What causes people to cling to the obvious falsehoods of theism?

Question

I used to think it was a desire to have explanations for the things that science has not yet resolved, or which have complicated theories behind them.

Then I thought it might be the fear of death.

Now I've been presented with the argument that it's a refussal to grow up and take responsibility for themselves.

I think it's probably a mix of all of these depending on the individual, with some believing because it's all they've ever known and they're not capable of expanding their minds beyond what they're taught.

What do you think?

Answer 1

Generally, it is some sort of mixture of never questioning what one's parents told them, and a fear of death.

Answer 2

I've always taken what I learned as a child as literal and real. And not a made up story. You have three major religions in the world; Judaism, Islam, and Christianity that are birthed in the Middle East. And like it or not the conflict in the middle east is a constant reminder that those people are over there are real people and no myth or some figment of someone's imagination. They have been there thousands of years and it doesn't look like they will leave there any time soon.

The people and places mentioned in the Bible are real and took place in that part of the world some 2,000 years ago and long before that time. Almost 4,000 years of history there.

But the Bible is a book of faith, just as the Torah and the Koran. It is not a scientific book. Also man has the ability to have faith, just as he has the ability to have logic, and sound reasoning. These are intrinsic characteristics of man.

I have faith because I have a personal loving and holy relationship with God through Jesus Christ his Son.

Answer 3

Science as in omni-science already has everything resolved.

Theism attributes through symbols the essential nature of the universe is that there is something that we don't quite understand that is responsible for everything.

This is true but it doesn't get you anywhere. True science understands that it is thought which initiates all action and all materialization. Simple put as Descartes would say "I think therefore I am." Extend this concept to what you are thinking about and then focus your thought using feeling as the guiding measure of your intention.

Bottom line though is we all use symbols to communicate and those that speak of deity always fall short of what we are trying to describe. People do the best the can letting go of ignorance when the light shines through today or perhaps another day.

Answer 4

What obvious falsehoods of theism?

I can go on for about 60 pages on the conflicts, falsehoods and mistakes of science starting with PLUTO, PLANET OR NOT.

YOu do realize we have RE-EDUCATE about 4 BILLION people who were taught WRONG in school.

Neaderthal, existed or didn't exist with Sapiens.

I can show you many different scentific time lines.

YOu see, there are the Sunni Scientists and the Shi ite scientists and they argue over the TIME LINE of the CALIPH!

And where did all the MASS of the Universe come from!

You know there are dozens of not hundreds of scientists out there who will take on Richard Dawkins, not about theology or Atheism but OVER HIS VIEWS OF HIS OWN PROFESSION.

They will TAKE ON HIS SCIENCE because THEY HOLD conflicting views

Well, Genius, which STRING THEORY IS IT

The one with Imaginary Tachyons that violate Einstein's Rules about NOTHING traveling faster than light!

Was Darwin right when he said WHALES came from BEARS swimming in the waters.

It is NOT possible CHIMPS came from SAPIENS!

Why does it HAVE to be the other way!

Why is it after 40 years and trillions of dollars sending Probes to Mars they can't conclusive say there IS or IS NOT life NOW OR EVER yet they can look at a star 30 lights years away and declare a LIFE POSSIBLE PLANET!

Why does science insist on using VOODO and resorting to ASTROLOGY to make postulations!

Why can't they just say WE THINK WE FOUND SOMETHING BY OR NEAR THAT STAR, we don't exactly know what it is, but it exhibits something other stars don't.

BECAUSE that is all they REALLY KNOW

EVERYTHING ELSE is POSTURING, PREDICTING, EGOTISTICAL BS that has NO BASIS IN REAL FACT because we have NEVER PROVED a life planet around another star based on WAVE UNDULATIONS

WE SEE SOMETHING and BANG we MAKE A BIG ISSUE OF WHAT WE SEE

Like the guy who Thought he saw CANALS on MARS

Why can't SCIENCE just published the FACTS, why do they have to EMBELLISH!

What, they have to compete with Ray Bradbury and Robert Heinline to get noticed! They have to WRAP IT IN FANCY PAPER like a gift. Tie it up with a RIBBON.

THEY SEE SOMETHING. CASE CLOSED.

If we find NOTHING there at some future date those SCIENTISTS will be PURGED from the HISTORY BOOKS and MAN WILL HAVE TO RE-EDUCATE for 4 centiures of FANTASY ABOUT SOME LIFE PLANET ASSOCIATED WITH UNDULATIONS.

WHY does SCIENCE generate MYTHS and FANTASY

A LIFE PLANET 30 light years away is pure FANTASY

It is WISHFUL THINKING

ALL we know is that star exhibits characteristics not seen in others stars. What is means, is OPEN to debate.

Answer 5

I think that is none of the above.


Here's the thing: For me...

I was raised by atheist's...They were drug addicts and drunks, They bought and sold drygs with Columbians...They beat each other up and alot more horrible things..

I always felt...That I could be "smarter" then that...I could rise above them...and I did.

I found God, Not because I was looking, Not because of Fear of death, Not because I wasn't capable of understanding my professor...It was because I was stuck in a situation that opened my eyes...

I realized that when that guy saved my life...due to a "voice" in his head (I was under a glass clock looking at watches and he called me over to him, at that exact second I walked over a guy walked in the store and the wind knocked it down, right where I was standing...It was a Huge Clock and would have killed me)

When he told me that "a voice in his head" told him to call me over...I then started to actually expand my mind.

I started to look beyond the newspaper or the book that a guy wrote to make a couple bucks...I stopped thinking "The only people who can prove anything..were scientist's"

Scientist too me are Arrogant..The assume that because "They" can't find "God" Right now...That no one ever will do it..

Is science going to be done in a 100 years?

Is it possible that science will find things the we would have NEVER of thought of in 100 years??

The Answer too that...Is YES...

so whats the logical answer? Does only "Science Today" Matter?

Answer 6

I don't think they are "Obvious falsehoods"

So no matter how condescending you are to me, I still have my faith.

I have studied it from many points of view over 20 years and find no obvious falsehoods.

As far a growing up, I married at 20, moved into an apartment then, started a business, provide for my employees and family, observe all local, state, and federal laws, and became Catholic at over 40 years of age.

Do I sound immature to you?

Answer 7

I agree it is a mix, but I would also add to the mix that these people are often ruled more by their emotions rather than their intellect. The concept of god is purely emotionally based, it has no logic or intellect behind it at all.

Answer 8

The obvious falsehoods of God are not in the Word. The prophesies of God's people in God's Holy Word are so meticulously accurate that only the blindness created by unbelievers cannot see it.

God tells me why you can't see what I see, but you struggle with knowing why I can't be as you.

Answer 9

For me why I still believe in Jesus. He has done so much in my life. He continually increases my faith. I am not talking just miracles but just in everyday life, things that He speaks to my heart about comes to pass. And most of the time I did not understand what He meant til something happened to show me, and then some things were quite clear. Faith growing inside me because God teaches us faith. Look at the Story in Genesis concerning Abraham, he laughed at the thought of having a child in his and his wife old age. But when it came to pass He believed and believed enough to take his son up on a hill to sacrifice him knowing God would provide or raise his son back to life. Faith changing the believers heart is the thought you are truly missing my friend.

Answer 10

People who believe in God do so by choice, based on Faith. There is no other why.

The Ol' Hippie Jesus Freak
Grace, Peace and Love in Christ
Peg

Answer 11

Brain Damage.