This is the problem I struggle with myself. I know that religion is hogwash and that every justification about any sort of logic is made up out of thin air, rather than accepting the truth, or seeing that the simplest answer is usually the correct one.
My question is, if people have surrounded themselves in this kind of nonsense, did they do so for a reason? I wonder if making them face reality is a good or bad thing. To those who cannot accept death, does this make their life more bleak every time you point out some fundamental flaw in their beliefs?
I would like to think that many people were raised in these sort of lies, and they are just perpetuating the old way of thinking of things without realizing that they are doing so. I hope that someone, some day, will take a step back and say, "Wow that really does not make sense." This is what happened to me. In my mind, correcting this one person could potentially have lasting effects, and is worth the effort.
2007-07-23 09:52:32 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Still I cannot help but wonder if those with a fair amount of rationality will take what you say to heart, and only half-belive, thereby making their lives worse in the grand scheme of things.
I know an inevitable amount of religious scripture citations, bashings, etc... will follow this but please try to think about what I am asking rather than disagreeing with me right off the bat.
No amount of scripture will negate logic or reality.
2007-07-23 09:55:04 · update #1
OK one guy threatens me with private e-mail sessions to prove me wrong. Why the secrecy? Truth is truth no matter how public or private.
To the zealot: people much smarter than YOU have determined that God does NOT exist.
To the 100 prophesy guy: wow, push your own agenda in your own question. But just to humor you, I predict that some day it will be moist on the Earth and the children of God will tremble in awe of the terrible and great fall!" This could literally mean MILLIONS of different things. This is how your own horoscope can never be wrong if you don't step back and examine it. Thanks for playing.
2007-07-23 10:39:38 · update #2
Compare belief in religion to the story of "The Emperor has no Clothes"
Some are probably uncomfortable because they know the emperor is actually naked, and they might be relieved to let go of the fantasy.
Others actually believe that the emperor has a robe on. They have closed off their mind to critical thinking all together. These people would have a really hard time letting go.
2007-07-23 10:03:35 · answer #1 · answered by Angel Maco-roni 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
:) Most kids would probably define Santa as someone who brings them presents at Christmas. So you see, saying santa doesn't exist is a blatent lie. Because someone DOES give them presents on Christmas day, it is their parents, but just a different name. They just hate a cute little story to go with it ^_^. I believe that if you want to try and show someone the truth, say it ONCE and with some proof. But after that, don't, unless they ask. Because if they didn't believe it then, what makes you think they will 100 times from then? People are STUBBORN when it comes to beliefs. Trying to budge someone from their beliefs when they aren't trying to question it is like trying to push back a semi with your bare hands :) it's not going to happen. Now if they ask (and you can tell they aren't just looking for the answer that conforms to their beliefs) THEN you explain :) And then you are a lot more likely to change their beliefs.
But there is really no harm in believing Santa Clause and the story that goes with him. Happiness is good, no matter what the source is.
2007-07-23 17:06:38 · answer #2 · answered by lufiabuu 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe and maybe not.
However, if those other kids started fighting each other over different stories of Santa and started imposing their beliefs on me, then I'd probably try to let them know it is fake.
If their belief in Santa started stressing them out wondering if they've been good enough, I probably would tell them. If they either became obsessed with the thought that they are bad kids just because their parents couldn't afford good gifts, or they became pompous and thought they were somehow closer to Santa just because their parents could afford rich gifts, I probably would tell them.
But if it was a benign personal belief that didn't really affect anybody else, I may or may not, depending on whether I thought the person would be happier without the nonsense. You can enjoy the beauty of the Santa myth without actually believing there is a guy in the sky checking whether you're good or not.
2007-07-23 16:54:44 · answer #3 · answered by nondescript 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm sure that people more brilliant than yourself have come to the conclusion that there IS a Creator.
And if there IS a creator and you are pulling believers away from Him (or trying to)... then if I were you, I'd worry about myself. Give the Creator the benefit of your doubts seeing that you CAN'T prove that He DOESN'T exist.
You have proof of nothing but are doing Satan's work just the same. If God, or a belief in God leads people to joy, peace, love and forgiveness, and you try to rob them of that, what good are you accomplishing? None that I can see. Stop trying to fool yourself into thinking that you're doing some kind of good deed.
2007-07-23 17:02:13 · answer #4 · answered by atomictulip 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's the same thing the Christians like to use when explaining about why they preach their religion. "If one of your friends was headed into the road, about to be hit by a car, wouldn't you save them?" It's the explanation as to why they pity us, why they tell us that they're trying to save us by spreading their religion - which I believe is also hogwash.
Relating telling your friend he's about to be hit by a car, and saving you from "damnation" are two different things. If you don't believe you're damned - what's the use in trying to tell someone?
Just let them be. While you believe one thing, they believe another (this goes for both Atheists and Christians). When I was little, I had a lot of fun believing in Santa.. might as well let them live thier life, believing what they want, right?
2007-07-23 16:58:19 · answer #5 · answered by Alley S. 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Although I find alot negative about organized religion as a concept, I think it is best to allow people to believe as they will. There is no need to convert others to your point of view, we are all on the same ride regardless on how we approach it. If they are happy with their practice, let them be. Do not harm their peace.
2007-07-23 16:59:02 · answer #6 · answered by bryanccfshr 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What harm is there in people believeing?
If God does not exist, then everyone will meet the same fate one day. That is, we will all die. There will be nothing to look forward to. Therefore, everything we do, everything we believe, will mean nothing. So, why does it matter then?
The way I see it, believing in God does give me hope for the future. If I'm wrong, then it doesn't matter. So, if you choose to not believe, that's your choice. For me, I choose to believe in hope.
2007-07-23 16:59:17 · answer #7 · answered by Jason P 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I understand and agree with your point, but it's a poor analogy. It's different for kids to believe in that which does not exist than it is for adults.
2007-07-23 17:44:17 · answer #8 · answered by answer faerie, V.T., A. M. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well it would be fun to see them cry, especially those that I didnt like, you know, the kids who dont deserve christmas presents anyway.
2007-07-23 23:06:40 · answer #9 · answered by janicekristy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I told my little girl that Santa was not real from the beginning
She does not believe me!
so it probably don't make any difference
2007-07-23 16:57:59 · answer #10 · answered by anonacoup 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋