who believes in God?

Question

and why?

Answer 1

Existence of god does not matter (look up nihilism).

Post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacies abound!


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Do not quote bible passages as evidence of god's existence.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 as 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?

Answer 2

the one who has felt the love of God will believe in God.
B'coz of his love on me and upon everyone in this world.

Answer 3

I do. Because He is GOD!

Answer 4

Of all living beings, having at least one of the senses of Seeing, Hearing, Feeling, smelling or tasting, in OK condition, usually do believe in God, Knowingly or Unknowingly.

Sincerely if an aethist says he appreciates me, he's actually acknowledging God, as I believe in God.

Probably, it's immpossible to have non-belivers. Although individuals might claim being aethists but usually out of there self confidence, self made successes or anger and frustration.

Answer 5

Count me in!!!!!!!!!! I believe because I believe, and He has done so many wonderful things for me.

Answer 6

i do believe in God
ask ur heart u will find him search in your self u will find him look upper there look at the universe u will find him
he is greater to see by eyes .. but if u believe in him u will see him . try it and u will see .
God loves u even if u don't believe him .. he give u every thing money and food and many pleases even if u don't believe him .. he sent u messengers and prophets to announce his existence .. and people know him without any prophets like Abraham the father of prophets he was thinking of god he thought that he is a moon or a sun till he believes that god who create all of that .
i wish all people believe in him .
Muslim

Answer 7

Nope, as a human who is able to think for himself and come up with my own conclusions in a free country. No and I never will.

It is more than just blind faith, it is my ability to logically think for myself.

Nuff said!

Answer 8

I believe in God because i was brought up a catholic but not pressured into being one, as out of all my family (4 of us) i am the only one to believe in God. There have been times when doubt has set in but now i believe in him unconditional.
I believe that with out my religion and belief in God the death of someone very important in my life would have been much harder to overcome. Through that i try and look at things in life through different eyes and i believe all things happen for a reason even if we don't see it at the time. I believe now that it was her time to go and I should be grateful for the time we had together. Some say a death can move you away from God but it has made my belief in him stronger.

Answer 9

The real question is Who is doing the believing! Who is it who even thinks the question. Who is the one asking? This is called self inquiry, the examine the consciousness itself that is asking the question. Then the question disappears and God reveals itself within the consciousness as the questioner discovers self. Who am I? is the oldest question in the book, and leads right to god!

Answer 10

I was raised a Catholic, but I don't agree with a lot of the 'rules' of the Catholic church, and as a result I've recently stopped attending mass every Sunday... I've also occasionally questioned God's plan, not His existence, but why He allows such suffering in the world... But when I think these thoughts, even as I'm typing this, I feel a horrible guilt and I'm afraid that I'll upset Him by thinking these things... So I guess my belief in His existence is still pretty strong, even if I occasionally question His motives.

I believe in Him for a number of reasons, 2 in particular... One is that I lost a sister when she was only 13, and I need to believe that she is with God, that she's looking down on me and that I'll see her again someday... Another is that through all the heartbreak we experience every day, things always work out in the end, and for me I have a great life that I'm thankful for, and I'm grateful that God gave me such a nice life.

In answer to your question, I do believe in God, because I have to. Life without belief, for me, is a life without hope.

Answer 11

All which is in existence believes in God. For God is more than a character in a book, he is existence.