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Why do some people still cling to religion?

Despite there being absolutely no evidence that 'god' exists why, and how, are some religious people convinced that there is an omniscient and omnipotent 'god' out there watching our every move? 'Jesus loves you' they tell us, while neatly ignoring the genocide of middle eastern Christians. I wonder why a loving 'god' allows the appalling persecution of some of his most devout followers to continue, when 'he' could stop the carnage and slaughter just by willing it. After all, if he created an entire universe, the salvation of a few thousand Christians should be a doddle, shouldn't it?


Created By on 09/06/2016

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Jenninora
16th Apr 2017 23:13:29
5
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Religion - How does anyone define religion?
There is any amount of definitions used up to the present moment. Anything from the simple faith one has to the wars and aggression ( in the name of religion ) on earth.
I personally do not use the word religion in my way of thinking and living a life.
I have faith and take comfort from that faith. This faith through the church, is a firm ground of stability and I am content with what I glean .
If someone has walked the earth before me and what I read or learn about that, comforts me and interests me then I have something to connect with.
Medieval, Gothic architecture, church architecture all have a quality in the workmanship of their time. The presence I feel when I visit a place like this is strong enough to open my heart and my eyes to the magnificence and thinking behind their creation.
Walk the earth, night or day and look up and around you. What do you see?
The world is your Cathedral.
The science of earth is fascinating. The creation of earth is fascinating.
As we live life, learn from life, to hold on and literally pray ( we all pray ) for a different outcome or work and wait patiently until bad becomes better.
Believe in something, it does not have to be religion.
Faith in something is a comfort. Whatever that might be.
Not the conflicting aspects of religion as it is portrayed or as one may see it.
[deleted]
27th Mar 2017 17:47:20 (Last activity: 11th Apr 2017 21:32:17)
1
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[deleted]
Response from Wilf made on 27th Mar 2017 18:04:49
Very interesting Yodama and thought provoking
Response from [deleted] made on 27th Mar 2017 18:14:39
[deleted]
Response from Treehugger1 made on 11th Apr 2017 21:32:17
Fascinating Yodama. I will be honest and admit that I was a complete physics failure at school, it's completely outside my ability to comprehend but I am open to the theory that you put forward.

I have one question that I would be glad if you would answer..............do you have any theories about the 'why' of your opinion; i.e. is there a purpose to it, which is where God and religion enter the picture possibly?
celtwitch Original Poster
28th Jul 2016 09:35:17 (Last activity: 27th Mar 2017 14:19:03)
-1
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Although this topic is now weeks old, I feel that I must ask some pertinent questions of the 'believers.'

When you use the word 'god' what do you mean by 'god' and what exactly is 'god?'

Where is 'god' and if you are so certain, how do you know?

Before you answer, be warned that, 'because I just KNOW' is not a valid answer, you will need to do better than that.

PS, I am not anti-religion, or anti-Christian, I just don't have a faith.
Response from Wilf made on 28th Jul 2016 10:03:13
Celtwitch-what I do not understand for a non believer is this. We humans still know nothing. Ray Kurzweil the chief engineer of Google says that by 2100 we will know 1000 times what we know today. There is so much we do not know or understand. I keep an open mind. 100 years ago who knew about computers or could even guess that by 2016 we would be sending spacecraft to the planet Jupiter?
Response from ThatManViv made on 27th Mar 2017 14:19:03
GoD = Group of Developers.
Just as we have software developers right now creating robots (fashioned out of our own image) then the Developers are creating this planet and others.
Man cannot see outside its own world.
It can only imagine within the limitations of its own world. Thus, we fashion aliens similar to ourselves.
"All this" is merely an experiment on a lab bench, with the Developers looking on having a darn good laugh. Or maybe I just gave them a human trait because it's all I can do. (big grin)
[deleted]
4th Nov 2016 12:02:50 (Last activity: 27th Mar 2017 14:08:56)
3
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[deleted]
Response from ThatManViv made on 27th Mar 2017 14:08:56
Believing in something does not make it so. Before belief comes acceptance. What intelligent free-thinking brain can accept the stories in religous books. Where did these fictitious characters Adam and Eve get their names ? From the writer/s who made up the story.

Wonderful animal creation ??? You mean those savage beasts which rip each other apart to survive. How loving is that ?

The bible gives good advice on how to improve relationships with others ? So does How to make friends and influence people. We know who wrote that because the authors name is in the book. How many authors names should there be in the front cover of the bible, and other so-called religious books ? Warnings of over eating and drinking ??? We don't need a "religious" book to warn us, everyone knows what happens if we eat and drink too much.

Jesus said ..... ??? Don't you mean It is written in a piece of fictitious writing that an imaginary character said ..... and anyone with commonsense can work out that those who go around trying to persuade someone else to accept and believe something which cannot be supported by any evidence (other than some writings) are bound to attract derision.

The sad state of affairs "we" find ourselves in, is because some very nasty people bullied and brainwashed lots of weaker ignorant people into accepting their nonsensical stories as the truth. How bizarre that some force which could create this earth and everything upon it couldn't put something in our DNA so we would know "the truth". And how strange writing wasn't invented before life, it may have made everything so much easier eh.

And faith is so powerful eh. Ask those who went to a witch doctor to cure their ebola.
celtwitch Original Poster
15th Jun 2016 18:47:13 (Last activity: 27th Mar 2017 13:41:13)
-1
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"When 'man' has finished his (her) life they will be held to account as to how they used that free will. "
How can dead people be 'held to account' when they are deceased, departed, dead, defunct and discontinued? Talk about flogging a dead horse!
Response from beneDictus made on 29th Nov 2016 11:03:00
...Probably looking at it from the wrong perspective. Aren`t people supposed to possess an element commonly referred to as...''souls''...? And...if so...does this ''soul'' die when the physical body dies..? Or, does it continue to exist in some kind of void...? The choice lies with everyone.
Response from ThatManViv made on 27th Mar 2017 13:41:13
You are asking a question about some imaginary thing which will invoke an imaginary answer about an imaginary thing. Before you know it someone will be enlarging the imaginary subject to include an imaginary place, imaginary creatures, imaginary happenings, imaginary conversations, and a real book.
ecarg
25th Oct 2016 08:45:03
2
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Extremely thought provoking reading the exchanges about God, Religion, Faith. None of it has helped me make up my mind .Prehaps ignorance is bliss ,let people believe whatever they like there's no right or wrong answer just people who think they know better than others and consider their opinions to be fact . I need proof to believe in anything and still don't know what will happen when I die but don't expect anything other than to just be dead. Personally in my opinion I find those that put their trust in God are those who do not believe in their own judgements and need a crutch to help them through life and this of course is fine, if it gives them the reassurance they need to help them get through life and someone handy to blame other than themselves or humanity in general.
celtwitch Original Poster
13th Jun 2016 08:19:44 (Last activity: 28th Jul 2016 06:12:47)
0
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Epicurus asked, on the subject of evil and suffering, 'is god willing (to alleviate suffering) but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is god able but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is god willing and able, then whence cometh evil?
Is god unable and unwilling, then why call him god?
Response from jayoh made on 14th Jun 2016 19:44:12
Celtwitch, what makes you think/believe that The Friend ought to interfere after we evolved with free will? If He/She/The Formless One ought to intercede, then perhaps so should the interstellar travelers who have been visiting this sphere for perhaps many 10's of thousands of years...but they don't do they?
Response from celtwitch Original Poster made on 15th Jun 2016 10:21:26
Please tell me what drug you are on, it must be wonderful?
Response from ThatManViv made on 28th Jul 2016 06:12:47
Please share it with me celtwitch ... 😉
bob42
12th Jun 2016 21:11:42 (Last activity: 28th Jul 2016 05:58:45)
2
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God gave man 'free will.' What you see going on in the world at the moment is a result of that. When 'man' has finished his (her) life they will be held to account as to how they used that free will. Judging by your user name I think you already have an opinion on Christians.
Response from anf1408 made on 15th Jun 2016 17:14:33
Whilst I respect your beliefs I can't agree with your sweeping statement that God gave man free will and he (or she) will be held to account for his (or her) use of this. Even if I were to accept the existence of God and the righteousness of Christianity (which I don't) there are large sections of humanity who are never given the opportunity to use their free will to truly believe this. For example, babies and young children who die before they are mature enough to form a view, those so badly mentally handicapped that they are incapable of forming a view and those who live in societies where they are never exposed to Christianity. Why are these individuals (along with many other examples I could give) not given the same degree of 'free will' as others and how can they be 'held to account'. I was brought up as a Roman Catholic and was taught that unbaptised infants went to limbo and even at a very young age it seemed unfair to me that God discriminated against individuals through no fault of their own. I'm sorry but to me your free will argument seems equally discriminatory.
Response from celtwitch Original Poster made on 15th Jun 2016 18:58:14
Bob's 'free will' argument is a neat way of getting 'god' off the hook for not helping persecuted Christians. They claim that 'god' and Jesus loves us, but can't explain, if that were true, why their mythical 'god' doesn't do something to stop the slaughter.
'God' created the entire universe, just by willing it into existence, but he can't save a few innocents from annihilation at the hands of barbarians.
The fact that he does nothing, means that he either doesn't care, or that he doesn't exist.
I know which option my money is on.
Response from ThatManViv made on 28th Jul 2016 05:58:45
Let's hold this jesus fellow and that character mohammed to account eh .... make em responsible for all the chaos they caused ... and that girl mary, she has a lot to answer for too .... and joseph, what they heck was he doing, or not doing .... but I will say thank you to them for the smiles and humour I get from them all
[deleted]
17th Jun 2016 23:04:41 (Last activity: 28th Jul 2016 05:51:20)
1
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[deleted]
Response from celtwitch Original Poster made on 18th Jun 2016 13:17:13
If you have read the bible 'cover to cover' and still believe in 'god' then you are a simpleton.
Quantum physics is real, religion is myth and superstition.
Response from anf1408 made on 19th Jun 2016 14:55:53
Lionel, I agree with you that people should not be derided for their beliefs. There should be a mutual respect between those who do and do not believe in God and between those who believe in different Gods and those who believe in the same God but follow different religions (many of the world's problems exist because this is not currently the case). But as with Bob 42 below I find your sweeping claim that God gave man 'free will' extremely problematic. As I explained in my response to him there are vast sections of humanity who are never provided with this luxury and are therefore either incapable or unaware of the choices which they are to be judged upon.
I had a very religious upbringing and did not take rejection of my beliefs lightly. Like you I have faith, but rather than a belief in a God, my faith is that scientific theory and its future advances will reveal reasons for our existence. Unfortunately for me, if you're right you will be rewarded in the afterlife, but if I'm right I will never know. However, it's what I believe and like you I have to stay true to my beliefs.
Response from ThatManViv made on 28th Jul 2016 05:51:20
If you have "read the Bible so many times these last fifty years" and you accept it all as true then you are a very sick deluded man. The bible is full of stories, written by ignorant people . Some of its madness includes the nonsense of the temptation of adam and eve, the story about an angel of death (angels don't exist) flying over the houses of the egyptians, the dividing of the red sea, moses allegedly carrying rocks down a mountain engraved with the commandments, god speaking to the jews saying they are his chosen people (how sick is that eh), the supposed flood and the noah story, and the jesus story .... no one was resurrected, even if there was a man called jesus crucified he wasn't on the cross long enough to die .. go research how long it takes to die with a crucifixion ... and there is nobody, but nobody, has any idea what caused "all this" to come into existence, and there is nobody, but nobody, who has any proof of there being any "life" after we stop breathing.
jugsy
29th Jun 2016 15:25:34 (Last activity: 28th Jul 2016 05:35:37)
1
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I will say that I am an Athiest.
I have many friends who are believers and I am fine with that.
I think some people need faith and some people don't. Somewhere down the line they will find a 'faith' gene. I am pretty sure I do not have it, but we must always be tolerant of other people's views.
Response from celtwitch Original Poster made on 29th Jun 2016 17:51:24
A 'not religious man' but with 'faith in Christ' I wonder how that works? And what is 'spirituality?'
Response from Helen1957 made on 29th Jun 2016 19:31:19
I could have written that myself jugsy. We must have a similar genetic make up.
Response from ThatManViv made on 28th Jul 2016 05:35:37
I can't understand how the intelligent mind can accept the christianity story as true, It's so full of nonsense, some proven by science and some by historical evidence, that it seems obvious to me that its simply a fairy tale. As is the islamic story.
ThatManViv
28th Jul 2016 05:27:27
-3
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youre attributing qualities to god that it doesnt have. This is a sick sick place, founded on violence and killing and nastiness. You'll find the evidence in nature.
GoD = Group of Developers ... and this is allllll an experiment on a lab bench with the Developers having a laugh watching the chaos going on.

And so many people cling to religion because they can't accept that this life is allllll we have and need to be lead.
Fruitcake13
29th Jun 2016 21:58:34
2
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I have a lot of sympathy with your views, celtwitch. Faith, as regards religion, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is defined as 'a strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof'. Personally, I'm an agnostic as regards the existence of 'God'. I simply don't know, and refuse to rely on 'faith'. Religion, to me, seems to cause more harm than good in the world and always has done.
elkiton
29th Jun 2016 19:55:03
1
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Well, my views (having come through a Christian upbringing, lived amongst Islamic believers) I am tempted to say that religion dates from a time when either things were so bad and harsh one has to assume there is something better in an after life or one would die of anxiety, or things are so good you want to say "Thank you" to someone.
I once asked the question of a physics Don at Oxford and he said" ME ? Well, I think there are far too many long chain molecules for this all to have happened by chance, so I keep an open mind.."
So personally I think "Something" triggered the big bang, and it has a purpose in mind, star mechanics are far too ordered towards the creation of Worlds to be purely a chance thing....So I will acknowledge whatever that Force was as the Supreme Being. call that God if you like.

In UK religion is dying out amongst our native population, it is creating a vacuum, and that is being filled by other religions and believers, imported or not !
celtwitch Original Poster
24th Jun 2016 13:03:33
0
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Thank you Lionel for your comment, " Better the knowledge of God I have than your derogatory judgements. They are of no lasting value whatsoever." I wonder why you dismiss my comment as 'of no value whatsoever?'
Is it because I disagree with your claim to have 'knowledge of god?' If so, please tell me how you know that god exists, when no-one has ever seen god, no-one has ever heard his great booming voice from the heavens, and no-one in fear of their lives has ever been saved by divine intervention?
Indeed, it seems that if god does exist then he has no interest in humanity and is content to watch the wholesale slaughter of Christians in the middle east and do nothing to help them.
All that it would take for god to have credibility, would be for him to heal just one amputee, and explain why he 'created' more than 350,000 different varieties of beetles.
[deleted]
13th Jun 2016 00:10:14 (Last activity: 15th Jun 2016 16:33:06)
0
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[deleted]
Response from celtwitch Original Poster made on 13th Jun 2016 08:21:34
If you know, beyond doubt, that god exists then you don't need 'faith' do you?
Response from EmeraldCity made on 15th Jun 2016 14:37:06
Couldn't agree more Lionel. So sad that millions live their daily lives without this knowledge.
Response from celtwitch Original Poster made on 15th Jun 2016 16:33:06
I would suggest that the real sadness is that some people who have been indoctrinated into a religion from childhood never have the courage to question what they were taught, they never do a little research, or ask challenging questions.
We are born, we live, and then we die. There is nothing after death, no afterlife, no heaven, and certainly no hell.
Enjoy the time you have here on earth, because it's all you will ever have.
jeanmark
9th Jun 2016 20:00:50 (Last activity: 13th Jun 2016 08:24:01)
0
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Are you sure you're not my step-daughter?
Response from celtwitch Original Poster made on 13th Jun 2016 08:24:01
I don't know, I was found in a cardboard box on the Town hall steps.
blader712
13th Jun 2016 00:48:00
0
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I agree with your thoughts totally!

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