2007-12-18 15:24:03 · 17 answers · asked by Whittaker Chambers 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
it is our nature to seek answers to various questions in life. We all choose a belief that fits our needs, whether this belief is of a version of the afterlife or something vastly more simple such as political party affiliation, or that the light will come on when i flip the switch.
Many of us are raised in a structured belief system that could make the choice easier for us. Some of us rebel against the belief structure handed down to us and seek out other structures to rationalize our behaviors throughout life. After an interesting (to me) search throughout my life, I found where the answers to my questions reside. I accept that God is my creator and that His son Jesus died on the cross to ensure my salvation. It is a gift that I am thankful to have received.
2007-12-18 15:45:16 · answer #1 · answered by playing 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Insecurity. The Universe is BIG & Intimidating- & there's an awful LOT about it that Man doesn't know or Understand... Believing in Something- empowers Man enough to feel as though he has some "control" over His World...-& helps get him through his days -and the Hard Times...
2007-12-18 23:35:25 · answer #2 · answered by Joseph, II 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The consciousness of mankind tends toward pattern-seeking. Whether this relates to Mind, God, design, or merely to more materialistic evolutionary causes, is irrelevant to your question.
Secondly, it is therefore functional, as shown by various experiments, to have a "higher power"/"organizing element" perspective. What this "perfect goal." "Ideal," etc. accomplishes is the permission, the encouragement, for the "subconscious" to be more creative, solution-focused, etc.
Thirdly, there are definite events which indicate Soul Is, God Is, etc., e.g. the Host of Light miracle at Garabandal, Spain, Tibetan Buddhist insight meditation states, etc.
Those who view "religion" as an "orthopedic" process are not necessarily at all aware of the states of being which are even shown in the laboratory, and which states are developed per meditation, etc. protocols. "Psychoenergetic Science," Dr. William Tiller, http://www.tiller.org http://www.integralscience.org http://www.tcm.phy.cam.ac.uk/~bdj10 http://www.yogananda-srf.org and the like.
To attempt to evaluate such states solely from a reductionist, beta wave state is a category error.
You might benefit from some modern authors' perspective: "Climb the Highest Mountain," Mark Prophet, "Men in White Apparel," Ann Ree Colton, "Extraordinary Knowing," Dr. Elizabeth Mayer, "The Reincarnation of Edgar Cayce?", Free and Wilcock, http://www.divinecosmos.com and so forth.
Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" is a classic in the field.
2007-12-18 23:41:29 · answer #3 · answered by j153e 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the essential ingredient of existence. To believe is to breathe life into that which we believe. Living and acting for a belief gives a purpose for some people's lives.
EDIT: Believing can be applied to more than just religion as some people here are writing and that was not my intention. It translates to all things and all subjects. A man could have the belief that the world is round and he aims to reasearch that possibility in this life. Or a woman who believes that it is also a woman's right to vote, then that would be her impetus for action in her life.
2007-12-18 23:33:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The mind of man seeks, among other things, knowledge. Sensory input (ideas) impinge on the mind. The demand becomes so much for the mind that it is necessary to make sense of the input (judgment).
The mind begins to order the input by accepting (thinking) in order to reach the goal (knowledge).
The goal (knowledge) cannot be reached without acceptance of input (normally through our senses). This acceptance has to be "belief in something".
So man must believe in something if he is to be knowledgeable of anything.
2007-12-18 23:58:12 · answer #5 · answered by d2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sometimes people just need a little guidance. Religion is like a lift in your shoe, if it makes you feel good and walk straight great, that's fine. But you don't need it forever, otherwise you can become permanently disabled. Sometimes people need to know that there is something better than this life. That this suffering will all mean something. That the bad guys will get it bad and the good guys will get it good. personally, I like to think THIS is it that this isn't just a test!
2007-12-18 23:30:07 · answer #6 · answered by Person 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because he can deduce by the fact that he is cpable of thinking about deduction that he must exist. And he needs an explanation for why he exists.
Every man woman and child worships something. . . money, fame, other people. . . this is because man was made to worship. That is his basic purpose.
2007-12-18 23:43:34 · answer #7 · answered by oddball.2002 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is normal for people to have their own perspective about how to think and experience and learn about life. That belief system is what defines them as a person, to those that they are with. And that belief system can be religious or nonreligious.
2007-12-19 02:07:27 · answer #8 · answered by Uncle Remus 54 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think one reason is that some of us would like to know why we are here in the first place.
2007-12-19 00:33:26 · answer #9 · answered by ROBERT P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that alot of people want someone to blam for the way things go. To be able to say it's all in "His" plan. They need security.
2007-12-18 23:28:45 · answer #10 · answered by bittenbysquirrel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋