how do people believe in religion?

Question

i'm sorry for my vagueness on my other post "People rely on religion because they are weak and irresponsible.?" it was not meant to be a rant nor was it meant to be offensive (although i would understand how it would be). maybe i am insecure, but i just want to see why people get into religion .

i respect the morals that religion has taught people, but believing that doing all this will take you to a better place is just not realistic to me. people work to meet standards of the religion, but in the end, either they fail or succeed they will only have completed what is expected of them.
i am confused about how people can be religious with all the scientific knowledge out there. science is tangible and undeniable. i believe that science makes people strive for more that what we know, thus helping mankind.

Answer 1

Consider the Jesus freaks, evangelicals and other deeply religious folks, all have reverted to that primitive limbic systems of our brains, the place where our deepest emotions reside. The 'born-again' Christian phenomena has a scientific basis. When people are in deep despair, near death, nearly starved, or other highly emotional states, the 'religious experience' is triggered. Hormones, dopamine receptors and other chemical reactions take place...all good for the body. They help to fight diseases, etc. It was a survival mechanism our bodies have devloped since the days of our primitive ancestors.

Those that know the truth however, ie Objective Reality, are not allowing themselves the body's defensive mechanizm that has evolved over time. The closest they (we) can come is to believe in the 'power of positive thinking' which is the closest to religion (use of the limbic system of our brains) that we atheists can get.

I've chosen Objective Reality, even knowing that a delusional worldview could be beneficial to my health and body....go figure.

Answer 2

Hello, I think your in the middle of a change of heart. I am a Christian, although I am not perfect. Nor is any other common human. I do not belive that living a good life alone will get you to heaven, but I believe that you must believe that Jesus Christ died to save you (me, us, we, them, everyone), and that he rose again. People do not "get into religion" like its some sort of fad. At least they shouldn't. Religion is a belief, not a style. YOu must believe something with all your heart.

Second, all the "scientific Knowledge" is a result of the fake Political correctness that we have so overexagerated. Evolution is a theory, not a fact. Charles Darwin admitted that there was a flaw in his theory that would cause the whole thing to fall apart. And we have found that flaw. But still, people stubbornly refuse to accept that there is someone higher than them. Evolution is a theory. Nothing more.

I belive that by stating this, I have blown all chances of getting a best answer. But that is not why I answer questions like this. I do it to help people.

Additional Details: This really burns me up. EVERYONE who has said that they believe in God has gotten a "thumbs down" at least once. look at the answers by GramstoFour, alissa, DanC, lilsx1, SummonerJLA, & *Queen* *
Why is it that when we answer your question from our hearts, and tell you EXACTLY what you were asking, people still give us a low rating just because we say we believe in God? Think about that for a while.

Answer 3

"science is tangible and undeniable . . ."

Read any quantum physics lately? Tell me that is tangible and undeniable and I'll call you crazy.

Seriously, science is A method of inquiry into the workings of the universe, but not the only one and maybe not even the best (you do realize the irony of your statement in a philosophy forum, right?). Try this one: Do you love your Mother? If so, prove it scientifically. You can't. So, is your love invalid because it is unprovable and intangible? Of course not.

Religion means many things to many people, so I don't think there's one answer as to why someone might join. I for one prefer my own path of inquiry into the spiritual, and so do not belong to any organized religion.

Oh, and to say "believing that doing all this will take you to a better place is just not realistic to me" may say more about your limits than the theist's. You are proclaiming your belief versus theirs, nothing more (remember, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence--be a good scientist if you must, not a dogmatic one). It also reveals a lack of awareness of the many varieties of religions and spiritual beliefs, many of which have no such idea of a "better place", or that such a place is desirable (e.g. Buddhism).

Answer 4

Maybe read "The Case for Faith" by Lee Strobel. Google apologetics. Read a little theology. There is reason behind the madness, or else nobody would stick with it when the fervor wears off. Many scientists believe in God. I don't think science and religion are contradictory, the media and extremists just make them out to be by not compromising of giving the other side a chance.
Many intelligent people find the logic in faith once they take that first leap. There are many intelligent believers. How can they believe? You can't say it's illogical or weak, because you discount the faiths of many courageous, brilliant people who have questioned, struggled, and still decided that it is reasonable.
It's about what you choose. Only in a world where faith is difficult can faith exist. For people who want to believe, whose hearts are open to God, and who want to know him, there is enough evidence to sustain it (and you would be surprised how much there is!). But if you don't, well, there are enough distractions here that you don't have to. You can think about something else and focus your energy on serving that god. Seek and you shall find. If you knew FOR SURE there was a God, you would have to serve him. It would be the equivalent of someone pointing a gun to your head and saying "Love me or die." Would that constitute free will? Would it be a real choice? No, then we might as well be robots. So God puts just enough here so that those who want to find him can, and those who don't will just rely on shallow arguments they hear floating around in the air. How hard have you really looked? Have you posted serious scientific or philosophical objection sone-by-one genuinely looking for the other side? Have you picked up "Mere Christianity" by CS Lewis, interviewed a pastor with your objections, read the Bible, ect? If you really had an open mind, you would. You may say, "Now why don't you do that with other religions?" I have. It's how I became a Christian in the first place. I used to be an atheist, mostly because I just decided it sounded like fantasy. Now I wonder why I couldn't see it everywhere and in everyone before.
As for weakness, sometimes people disagree on what constitutes strength. Some people see forgiveness as a weakness. Some people see needing a God as a weakness. But can you see how it might take more to admit that you are limited, prideful, and that you need unconditional support in a world where that's rare? It's easy to say you don't need anyone and close off. It's easy to decide that you are the highest power. It's hard to put yourself out there and risk ridicule for believing in the unseen.

Answer 5

There are many things that science can't prove or disprove. How for example do you 'prove' the sensation of dejavu? You've no doubt experienced this, but there is no proof that it exists. If you've been saved by a 'guardian angel' (or friendly spirit, whatever you want to call it) how do you prove that it was just luck? For example, I fell asleep at the wheel once while driving home from my night shift. The cruise control was on, so I was going at a steady 65mph, somehowI woke up a split second before being creamed by a semi ( I had drifted into his lane) instead of freaking out, slamming on the brakes and jerking the wheel, (which is the normal response to this situation, and would have caused me to go into the ditch and probably roll) calmly, I tapped the brake to disengage the cruise, and eased back into my lane. I can tell you with certainty that "I" was not in control at that particular point. Had I been asleep for a spit second longer, or if I had responded as a normal person would in that situation, I'd be dead for sure. How does science explain my response? How does science explain my waking up a split second before I was to die? There was no noise, I did not hear the truck's tires screeching. I can respect your position regarding religion, but you should also respect other's position and not try to change it.

Answer 6

Because science cannot answer everything. In order to be explained by science, something has to be able to be either seen or measured and have a definite location in space, such as energy, matter and forces.

The problem is that there are some things that seem to defy one or all of these qualities. Take, for example, the mind. Every person has their own individual thoughts that cannot be measured or seen by anyone else, and have a very vague location.

Another example is the concept of self, or "I". Personal identity seems to exist, but there is no way to measure it or identify it as a physical object.

This doesn't neccessarily mean that religion is true. Dualist, for example, often do not believe in a god, but they do believe that there is something other than just the physical world, because there are good indications it's there. However, it does make belief in religion a rational form of thought.

Answer 7

since the begining of time people have sought out to establish a formula to get to god that doesnt require actually drawing near to him. in order to draw near to him, we cant have any other gods because the lord is jealous. We have to really want him more than anything.On the other side of the coin, God wouldnt be anymore pleased with me than he is at this moment if i just led 100 people to the lord. his pleasure is over me and there is nothing i can do to deserve it. if i sat in this chair for the rest of my natural life and never did another thing, god would love me exactly the same amount that he does right now. He can never love me any less, and that, my friend is what the seperation is between religion and an intimate friendship. i do the things i do because i am responding to a passionate love that is completely tangible, and is wooing my heart to him. Its realizing in my heart of hearts that i cant add or take away anything from the finished work of god, namely the cross. i propose to you this hypothisis, that God himself is tangible and undeniable, and when you behold him you are transformed into a new creation. god has chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise and the weak things of this world to bring down the mighty. it pleases god that through the foolishness of what is preached that people might know his power. The catch is you have to be humbled enough to recognize it with your heart and not judge it with your intellect. This is why jesus said "Unless you become like this little child you cannot see the kingdom of heaven."

Answer 8

First of all, let's clarify what you mean. I am a Christian person. I have FAITH that there is a God and there is a Heaven. Jesus came into the world to forgive us of our sins. I believe in that I believe I am saved. I do not like for people to call me religious. A religious person is one who just does things on a rote basis whether he or she believes or not. No, you can not prove God is there scientifically, because He is above us in more ways than one. I can not believe that all the beauty of the earth just got here by chance. I feel sorry for you that you do not have that FAITH. I would love to share it with you. Blessings on you, Grams

Answer 9

Perhaps, it is because people who believe in religion have the need to believe in something that is intangible, that goes beyond the realm of mankind, which gives a sense of specialness, or, a another reason as to why life on Earth is worth living.

Answer 10

1. Many more individuals are born than can possibly survive, thus there is competition for limited resources

2. Within this vast number there is variation, and because of this variation some of these individuals will have an advantage--however slight--over others

3. The ones who have the advantages are more competitive and thus they are more likely to obtain the limited resources

4. The ones who are succeeding in securing the limited resources are more likely to reproduce and thus pass onto their offspring the more competitive traits

Darwin