Someone asked "If God isn't real, than why do so many people believe in him." He argued that so many people would not believe in God if he did not exist. If numbers determines the likelyhood that God exists, wouldn't Buddha be the real God being that there are more Buddhists than any other religion. China makes up 1/4 of the population and most of China's citizens are Buddhists. All I am saying is that far more people believe in Buddha than God, and if numbers are an indication of anything, than Buddha must be the man.
2007-12-01 06:49:28 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Grammar check: you need to write "To whomever..."
The bowl of petunias simply thought to itself, "Oh no, not again!"
Existence of god does not matter.
I have always been an atheist. OK, that is not completely true. I am not an atheist. I am not a believer. I am not an agnostic. I am none of these because the answer to god's existence is unimportant.
People ask what would convince me that god truly exists. While I am not sure, I am certainly open to any tangible evidence. I do not know what evidence would convince me because I believe it is impossible to prove the existence of god. What evidence would convince you that god does not exist? See the conumdrum: it is difficult to answer their question! See falsifiability (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falsifiability ) for an explanation of theory and the rules of evidence.
Do not quote bible passages as evidence of god's existence. This is my standard of proof, not yours. However, if proof were proffered that convinced me god exists, I would change absolutely nothing in my life or my behavior. The existence or not of god does not matter. Like many humans I live a purposeful life and god does not add more purpose.
What if evidence were produced that convinced you god does not exist with certainty (evidence according to your standards of proof)? What would you change in your life?
- Would you stop evangelizing?
- Would you start sinning more?
- Would you stop helping those less fortunate than you?
- Would you feel that life is meaningless?
Let us examine one area Christians think about atheists. Christians seem to think non-believers hope that their good deeds will get them into heaven, should heaven really exist. The Torah (Old Testament) has a word for this: mitzvah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitzvah ). Many atheists such as myself perform mitzvahs not for the sake of getting an admission ticket into heaven, but because performing good deeds and helping those in need is the right thing to do. In other words, these are selfless acts.
Christians sometimes proffer Pascal’s Wager (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_wager ) suggesting to non-believers that they should accept Jesus (John 3:16) as some sort of insurance policy against hell, just in case it turns out god really exists. The fallacy with this line of reasoning is that faith in god for some reward or to avoid punishment is not faith at all. It is a selfish act to receive something in return for a belief. The point of religious belief so that one becomes a better person, not to receive a reward or please a spiritual being.
Even the Torah addresses sacrifices or any other act in an effort to please god as displeasing god.
So why do you believe in god? If it is to enter heaven, that is very selfish. If god, heaven, and hell do not exist, would you still perform mitzvahs and follow the Golden Rule or would you say what is the point? Mitzvahs are not meant to please god.
Many Christians also claim that only those who believe can live a moral life and those who do not believe in god have no moral compass. That implies that one lives a moral life, not because it is the right thing to do, but because god expects us to be moral. Again, the fallacy with this reasoning is that mitzvahs and morals should be followed because god or a holy book dictates rules to us and not for personal philosophical or spiritual reasons.
In summary, I have no stake in god's existence. I do not see existence of heaven or hell as a reward and punishment system. If the whole purpose of the Golden Rule preached by Jesus was to treat others and I would like to be treated, I can follow his philosophy without believing in god. What type of god would want me to pledge my fealty to him or her simply for the sake of believing or proving my allegiance? I would expect god is beyond pride and the need for some following.
For all those thumbs down votes, I ask you to examine your personal motivation for believing in god.
Why is the concept that one can perform selfless mitzvahs and possess moral values without belief in god so difficult for many Christians to comprehend?
2007-12-01 06:52:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 1⤋
Seek knowledge
Christianity
1.9 billion
Has the most followers and most widespread presence of all well-recognized religions. Predominant religion in Europe, the Americas, Southern Africa, Oceania, and the Philippines.
Buddhism
324 million
Largely in East Asia and the Mainland Southeast Asia, and small parts of South Asia and Russia.
2007-12-01 07:38:22 · answer #2 · answered by cashelmara 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every deity that has ever been thought of is nothing more than a theory and as you know theories can be sometimes be wrong or ineffective. If one looks at the Christian faith for instance they basically ripped off the aspects of the Hebrew Bible and retrofitted it to to their religion. There were many Messiahs back in Rome Empire and Jesus just happened to perhaps best articulate his desire to be with God not is God
2007-12-01 06:59:04 · answer #3 · answered by TSIRHC 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understand what your friend means, but many people just want something to believe in. It's easier to pray and believe that what you pray for will come true then worrying. I don't know whether or not God is real and nobody else does. However, that is when belief in something more than just us comes in. Praying is sometimes calming and may make people worry less. It is easier to know that there is something after death instead of nothing.
2007-12-01 06:56:37 · answer #4 · answered by adari94 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people believe in God; some in Buddha; but most ALL people believe in a higher pwoer whatever deity that may be, for them. Numbers do not matter one way or the other; it is the personal belief that matters most.
2007-12-01 06:53:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Where did you get your statistics? Buddhism takes up about six percent of the population, while Christianity and Islam are both pretty close to thirty percent. I am not supporting the argument that numbers determine true (or lack there of) religion, but your numbers are, unfortunately, incorrect.
2007-12-03 14:37:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
at one point in history the majority of people though the world was flat and was the center of the universe. And while Christianity is the largest religion, only 33% of the worlds population are Christians. by his logic the 67% who don't believe in Christ are the correct ones.
2007-12-01 07:06:06 · answer #7 · answered by Salvador 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If 1/4 of the population jump off a cliff does that make them right. Bad analogy but see my point.
2007-12-01 06:57:08 · answer #8 · answered by preacher 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of Chinese citizens are atheists (since this is required by communism). Catholicism is the largest religious sect in the world. But truth is not a popularity contest or a theoretical issue, it is empirically derived.
2007-12-01 06:56:15 · answer #9 · answered by neil s 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Buddha is lovely but he wouldn't want us elevating him to a status he said he never had nor wanted to attain.
Me: Buddhist
2007-12-01 06:54:40 · answer #10 · answered by Yogini 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋