Do believers really...?

Question

..believe in a supernatural being, or is that they believe in believing?

Think about it. If religious people really believed the things they claimed they believed, would they live their life's the way they do?

Answer 1

That's the difference in a professing believer and a true believer. I can point you to many who have truly believed and lived their lives that way.

The apostle Paul who was persecuted in every city he went to, was beaten 5 times with 39 lashes, was nearly stoned to death at least 3 times, was thrown in jail over and over, and eventually was martyred for his beliefs.

Polycarp, an early Christian martyr who would not deny Jesus to save his life.

William Tyndale who was burnt at the stake for translating the Bible into English and disagreeing with the Roman Catholic church.

Martin Luther who refused to renounce his writings which disagreed with the Roman Catholic church at the cost of persecution and said, "Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also, the body they may kill, God's truth abideth still."

Jim Elliot who died taking the gospel to natives in South America and wrote "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

John Piper who lives in the poorest neighborhood in Minneapolis although his books and ministry generates millions of dollars. All of his book profits go to support ministry efforts rather than his own pocket.

Answer 2

You make an excellent point; I've been considering this a lot lately. If we truly believed, we would live accordingly. We should obey Jesus' commands because we love him.

Here's another part. In "The Screwtape Letters" C. S. Lewis talks about how men are afraid to totally give up themselves and acknowledge the presence of God. If you've never read the book, it is about a correspondence between two demons on how to procure a man's soul for hell.

"In avoiding this situation--this real nakedness of the soul in prayer--you will be helped by the fact that the humans themselves do not desire it as much as they suppose. There's such a thing as getting more than they bargained for!" (19)

Lewis makes a great point. Most are afraid of completely denying himself for God's glory. It's man's fallen nature.

Answer 3

I really do believe, but some religious people do perhaps simply believe in believing.

But I'm not really "religious." I'm just trying to be like Christ, live my life the best I can, and have a relationship with God.

Answer 4

Most of the real believers believe only what their preacher tells them to believe.
Most of them do not even know the basics of their own religion. Over half of them can't even name one of the books of the Gospels, 10% of them think Joan of Arc was Noahs wife.
This is from Pew research polls in 2005 and by American Life
This means that they believe in believing.

Answer 5

They believe out of fear because their religion ( rules ) tell them that their salvation's depend on it. As long as they believe that Jesus is the Son of God ( ie. give the church all of their money) they get saved after they die. Ever lasting life.

Brilliant marketing. How do you compete with living forever. Religion has got the "money making/control people with fear thing" in the corner pocket. Give it up to religion everyone. Hats off the evil geniuses.

Answer 6

I can answer for myself only;
I believe in a supernatural, Supreme Being. God.
My question for you is;
How do you think I live my life and who are you to judge it?

Answer 7

Going to lump all believers into one category again? Okay everyone, that's another shot of ginger ale!

Answer 8

I believe in many different forms of supernatural beings such as angels, Satan and God.

Answer 9

No, they would not.