Why do people believe in their imaginary friend, god?

Question

A note: Coming to the realization that god is a fallacy was the most difficult thing that I have ever been able to accept. I was raised in a religious household, I attended private religious schools, and attended church constantly. Then in February 2004, things changed, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. Seeing her pray to no avail and passing away 5 months later helped me realize what I had questioned for years (but I followed because everyone did). Instead of finding god, I found the truth. The truth is to live life for the here and now, not for rewards later in another life.

I wanted to know because I think it is absurd and I am tired of bible thumping loosers 1) trying to "prove" to me there is a god. 2) praising god for everything good, but never thanking him for the bad even though to them it is "god's will." 3) telling me that they will pray for me.

If you want an imaginary friend, I really don't care, but stop trying to pawn "him" off on me!

Answer 1

Because their parents brainwashed them from birth to believe in all things you cant see

Answer 2

Some say we got here by chance. Who created that chance...God. The perfect balance of the universe didn't just happen. If you put all the parts of a 747 on a runway and a tornado passed by, would you have a complete 747 ready to fly when the tornado was over...of course not, not in a million trillion trys. the balance of life and the universe has uncountable combinations, the 747 has a few thousand.

Answer 3

It's like a crutch, everyone in some points of their life feel this loneliness/helplessness especially when they're going thru a rough patch. It makes u feel better to think that there's a loving and powerful god who will take care of u.

I once believed in god and had 'experienced' god spiritually. but i can tell u it's all in the mind. The human mind can do wonders and all it takes is just some brainwashing, when u are emotionally vulnerable, u will feel what u want to feel.

Answer 4

Why don't you believe in him? Due to a fall in 1994 while deer hunting I feel from a tree & crushed my spine, By all Medical means, I should not be able to walk, In 1992 I rolled my truck over on the interstate going 65 MPH when the transmission locked up & with both windows down & no sealt belt on & went down an enbankment & roll several times over & when my truck came to rest it was on it's side facing the other way & I was standing upright right through the window. I should have been thrown from that truck but I wasn't. No this did not bring me to God. Because I became a Christian in 1970, But I was grateful that God spared my life.

Answer 5

There are quite a few reasons:

*God offers answers to questions that connot yet be explained using science. When people wonder something, it is human nature to want an ANSWER to their questions. However, without adequate advancement and technology, we are not always able to find such information. They become frustrated, and hasty in their search for answers. Before long, they are considering ideas that have little relevance, and manipulating coincidental facts in order to CREATE an answer. In this case, they created religion.

*God culminates fear. By telling someone, "You must believe in God, or you will remain, for eternity, in Hell," is quite affective, it seems. They begin to be of the impression that: There *might* be a God. And if there is, he or she will go to Hell if they do not believe in him. They quickly frighten themselves into believing, simply because of the "what if" perspective they're considering.

*Only a few people needed to believe in God for everyone to do so. If you raise your child to believe that God exists, he or she will most likely do the same with their children, who will then continue the cycle indefinitely. As the family tree expands, so does the course of belief--the idea becomes extremely widespread, and before you know it, it's a phenomenon of faith and belief.

*At this time, there seems to be nothing better, in some peoples' minds. They use god as an excuse for their own lack of knowledge.

*God gives people belief, in a way. If you're told, "If you pray to God, he will make your prayers come true," as a child, and you believe it, then: as an adult, when something happens and it seems there is no chance for a miracle, you think, "If I pray, it can still be okay." People think that coincidences are actually "works of God."

*I also feel that part of it is a fear for society's expectations. When nearly everyone around you believes in this imaginary being called God, you may become afraid to deny it, for fear of ridicule, or simply to belong.

*Similarly, some may be deluded in the way that: If you asked 100 people who the United States president is, and 80 of them reply "George Bush," then there is an eighty-percent common answer. Therefore, one would generally presume that it is, in fact, George Bush. They carry this principle over to religion; if so many people believe in God, then it must be true, right? (Wrong, in my opinion.)

Answer 6

it somewhat is an extremely lively conditioning agent for society. faith tells us to have self belief in what we don't comprehend... yet Society tells us that if we act in a manner that's no longer acknowledged as "commonplace" by ability of our friends that we are going to be ostrasized. for this reason a seperation in our minds between the two techniques. perchance all Gods all began by using fact the "imaginary chum" syndrome, yet by using fact our perception variations the worldwide we are residing in (and this has been at the instant shown in physics), can we actually doubt their existence Now?

Answer 7

If you mean the Judeo-Christian 'God', I'd guess because such a belief satisfies all the questions they ever had, gives them comfort, and punishes people and things they don't like. It also promises them an afterlife. Fear of death is enormously motivational ;-)

Some are just scared of going somewhere someone told them was 'hell'.

My guess is that it's some surrogate 'daddy' thing. The big daddy will always look after them, make them feel guilty and tell them off, promise them everything if they are good, and punish their errant siblings, which assists feelings of personal well-being and validation.

It's a childish thing, but very powerful. It's also a delusional excuse for bad behaviour...(the devil is tempting me, we are born into sin etc etc) and bigotry etc.

Answer 8

Maybe if I write a HUGE book about my two imaginary friends and claim it to be REALLY old and sent down from some god, i will create the Bob/Fred religion and thier peoples will be Bob-Fredians.

Answer 9

Just your opinion that God is imaginary. Keep denying him and he won't reveal the great love he has. Trying to explain how and why I believe in God is not worth my time trying to explain because no matter what I would say it is just something you have to experience yourself to understand!

Answer 10

I'm still trying to figure out why anyone cares what another person believes. I can see being upset when they try to pass laws and take over the gov't.... but honestly, most of the people who believe aren't trying to do that... so why does anyone care?

Answer 11

As a crutch used by ancient people as a means to explain the world around them without using science that continues today due to ignorance.