Why do you believe?

[Skeleon]

Well, I don't want to incite a flame war as these kinds of threads are prone to do, but I'm just interested in this subject. Also, I hope the way I ask doesn't provoke anybody.
I consider myself something inbetween an agnostic and an atheist. I don't have faith in a supernatural being. But I sometimes wonder if it would make life easier if I had faith to lean on when life turns shitty, as it sometimes does.
However, faith isn't a decision; even if I wanted to, I couldn't just start believing in any gods.

So much for the introduction.
Basically, my thread title says it all: What are your reasons for believing in a higher power (no matter what religion/faith you have), if you can name any?
Were there any special occurances in your life that made you believe? "Miracles"?
Was it your upbringing? Social influences?
Or something else entirely?

 

[WeedWorm]

... We put a man on the moon...

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

I honestly think life is much easier without a God, no need to go to church on sundays, or having to worry about having "impure thoughts" and all of that bullshit.

 

[ZeeClone]

I spent 3 months after university with my Mrs living/working in the nearest city to our uni.

In that time we really hit rock bottom. Moving house three times in a week was the worst, spending less than 48 hours in one house before the landlord kicked us out because he didn't want to live with a muslim.

During that time I was working three jobs that were 20 miles apart with nothing but my bike & public transport to get me between them. My fiance was working 2 jobs as well, but they were slightly less crazy travel distance.

I was sleeping in snatches of 2 hours, running into the house to shower and reload my rucksack with food every other day.

Just before christmas in 06 I got a call from a company based near Bristol offering me a job and relocation expenses.

I truly believe that I would not have survived that time period without the will of the almighty. It truly was a hellish trial He put us both through, but we're stronger for it now.

So really, that's me. I look forward to reading other people's comments. Try to keep the flaming to a minimum.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

I don't because I don't see a reason to believe in supernatural entities. I mean, there are reasons why someone would want to, but there's no evidence. I'd like to avoid confining myself to logical positivism but it also seems entirely reasonable that I wouldn't believe in something just because of pretty things people tell me. That's why I don't believe.

I was brought up in a very non-religious jewish household. My parents only attend services on holidays, I only learned Hebrew to the point where I can sound out words, I'm a lower case jew. I did believe in god when I was little, though he was more of a thing I'd ask favors from, but I became a strong atheist by the time I was in high school. I pretty much came to it on my own.

 

[Skeleon]

I will be interested in the replies this gets, though.

As am I.

-----

I'd like it if we could keep comments on any replies to a minimum, so we can collect a number of answers without this turning into another brawl.

 

[traceur_]

I honestly think life is much easier without a God, no need to go to church on sundays, or having to worry about having "impure thoughts" and all of that bullshit.

seconded

I find that not worrying about hell or heaven is awesome.

I'm content with the fact that I'll be rotting in the ground when I die. I'm not scared of death and I'm not scared of nothingness. When something good happens I attribute it to a fortunate occurrence that I am grateful for, same deal with the bad times.

I believe this is my only life. When I'm thinking whether or not I should do something, I tell myself, "this is the only life you get so don't fuck it up" and take the sensible route.

 

[JodaSFU]

I don't, but I certainly understand people who do. Nothing scares the shit out of me more, than the thought of it just being over when I die. But lying to myself about what I really believe isn't going to change it.

But I definitely understand people who don't want to face it.

As for the reason I'm an atheist (or agnostic atheist to be entirely precise), it's merely reason and logic. There are several hundred thousand religions in the world, with none of them providing anything but prophecies and old papers for proof. This basically means to me, that the thought of one particular established religion to hold the ultimate truth is ridiculous.

 

[Damien the Pigeon]

I used to be atheist/agnostic, but now I believe differently. Someone didn't just hand me a religious book and tell me to read it or anything, though. I have my own beliefs and I arrived at them in my own way. So am I religious? I suppose a bit, yes, but I'm not part of any organized religion.

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

I honestly think life is much easier without a God, no need to go to church on sundays, or having to worry about having "impure thoughts" and all of that bullshit.

seconded

I find that not worrying about hell or heaven is awesome.

I'm content with the fact that I'll be rotting in the ground when I die.

True, have fun in this life, don't go wasting it just cos you think you will be rewarded by "God" in "heaven".

 

[Seekster]

Sometimes you just KNOW something to be true, you cant prove it, or argue for it in empirical terms but you just KNOW. I understand many people are uncomfortable putting faith in anything but to each his own I suppose.

Also being a Christian really isnt what I am guessing some of you think it is. I personally do not consider myself a very good Christian; I pray but not everyday even though I should, I havnt been to church since I moved into my apartment, and in general have not been as faithful as I should be. Nevertheless I KNOW that God exists and that His hand moves in the world even today.

As a History (and Journalism) major I can tell you that there have been far too many coincidences throughout history for there not to be some higher power behind it all. Personally I have a difficult time understanding how someone could possibly deny God but you probably have just as much trouble understanding my point of view as well.

 

[JodaSFU]

I used to be atheist/agnostic, but now I believe differently. Someone didn't just hand me a religious book and tell me to read it or anything, though. I have my own beliefs and I arrived at them in my own way. So am I religious? I suppose a bit, yes, but I'm not part of any organized religion.

I actually follow that to a certain degree. Are you a deist?

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

As a History (and Journalism) major I can tell you that there have been far too many coincidences throughout history for there not to be some higher power behind it all. Personally I have a difficult time understanding how someone could possibly deny God but you probably have just as much trouble understanding my point of view as well.

Oddly being a Historian who specializes in Religious History, I figure the opposite, everything is so bloody random, different and driven by circumstance that there can't possibly be any higher power governing here, what "god" would allow so much chaos, sadness, pain, death and cruelty.

But it's all interpretation, I know an Evolutionay Biologist who also happens to be a devout Lutheran, she believes in God and sees his work in evolution where as many (including myself) see the opposite.

I figure as long as we get along and nobody tells me how to live my life according to some arbitrary morals laid down 2000 years ago by a Jewish Zombie... everything will be peachy.

 

[Dys]

I spent 3 months after university with my Mrs living/working in the nearest city to our uni.

In that time we really hit rock bottom. Moving house three times in a week was the worst, spending less than 48 hours in one house before the landlord kicked us out because he didn't want to live with a muslim.

During that time I was working three jobs that were 20 miles apart with nothing but my bike & public transport to get me between them. My fiance was working 2 jobs as well, but they were slightly less crazy travel distance.

I was sleeping in snatches of 2 hours, running into the house to shower and reload my rucksack with food every other day.

Just before christmas in 06 I got a call from a company based near Bristol offering me a job and relocation expenses.

I truly believe that I would not have survived that time period without the will of the almighty. It truly was a hellish trial He put us both through, but we're stronger for it now.

So really, that's me. I look forward to reading other people's comments. Try to keep the flaming to a minimum.

That's a brilliant example of why it's good to have faith, and how it can give you strength. But what was it, if there was any single event or influence, that gave you, I don't know, the freedom I suppose, the have faith? (I mean upbringing, friends, etc).

 

[jsd379]

THere is just to much chance associated with the goings on of the world, why would an event occur one way and not the other, maybe it is just my own stubborn refusal to believe that everything happens by chance. I believe in a god, but I am unsure of how active god is in everyones everyday life. I tend to look at him like a clockmaker who set everything in motion and then only occasionally guides everyone along. Another reason for my belief is that we still haven't been able to determine what exactly is consciouness. We understand how we perceive things, but as to how and why we formulate thoughts, feelings, and emotions (and I know it is partly due to chemical reactions). Is still not fully comprehended. But if we find a scientific explanation for that I would accept that as well.

 

[Mantonio]

I'm an agnostic atheist myself. I don't claim to 100% know, but since there's no evidence for any god I don't believe. I'm usually okay with religion as long as it sticks to itself, but the moment it starts trying to get its holy book passed into the schools or government as fact, I'm rather adamant against it. Because the moment church and state are not separated, all hell breaks loose.

There are other parts I hate. Mainly the sects of religion that are deeply stupid, or promote atrocities.

Here's an example. On the 18th of August 2001, Dr Younis Shaikh, a medical doctor and lecturer, was sentenced to death for 'blasphemy against Islam'. The crime? For telling his class that until he founded the religion, Muhammad was not a Muslim. It's ridiculous.

And then there's those idiotic evangelicals in America, the Taliban, those people who were in London holding signs saying 'BEHEAD THOSE WHO SAY ISLAM IS VIOLENT!', the Crusades, 9/11, 7/7, the Inquisition, the wiping out of Native Americans by christian settlers...

So in conclusion, you can belief whatever you want. But when it comes to religion versus law (on how to raise children, anti-discriminatory laws or whatever else), or religion versus science, your religion is not going to win.

 

[Damien the Pigeon]

I used to be atheist/agnostic, but now I believe differently. Someone didn't just hand me a religious book and tell me to read it or anything, though. I have my own beliefs and I arrived at them in my own way. So am I religious? I suppose a bit, yes, but I'm not part of any organized religion.

I actually follow that to a certain degree. Are you a deist?

I'm not familiar with that term, so...maybe? Is that like the opposite of atheist?

 

[Mantonio]

I used to be atheist/agnostic, but now I believe differently. Someone didn't just hand me a religious book and tell me to read it or anything, though. I have my own beliefs and I arrived at them in my own way. So am I religious? I suppose a bit, yes, but I'm not part of any organized religion.

I actually follow that to a certain degree. Are you a deist?

I'm not familiar with that term, so...maybe? Is that like the opposite of atheist?

Deism is the believe that a god or team of gods created the universe. But unlike, say, the christian God, once it was started it/they simply went away, no longer taking an interest. They made the universe, but everything from that point on is down to science.

 

[tk1989]

I honestly think life is much easier without a God, no need to go to church on sundays, or having to worry about having "impure thoughts" and all of that bullshit.

I am pretty sure that most people take religion the wrong way. Wait, I know people take it the wrong way. Religion isn't about wasting your life in church or worrying about 'impure thoughts' or whether god is judging your every move. Most people are complete and utter pharisees or are completely self-righteous, which is just as bad as not believing in god (to him anyways). Many people are under the impression that throughout their life god is creating a list of what you have done right and what you have done wrong, much like santa, but its not like that. God isn't going to punish you for cheating on your wife or sleeping with a prostitute; he isn't going to punish you if you never step into a church in your whole life; he isn't going to send you to hell if you think 'impure thoughts' about other people or things. There is a lot of leeway, and its not set in stone what is right and wrong.

In the bible Jesus said something along the lines of: "Truly, I say to you, even the publicans and prostitutes will enter the Kingdom of God before you". The idea behind this is that even die hard sinners will go to heaven even if sinning is their trade or they idealise money. Even the most imperfect christians will go to heaven because they believe in god. Jesus understood many of the pains that people experienced throughout life and that many can't help themselves to jealousy or addiction or money, and whilst all these things are wrong in a religious sense he will forgive you. You must remember christianity is all about forgiveness.

I don't, but I certainly understand people who do. Nothing scares the shit out of me more, than the thought of it just being over when I die. But lying to myself about what I really believe isn't going to change it.

But I definitely understand people who don't want to face it.

Yes, many people do think like that i am sure, but if you are believing in god due to your fear of death then you have the religion the wrong way round. Christianity is not about living a good 'religious' life in order to buy yourself into heaven, its about making the most of your life. No one can buy their way into heaven; believing in god for the sole reason of having another life after death is not the point of Christianity, its all about trying to live our current lives to the full. Those who believe in god for this reason are pharisees and are completely missing the point of religion.

Now on to me, am i religious? I really don't know. I haven't made my mind up. Part of me wants to believe in religion genuinely, but i keep feeling that i am believing in him for the wrong reasons. I dont want to become one of those people who i criticise for believing in him because of their misguided beliefs.