I don't mean that we need to *believe* that there is a god but that we as a society *need* a god, as if having a god is the only way our lives could have any purpose or meaning.
2007-11-09 16:40:53 · 33 answers · asked by Two quarters & a heart down 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
dontknow: I have things to keep me motivated and to keep me "good", but it has nothing to do with god. I don't believe there is a god and obviously don't have any sort of "relationship" with him, but I'm still a good person.
2007-11-09 16:53:09 · update #1
Tonya R: I don't think it's the thought of eternal damnation that keeps people from doing these things. How many self-proclaimed Christians still committ murder and rape? The fact is people still do these things whether they believe in god or not.
2007-11-09 16:55:29 · update #2
It's an aid to control the masses.
2007-11-09 16:43:17 · answer #1 · answered by TriciaG28 (Bean na h-Éireann) 6 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Some people find the idea of death as intolerable. Most religions offer a tale of eternal life after death--or at least that life somehow continues after one dies. How convenient! Of course, the lie doesn't stick too well when someone close to said believer dies. They grieve. They mourn. Reality bites.
So they cling desperately--in the face of all that would discredit their faith--to the point where the lie is all-encompassing. It literally rules their lives. They do good deeds with the idea that their ruler is keeping points--and the more points they rack up, the nicer their seat in the afterlife.
Then along comes an Atheist. How mystifying it must be to them; here is someone who doesn't feel the need to bullshit themselves about death. Here is someone who has found their own meaning and purpose to life. But for that meaning *not* to revolve around a mythical figure? How unnatural! And so begins a new sort of fabrication: That the non-believer is unhappy (they aren't). That they are immoral (they aren't). That they actually do believe in god (they don't), but are simply in denial (there's nothing to deny). Maybe the Atheist has no emotions (wrong!). Doesn't care about anyone else other than themself (waaay off course). Absolutely anything they can come up with to make *not* believing in a god seem below their own standard.
Sound familiar?
2007-11-09 18:04:38 · answer #2 · answered by writersblock73 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The reason some people think God is needed for everyone is probably buried somewhere in their own personal need to have a trustworthy protector and provider. The trouble with this belief is that there is no God and there never has been one upon which that trust can be laid. Since God is an absent and imaginary being he neither protects nor provides as the religions promise he does; hence the assumed purpose for having a God isn't valid.
The same kind of pattern can be applied to every application of "needing God" whether it would be to ease the fear of death through salvation or to fend off a desire to do evil acts, the trust placed in an imaginary God is pointless and it is certainly not needed by society as a whole.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb62/Randall_Fleck/Face_reality_eyes_GIF-1.gif
[][][] r u randy? [][][]
.
2007-11-09 20:38:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Theists are cowards who can't bear the thought of the finality of death so they invented Heaven and Hell and an invisible man who watches everyone's words, thoughts and deeds simultaneously, 24/7 and sends people who don't believe in him to Hell for all eternity cos he loves them ... or something like that.
Atheists on the other hand are better, wiser and nicer than theists cos we do stuff cos it's the right thing to do NOT cos we're scared of going to a non-existent Hell if we don't.
Having said that I know there are many people who need to believe there’s a god or they’d go crazy and do psycho stuff on us … well more than the theists are currently doing.
.
2007-11-09 23:44:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a christian and I will answer this with honesty. I believe in God because I don't know everything. I have hope, because I don't know the future. I get sick, but I never see the virus or germs (if I had, I would have gone around them :) . I see everyday miracles that happen and I can not explain them. If I knew everything I would probably not need a god.
When we don't know if our loved one will die after the car crash, or why a baby falls into a pool, or any other tragedy we ask ourselves, WHY? Someone must know, otherwise we would not ask.
Society needs God, but they only search for him when they need him. Society will always suffer tragedy, death, or have questions such as this one. And God will be named, even if it is only in time of need. May-be that is why tragedies happen.
What ever the purpose or meaning God could have in our lives, I know that I can not afford to be right and not believe. And to those who don't believe, better pray to God we are wrong.
2007-11-09 17:09:14 · answer #5 · answered by Loopster S 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
People use need to express extreme desire or want for something. And also society is so mixed in with religion there "has" to be a god or everything they have done is suddenly in vain. Especially those who live for the ink on the bibles, imagine if they discovered it was all lies? What an intersting thought.. anyway,
Blessed Be
2007-11-09 16:44:48 · answer #6 · answered by curiosityreincarnated 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Well I could say that if we didn't believe there was a God then there wouldn't BE any purpose. You would live to die!
But instead I shall say why I believe...
Because there is more evidence that there is a God then for evolution!! Plain and simple. I believe in the facts
Sorry truth hurts I guess
2007-11-09 16:48:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
You are mistaken. Society "NEEDS" a God to keep everyone in line. Morals are formed out of religion. Without a God, we could have total chaos. The idea of eternal damnation keeps many people from becoming adulterous, murderers, rapists, etc. Judicial laws and punishments just aren't enough to keep some people from acting on their urges, but tell someone they will spend eternity on fire, now there's a punishment!
2007-11-09 16:45:57 · answer #8 · answered by Tonya R 3 · 0⤊ 5⤋
I think you just answered it. People need something to keep them motivated, something to keep them 'good', and someone to talk to when they are lonely... sad really. Some kind of hope that someone is taking care of them......
I understand your response to me but I also don't believe in God, you asked our opinions why we think people "need" a God to worship... and we gave our answers. I think it's the weak ones who "need" a God to believe in and I think these might be some of the reasons why.
2007-11-09 16:44:25 · answer #9 · answered by dontknow 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Religion is good for some people. Some people need that type of control and rules in their life to do good.
2007-11-09 16:57:58 · answer #10 · answered by Tiger Eyes 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋