God - an imaginary friend?

Question

Kids are generally expected to grow out of having imaginary friends - why do religious people encourge this among adults.

Answer 1

I was just thinking of this the other day, actually.

I think every child at one point or another had some sort of "protector" or friend that they imagined looked out for them, or gave them support.

I think it's highly likely that our minds naturally desire that imaginary friend, even as adults. And certain groups of adults have banded together, suspending their disbelief, and continue to talk to their imaginary friend, agreeing together to just "pretend".

And atheists, who see these people and their imaginary friends, are widely despised. This is due to the fact that we are the "party poopers". We refuse to play the game, and it spoils it for them.

That's why you won't see many religious folks having long conversations with atheists. Their suspension of disbelief can only go so far, and atheists are exceedingly good at shattering it for them.

Answer 2

The religious person never grows up. Just as when a child falls back on their imaginary friend when they don't have real friends the religionist falls back on their imaginary god when they have problems. As Dr. Ellis said Neurosis and Psychosis are just high class words for childishness. At best the religious person is neurotic but often Psychotic.

Answer 3

Because kids find that they can come to terms without Santa or the tooth fairy.

Regrettably many adults find the concept of death quite troubling. Anything that offers an alternative to this is a very attractive proposition, consequently religious people have little difficulty in persuading people to continue to believe in supernatural gods, even when reason shows that this is absurd.

Answer 4

The corollary of your hypothesis is that some 'adults' never 'grow up' That god exists is in itself a hypothesis. Neither belief or conviction or assertion in itself can make any hypothesis valid. As Newton said 'hypotheses non fingo'
On this matter I would also say in matters of religious dogma that 'if I have seen further than other men, then it is because I stand upon the bleached and antiquated skeletons of theists'

Answer 5

Children do have imaginary friends and this shows that humans in general are pre-disposed to have a psychological need for a "big brother" or "friend" . Religion and god seem to fill this need whether god exists in reality or not.

Answer 6

Emotional comfort in the absence of physical evidence.

Why do you think some deny evolution so vehemently, despite the evidence? You didn't even bring science into the question, yet you've gotten a bunch of "if we came from monkeys why are there still monkeys" ignorance.

I don't mind theists, but they should be inquisitive enough to learn everything they can, and that includes basic scientific observations.

Answer 7

Yeah, they should just leave God in Fosters House for Imaginary Friends so he could hang around with Bloo and his buddies!

LOL

Answer 8

God: An Imaginary Fiend.

Answer 9

Yes, God is an imaginary friend. It is encouraged because it creates group cohesion, everyone focuses their attention on this ideal rather than the terrible things in life. But there are other ideologies that don't carry invisible friends with them, so why not pick one of those. Or better yet, be a free thinker and try to see things for how they really are. We'll never "see things for how they really are", we meter conceptions against conceptions and it works for us. But let us all attempt to understand reality though it may seem like a lost cause.

Just stupid ramblings, really no value here. Maybe it's typing practice.

Answer 10

well if they all share the same imaginary friend there shouldn't be any rows on who's imaginary friend is better than who's , which would be very messy ..... but there are those who still take to fighting over there imaginary friends.

may bey its a good thing kids are encouraged out of it .