Why is it that you believe?

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   IntimatEvolutionposted 12 years ago

   Why is it that very educated, scientific, logical minds believe in the supernatural?  How is it that billions of people everywhere believe in a higher power of some sort, be it a god, alien, or whatever?  Now I know why many of you don't believe.  But I am really interested in knowing why a believer believes.  Or why someone who is now agnostic or atheist who once believe stopped or why they believed in a higher power once before?  I am think about writing a hub on this subject as part of my "bad church" series. And, well i am also curious as to why it is in us to believe in something or someone that we have never spoken to face to face, much less seen.  Thanks.

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      parrsterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Good question. In a nutshell, my faith results from reasoning, experiencing and an innate sense of conviction; almost instinctive. I elaborate on these points in my hub Big questions of Life.

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         Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I read your hub. Left a comment. Not that you're going to like it, but did.

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            kmackey32posted 12 years agoin reply to this

            

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      ibneahmadposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It is very natural to believe in Him; there is nothing wrong about it. Universe, one of His creation, existed before the scientists; they only cofirm the laws of nature; they don't create them. The being who set the universe to follow the natural laws is the Creator God; it is wrong to deny Him.
      
      He does not force anybody in believing or denying Him.

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         jomineposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Its very natural not to use ones brain. After all brain is the highest "energy" utilizing organ and all organisms try to preserve energy as much as possible and hence try to use it as less possible. Your are right, its natural to believe in god.

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         IntimatEvolutionposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         It truly does feel natural believing in Jesus and God.  It does for me I should add.  It scares me to go without that comfort.

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      Ms Deeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      After reading the posts collected here, the other thing that comes to mind is that all else leads to destruction. There is only one way that leads to life.

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   Rafiniposted 12 years ago

   Interesting, I was thinking of something similar to your question, today. 
   
   Why do I believe?  Because, as a child I came to the conclusion that God is imperfect in that he could not go against the laws of logic in creating life.  Today, I concluded that God created the laws of human existence, therefore humans exist.  (Qwark would ask - what is this God thing?  Right now, I think I'd answer with this:  The laws of human existence)
   
   The world, the universe, the cosmos in general, and life as we know it is too logical to have occurred by an accident of a Big Bang, or through evolutionary processes alone.  However, there are still miracles which trump the laws of nature.  Why?  I believe because God makes it possible. 
   
   Without God, miracles would not be possible because miracles don't follow the laws of logic.

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      IntimatEvolutionposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I love how you worded your post.  You make some very intriguing points. Thanks for sharing.

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   Sherlock221bposted 12 years ago

   I used to be a believer in God, for the same reason that most people believe - because I am afraid of death.  However, whilst most people manage to persuade themselves that this isn't the reason they turn to religion, and convince themselves that there is evidence for the existence of God, I was never able to do this.  I was only too well aware that my belief was based upon fear, and I came to question this as a foundation for any logical belief.
   
   I therefore began to research all religion, and even studied "World Religions" at degree level.  I came to the conclusion that thee is no evidence for any god, and that science had evidence for how life evolved, and how the universe developed.  Science however, is seen by many religious believers as a threat to their beliefs, and it is for this reason why the most scientific in society are also the least religious.  In order to believe in irrational beliefs, it is necessary for the believer to deny science in order for them to cling onto their mediaeval thinking.

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      IntimatEvolutionposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks so much for sharing your journey with us.

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      Rafiniposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      this is an interesting view.  I happen to believe in both - science & God.  In fact, I think the more science does to explain how & why the world exists, the more it proves (to me) the existence of God.
      
      I have to ask this:  did you ever ask yourself Why?  As in:  Why is my religious belief based on fear?  Does my religious belief have to be based on fear? 
      
      I also think it's funny when people claim religious beliefs are irrational.  Maybe it's because I'm more spiritual than religious - but, don't you think it's possible to believe in God without following the "irrational" beliefs?
      
      Nice meeting you, btw. 

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   Peter Owenposted 12 years ago

   As much as I believe in science and hate religions (as opposed to spirituality), I cannot fathom matter having always existed. No start, no purpose.

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      Sherlock221bposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I thought matter did have a beginning, if the Big Bang Theory is correct.

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         Peter Owenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         True, but expansion and contraction theory also leads to prior big bangs going backward to infinity. Again, no start'

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            Sherlock221bposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Science used to believe in a steady universe, which had existed in its current form for eternity.  Then it developed the idea of the Big Bang, thus giving the universe a beginning.  Now, the contraction theory would once again return us to the idea of there being no beginning.  In addition, the multiverse theory now theorises that the Big Bang of our universe is only one amongst possibly billions of others, and that our universe is therefore only one in a multiverse.  Even if our universe, and the others, if there are others did have a beginning, it is almost impossible for the human mind to comprehend how something could begin from nothing.  And if there was a time when nothing existed, what made matter create itself out of nothing,  And how long would that nothing have existed before it became something?  And if there are many other universes,  what lies outside them? And, why does my brain hurt?

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               Peter Owenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Exactly - now you gave me a headache too - LOL.
               That incomprehension is what causes me to believe in something, though I can't define it

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               Rafiniposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Exactly!  A life of logic leaves no room for accidents or miracles or possibilities or probabilities or anything other than...Logic.

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                  OutWestposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  But isn't life more than just that (logic)?

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                     Rafiniposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                     (yeah, that was my point)

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   ershruti304posted 12 years ago

   This is just an excuse for escaping certain questions which are difficult to answer

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   Jeramiposted 12 years ago

   This life is kinda like going to the amusement park.
   
     Some children are figureing out how the rides were built and what makes them work... AND   That's OK
   
      The other children are just riding the rides without giving it any thought.  Just A Laffing  and  A screaming at every turn.

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      Rafiniposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      it takes all kinds to make the world go 'round - right Jerami? 

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         Jeramiposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Exactly.   If we get rid of them that are a thorn in our sides, somebody else is going to loose a conforter.
         
         Edit   ...  and then they become a thorn in somebody elses side when otherwise they wouldn't have
         
         
           Sorry  I had to step out side for a few.

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