Question for Atheists and Agnostics?

Question

I just saw in someone's answer that went like this, "I doubt there are really all that many people who ACTUALLY believe in God. It's just a nice mythology. If anything, most are agnostic, many are probably exactly as you describe."

Is this a widespread opinion? That people who claim to believe in God (doesn't have to be Jesus or what have you) are faking it?

What is your opinion? Do you think that religious people secretly 'know' (or if you're agnostic: suspect?) that there is no God but are just faking it? I don't think I'd ever thought about this before (though I can see why a non-religious person would think that). I'm interested to hear your opinions.

Thanks! :)

Answer 1

It would be arrogant for me to claim to know the mind of everyone else. They seem sincere, I suspect that they are.

((Similarly, I hate to hear "I know in your heart you believe in God."))

Answer 2

Well, some of what Christianity says in its apologetics talks about how Christianity is a good thing without trying to say that the stuff in the doctrine really happened. The defense can be boiled down to "Religion may not be true, but it should be believed because it is good for us."

That kind of reasoning seems to admit that, at some level, these apologists are perfectly aware that it's all wishful thinking.

How violent Muslims and other believers conduct themselves is also indicative that, in their heart of hearts of not with clarity in their minds, they KNOW that they're probably wrong. Did people fight over whether or not water was H20 or some other molecule? Was their a violent schism with bombers and tanks when Einstein proposed his theory of relativity? No. Some things (your children, your rights, your home) are worth fighting for, but no sensible people fight (physically, lethally) over what's truth or not. If your response to a critic is to kill to imprison him, then you basically admit that your belief cannot hold up to scrutiny and thus is probably wrong.

With ordinary believers, I think there is a widespread ethos of apathy toward God, because it's become more and more irrevelant. They don't think about, they don't really feel God although most people are mildly superstitious, but they view it more as a distant relative who's not seen (observed) because it's important but because it's tradition (when they go to church for Christmas and Easter but no other time).

Answer 3

I think that most people of a particular faith aren't "faking it", but they've been taught from an early age that a certain religion is the one to follow. So, some are just going through the motions, but they don't stop to ask themselves whether they actually believe what they've been taught, or if they're just following the teachings.

I think that's part of the problem with some religious people, not religion itself. Some people have a tendency to teach their children about their religion, but they reprimand them for ever questioning those teachings.

Personally, I think it's OK for a person to question their faith. Sometimes, that's what actually makes it stronger. Having questioned it and come to a conclusion that what you've learned is what you consider to be true, rather than just being taught something tends to make that belief more firm.

I hope I've made a decent amount of sense and answered your question.

Answer 4

I'm sure that many people truly believe in god, but I also know some people fake it. My friend is a daughter of a very strictly Catholic family. She doesn't believe in God the same way her mother does, but she fakes it to avoid conflict all the time. I personally don't think it should matter if someone fakes it or not, people should be free to practice religion in whatever ways they want.

Answer 5

When I was Christian, I had moments of certainty and moments of agnosticism before I finally became an atheist.

I knew many Christians who were in fact agnostics, but clung to their faith out of nervousness in case there really WAS a God

I also knew others whom I have no doubt were 100% convinced in the existence of God. So I think it's a little of both. But it's virtually impossible to tell if someone truly believes or is in fact an agnostic over the internet, so I wouldn't like to pass judgement on anyone here.

Answer 6

I don't think it is widespread, but I know there are a few that go to church for the community. Nearly half of the people that say they attend services once a week or more are liars. Something like 40% of the USA say they go to church and then the peole doing the survey actually checked and it was 20%. Canada has the same stat. Smaller numbers but they are proportionate.

Answer 7

I think there are some, maybe even several, people who are "faking it." However, I think there are many more people who simply believe in god without really questioning that belief. It is just easier to accept what they are told and not question anything. They believe in god because they have been programmed since birth to believe in god and they are afraid to question that belief. If they question their faith then they fear retribution in the afterlife, an utterly ridiculous concept in my humble opinion. I don't think most are "faking" anything, I think they just like being part of the flock and find it easier to just accept what they are told and have faith that they are right.

Answer 8

There are 2 questions. a million. do you realize in spite of if or no longer there's a god/do you think of it is generic in spite of if or no longer there's a god? in case you answer no, you're an agnostic. in case you answer confident, you're no longer an agnostic. 2. Do you have self assurance in a god? in case you answer no, you're an atheist. in case you answer confident, you're a theist. those 2 questions provides you with 4 outcomes - agnostic atheist, agnostic theist, "gnostic" atheist and "gnostic" theist. because agnosticism is a philosophy of awareness, it does not settle on the question of theory. All agnostics are, hence, the two atheists or theists.

Answer 9

I think lots of people just go along with the ideals. Fake it to make it.
In my opinion I think the majority of the "faithful" would fall into the middle to low end of being a true religious person. Church on Easter, and praying at dinner when its only a large group.
I'm neither of these people so I could be wrong.

Answer 10

Hypocritical, maybe, agnostic or atheist, doubtful. All religions are based upon faith or a belief in something non-tangible. We exercise blind faith each and every day in our daily lives why not believe in something greater than self. All we have, had to come from something or somewhere. We can't explain it, yet we accept that it's here. I think a belief in a supreme being is widespread. Keep the faith.

Answer 11

I'm not a or a, but... my unlce was a big-time fundie: listend to all the radio kooks, parrotted Rush, knew all the rhetoric... but on his deathbed, he admitted he never really believed. I gather that jhe went through the motions and acted so fervent because thought that should be the way things are, but couldn't really believe it himself.

I won't pretend to say he was a representative of a majority of fundies, but I'll bet there are a good number like him.

I've watched some of the TV preachers. They give every indication to me that they are in it for similar reasons as my uncle. They laso get to feed their egos and desire for control, and get rich in the process.

Again, I do not beleive these fakers are a majority, but a significant number, definitely. It seems an unavoidable aspect of pushing one's path as the "only" path, which everyone is expected to conform to.