Should I believe there is God?

Question

There are so many Gods to choose from. Different countries in the world have different religions with their own Gods, sub-Gods, prophets etc etc. Each one has its own history dating centruries with monks/priests trying to explain that they are real. Whom to believe? If I cannot decide why should I believe in the one I choose, am I an aethist? It is just that I am not able to find best religion or God. I hope consumer reports could recommend some.

Answer 1

FSM

Answer 2

I'm not trying to push my own beliefs on you, but since you brought up that there are so many different religions and Gods, why does it make sense that only one is right? Think about it. It's absurd to believe that there is one single religion out there that is correct. That is one of the many reasons I chose to be atheist. I'm not saying that you shouldn't believe in God or practice a religion; it can be healthy for the mind. I'm just trying to tell you that you do not have to settle. Practice your own faith if you feel that all the other religions aren't suitable. Have a good day.

Answer 3

IN the end its all about you and your understanding of the world around you this is why people throughout the ages have pondered the very same thing which is, how am i, and why am i.IT is the basic thought of any sentient being there is no wrong answer you may realize if you look around that most people choose a religion that suits there lifestyle best as for others they never actually made a choice as it was just put into they're heads as they were raised NEVER QUESTION.
AND then there are people like you who probably have the best mind set You most understand that you do not have to choose but only understand(understand what well that is for you to decide) I personally look at religion like this
I do not believe the bible .Que`ran or any ancient book should be looked at at face value in the end these books were written by man and man is flawed for instance take David and Goliath out and replace it with Alice in wonderland would you really notice a difference But the basic principles of these books are just which is mans understanding of the world around him And personally i believe and my beliefs can be proven are we are all parts of the universe and as parts of the universe we are trying to figure out what we are so therefore we are the universe trying to figure itself out

Answer 4

e lived as spirit children of a Heavenly Father. He prepared this earth with specific conditions to help us grow and develop. Some of those conditions are competing ideas (or gods) and people making both good and bad decisions. This allows us through experience to develop an understanding of the principles of happiness instead of just believing what some powerful being might tell us.

Answer 5

The simple answer is "yes".

This is an excerpt from an interesting page I came across as I was searching for the Dostoevsky quote that appears below.

http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2007/03/23/the-challenge-of-atheism/

"That the world would be better off if everyone were an atheist is to me, a silly thought. We have too much evidence to the contrary. Atheist states have been the most efficient killing machines in all of history. Dostoevsky is quoted as saying, “If there is no God, everything is permitted.” It is questionable that he ever wrote it in that succinct fashion, but it certainly reflects a number of statements that occur in his writings. And it is true."

"All things are permitted" means that there is essentially no right and wrong, no good or evil. You have absolutely no way of discerning any correct way of behavior, no way of saying the holocaust was wrong, that Hitler or Pol Pot was a bad man, that it's not right to cheat, that a war was for good or for evil. The dark side of man, the utterly selfish side, would then prevail - and then God help us all.

And we all in our heart of hearts know, despite our tendency to rebel and be "self-sufficient", that there must be something higher than ourselves. French physicist and philosopher Blaise Pascal spoke of people's need for Jesus when he said, "There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man, which only God can fill through his Son Jesus Christ."

Note also that there is no "best" religion, only a "true" one or a "false" one. If everything is true, then nothing is true.

Here's a good starter book. Not a Christian book, but just a layman's philosophy book.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Think-About-God-20th-Century/dp/0020160224

Answer 6

Prior to birth we lived as spirit children of a Heavenly Father. He prepared this earth with specific conditions to help us grow and develop. Some of those conditions are competing ideas (or gods) and people making both good and bad decisions. This allows us through experience to develop an understanding of the principles of happiness instead of just believing what some powerful being might tell us.

Answer 7

If you believe in God but don't have a religion (and want one), you're a quaker, maybe a unitarian, maybe you're nothing you're just you....if you are not sure there even is a God you are an agnostic.

You are wise to not trust men who say they have all of the answers.

Answer 8

Believers in God don't believe in thousands of other gods. Atheists just happen to believe in one less god than Christians do. Think about it.

Answer 9

There's no reason to believe any of them. If you do think that there is a God but you don't find religion appealing and largely false - then perhaps you are a Deist.

Answer 10

Well I say you should seriously look into it because of plain logic.

If there is a God and a heaven and hell then an atheist is screwed.

If there isn't a God and a heaven and hell then an atheist is still screwed as they are always despressed people.

The risks are too high. If there is a hell and an atheist dies then they go to hell forever and this is very very serious.

Logically and intelligently thinking, one is better off to believe and be wrong then one is to not believe and be wrong.

I choose to believe as the risks of not believing are way too high.

That my friend is common sense and intelligence. To not believe is foolish and high risk.

Answer 11

Ha! Consumer Reports.


Well, if you are looking for an answer to this question, I'd suggest deciding for yourself.
If you listen to some of the people who will answer this, you are going to have a horrible mess to deal with.

Personally, I don't see the point in believing in something that is invisible, doesn't talk to me, doesn't seem to have an effect on anything tangible and only seems to come out in the thoughts and ideas of people I wouldn't trust to mow my lawn.
But that's just me.