that. As far as fearing God. Well, you do need to fear Him for without Him we will be in total darkness. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
2016-05-20 04:00:27 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, religion is a false hope.
Having a relationship with Jesus Christ is not a religion.
It is being born again. The old man in you dies, and God gives you a new spirit.
You are not a bad person for what(or the lack of) you believe,
but Jesus is truly a loving God, and I hope you give yourself a chance to know him some day.
God Bless You.
2007-05-11 02:17:56 · answer #6 · answered by Brilliant 1forHIM 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You ask is it just a false hope, just a false hope?
It may be a false hope, but to the people who believe it, it is a very important part of their life, it is their perceived reason for living, that is a very important hope.
Don't knock it we all have some false hopes, and believes, we all live our life's according to our hopes and believes, and our happiness depends upon them to some extent.
Also not all religious people are happy, many are glad to suffer for their Lord. Believing is not a means of getting happy, people cannot help believing something. This includes you and me.
To those of us who are happy, it can seem like we have made ourselves happy, but in reality, we were just lucky to have the right attitude.
Looking down on people less fortunate than yourself, as you clearly do, might make you feel Superior, but when people see that in you, they see you as inferior.
Accept we are all different.
2007-05-11 02:17:01 · answer #7 · answered by Sprinkle 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is religion a false hope? Absolutely not.
Even if people could completly take care of themselves during their lives, which I don't believe, faith in God would still be important, because once we die there is nothing more we can do for ourselves and we are totally at the mercy of God. While we live 20, 40, 60, 80, or 100 years on Earth, we live for eternity once we die here. It is the faith in God that we have on Earth and how live out that faith that determines our state for eternity.
I know that sometimes it is hard to believe that God is truly there - horrible times (such as disasters, illness, and death) and good times (because we feel as though we earned things by our own merit). However, HE IS!!! First, He is keeping us in existence through the simple act of loving us. Second, He supports us in the good times and consoles us in the rough times. Without God, the good times would not be as good and the bad times would be much, much worse.
My life certainly does not lack fulfillment. I love my job (teacher), I love my family, and I have many great friends. Having God as the center of my relationships and activities makes all of them better. I can say this, because God was not always the center of my life, and my life got better when He was.
You're not cynical for questioning. That questioning is what is important. It means that your not dead, and that God is still working in you!
God Bless!
2007-05-11 03:30:55 · answer #8 · answered by Chris C 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It all depends on your mindset. Some people don't see it as a false hope.
I've said the same thing about football players what you just said in here. How they Thank God after making a touchdown catch, it wasn't God that made you catch that ball. It was your skills, your hard work and practice and your natural genetics that got you into the endzone, but then some believe that it was God's plan to put him there and have him make the catch.
That's the thing about religion, it's all about personal viewpoint.
2007-05-11 02:03:32 · answer #9 · answered by Southpaw 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
When you say that to rely on others to give us what we need is weak willed and pitiful applies to children or those who are handicapped? they must rely on others.
God is our heavenly Father and we rely on Him as well. I I have a lot in my life that I enjoy and lacking enjoyment is not the reason I gave my life to God.
I felt I was missing something in my life and I believe that was God. He is our Creator and He deserves my praise and worship which has only improved my life as a whole.
I also do not believe in God just to get to Heaven, although I believe in heaven and do wish to spend eternity there.
You may not feel the need to be forgiven, but myself do. I have done things to hurt myself and God helps me to forgive myself.
2007-05-11 02:09:23 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋