I've been wondering for a while now: why religion? I've never been religious in my life, but my grandparents are, and look where they are: my grandfather's health is failing and my grandmother's just odd. It doesn't make sense to me why people have these complex religious beliefs, acting like there's a god that actually gives a shit. God's never done anything for me, and I'm not complaining. Can someone explain the concept behind theism for me? Is it that human beings, as a species, are insecure and too unstable as to need to believe in a higher power to feel good? Honestly, if you have proof in there being a god, and I mean REAL SOLID PROOF, then maybe I'll stop being a skeptic and a philosopher and believe. However, I still don't understand why people believe in gods and divine powers and all that. So, feel free to enlighten me. Late...

You're not a philosopher, so this nonsensical and trite question repeated over and over again shouldnt even be answered. Look at just about every third thread all the way down the forum instead.

That's my favorite thing about you spirit, the fact that your blunt and to the point with little to no bull shit to dig threw first.

Believing in God only if there's solid proof defeats the point that religion is built on faith. So if you are looking for real solid evidence before believing in a God, then don't bother considering Christianity or most of the other religions for that matter.

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Originally posted by Spirit of '22:
You're not a philosopher, so this nonsensical and trite question repeated over and over again shouldnt even be answered. Look at just about every third thread all the way down the forum instead.

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Go fuck yourself. You don't know me, so don't say anything about me, asshole. Your dickless input isn't needed... Someone who works at a fucking Wawa isn't exactly in the position to decide who's a philosopher or not.

[This message has been edited by Heretic5 (edited 11-06-2002).]

Maybe you should ask God if he is out their by just by yourself somewhere. I may be a sceptic too but science hasn't disproved the spiritual realm. There's something out there that we should try to find out ourselfs. Not just take for greated what the preecher sez but find and make sure ourselfs. Unfortunitly somepeople are just too lazy to find out themselfs and prefer like sheep to take things for granted like God.

Comfort for death, and if you need stability (Drugs etc.). This is not an excuse to evangilize!

Religion is man's doing.

Sure they meant well and were full of life for Christ at first.

But as time went on, the main purpose of the church was forgotten and they turned what was spirtual into something secular.

As for an actual existing God, I am learning that there is one out there.

You just gotta have faith.

gombowlzombie pretty much summed it up.

Religion, being a social phenomenon, is more or less useless.

Personal faith, on the other hand, is an entirely different kettle of fish.

How is running a computer data center or building a house more philosophical than working at Wawa?

The concept behind religion is basically fear, fear of death being the primary factor. If you look at world history you will find that religion becomes most predominate in society when the whole of society is facing grave times and a heightened fear of the future (and death); such as the middle ages, the great depression, 9/11, etc...Religion survives because people need a power in their lives that is seemingly more powerful than they are in mere existance, that will in the ultimate end, guide them beyond expiration. Unfourtunate for the weak of mind, religion has become a powerful tool in almost every facate of personal and group persuasion with it's qualities of powerful group unity, and exclusion (or hinderance of worth) for those who do not "believe." I, personally, don't mind religion one bit. Alot of people take comfort in religion, and their "God" (or whatever it may be) provides a level of stability in their lives that could unlikely be replaced by any thing else. If there is an afterlife, that would be pretty badass, but I'm not going to spend the time I'm actually living, worrying about it.

(I only read the first post of this board, so if what i'm saying here is redundant after all your discussion, i'm sorry, it's just my opinion.)

yo heritic dude dont get all mad, Spirit of '22 has a point. every second post is a question on why do we believe or some shit. But i guess its good that people still post about that cuz then there would be no posts in "my god can beat the shit out of your god"...

Wawa?

Well at least your grandparents know where they're heading. So what if they suffer here. Christ did. But later they may well be in paradise.