Benefits of believing in god

ke1985

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I've been reading many books on religion and I have read in quite a few that the atheist does not have a god to give him/her the strength for rough times. There is no "replenishing." The christian, though, can go to god and receive compassion, joy, strength (authors assertion) so BECAUSE of this, its good to believe in god.

Thoughts? I dont know if i agree because it asserts that without god, one would fall apart under extreme stress and pressure. Is god just a crutch for "weak" people?
 

Tobias

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Yes, God is definitely a "crutch" for me. As humans, we all need someone to rely upon. We are social animals, and need each other. God is my friend and my support when I need Him most.

This is why I trust in Him. Why I believe in Him, is another subject altogether. :cool:
 
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Delphiki

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I've been reading many books on religion and I have read in quite a few that the atheist does not have a god to give him/her the strength for rough times. There is no "replenishing." The christian, though, can go to god and receive compassion, joy, strength (authors assertion) so BECAUSE of this, its good to believe in god.

Thoughts? I dont know if i agree because it asserts that without god, one would fall apart under extreme stress and pressure. Is god just a crutch for "weak" people?


This is because most atheists tend to recognize that you are responsible for your own actions. The fact that there isn't some divine being there to put you back on your feet for you provides more motivation to get **** done yourself.

I forget who said it, but there's a quote (paraphrasing): "Two hands at work will always accomplish more than two hands clasped in prayer."
 
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Delphiki

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So, if someone doesnt rely on God and gets through life, is that person more strong? Does a person really need god if he or she can cope with life?


Would you consider Tom Hanks's character in Castaway stronger if he didn't start talking to a volleyball? I probably would, but he was in a dire situation.
 
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hollyda

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So, if someone doesnt rely on God and gets through life, is that person more strong? Does a person really need god if he or she can cope with life?

Religion can be a crutch for some, but it's hardly fair to say a person is weak or strong depending on their faith or lack thereof. Really, anything can be a crutch. Where I'm sitting, it all depends on the person.
 
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Tobias

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Would you consider Tom Hanks's character in Castaway stronger if he didn't start talking to a volleyball? I probably would, but he was in a dire situation.

I would have considered him stronger had he started talking to God rather than a volleyball. Because God could have given him advice and helped him through his troubles!

Perhaps God could have given him comfort and a purpose for being there. Perhaps he could have worked out some of his character flaws through the counseling of the Holy Spirit. And God knows the weather and wind patterns, and could have advised him on the best time to sail away.

But the character was probably an atheist, and couldn't see the possibility of a God who cares. So he talked to a ball that could not answer him.
 
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pinkputter

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We wouldn't be here without God. Whether you believe in Him or not, He has given you blessings that make getting through life's roughest moments possible. Whether or not you give glory to God for these things is another story.

I find Christians aren't such control freaks, they usually have a great sense of identity, and a sense of peace, which comes about through knowing Jesus.
 
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Delphiki

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I would have considered him stronger had he started talking to God rather than a volleyball. Because God could have given him advice and helped him through his troubles!

Perhaps God could have given him comfort and a purpose for being there. Perhaps he could have worked out some of his character flaws through the counseling of the Holy Spirit. And God knows the weather and wind patterns, and could have advised him on the best time to sail away.

But the character was probably an atheist, and couldn't see the possibility of a God who cares. So he talked to a ball that could not answer him.

Ah, but it did answer him on many occasions. They even argued.
 
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Avelina777

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I've been reading many books on religion and I have read in quite a few that the atheist does not have a god to give him/her the strength for rough times. There is no "replenishing." The christian, though, can go to god and receive compassion, joy, strength (authors assertion) so BECAUSE of this, its good to believe in god.

Thoughts? I dont know if i agree because it asserts that without god, one would fall apart under extreme stress and pressure. Is god just a crutch for "weak" people?


No God is not a crutch for weak people. In fact being a Christian is very hard. So it definately is not for the weak. God calls us soldiers (not the kind that kill), but spiritual soldiers for Christ, that is tough. But the rewards of being close with Christ and eternity is amazing:thumbsup:
 
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salida

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The main things Christianity provides me:

1. Total relief from the huge burden my sins have created. These sins are no longer a burden or a problem and actually become part of my witness (they are the how I was before Christ came into my life). I feel I can almost fly with the freedom I have been given.
2. The indwelling Holy Spirit, becomes a personal guarantee that God is going to fulfill everything he has promised me. I am not relying on what someone I trust believes or said, but the indwelling Holy Spirit. I know He is there because of what He does and has done for me. He can be as active as I allow Him to be in my life.
3. Godly type Love as both a compelling force and huge strength. This Love combined with the faith I have can do great things. It transforms me into a loving person.
4. The promise of Godly wisdom. Not a worldly wisdom, but wisdom that can change my life.
5. The birthright to heaven that cannot be taken away.
 
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xDenax

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I've been reading many books on religion and I have read in quite a few that the atheist does not have a god to give him/her the strength for rough times. There is no "replenishing." The christian, though, can go to god and receive compassion, joy, strength (authors assertion) so BECAUSE of this, its good to believe in god.

A person doesn't have to believe in God to find something to comfort them. It could be a family member, friend, therapist, nature, etc. I personally don't see atheists falling off the deep end right and left.
 
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awitch

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Sure there is comfort in religion. It's more like a small knee brace than a crutch for me. I don't think it's a weakness until it's something you rely on, become obsessed with, is used as an excuse to promote your own agenda, or to justify bad behavior.
 
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pinkputter

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Sure there is comfort in religion. It's more like a small knee brace than a crutch for me. I don't think it's a weakness until it's something you rely on, become obsessed with, is used as an excuse to promote your own agenda, or to justify bad behavior.

That is a very good point awitch. Religion is unfortunately one of the last things that should be misused, but somehow still is. I have never really understood what people mean when they say something is a "crutch" But I agree it is not healthy when it resorts into those things you mentioned.very true
 
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pinkputter

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I heard that psychopaths have more fun until they found JC.

I'm not sure I know what you re saying here. If they had more fun before they found Jesus, then they should just go back to that life. All of the born-again believers testimonies I have heard say their life is better than ever and they aren't going back bec Jesus fulfills their life. There could be people who disagree with this, but I would wonder myself why they choose to be "tied down" to something they don't believe in.
 
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Eyes wide Open

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I heard that psychopaths have more fun until they found JC.

That would be the old 'ignorance is bliss' quote coming to the fore. I would say that there is a certain responsibility felt by any individual that has been touched by god and that responsibility creates a certain 'getting outside of ones comfort zone' and focusing on needs rather than wants which would be at the cost of an amount of fun but be working towards fulfillment which transcends fun thus dispersing the ignorance with wisdom.
 
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Grumpy Old Man

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I've been reading many books on religion and I have read in quite a few that the atheist does not have a god to give him/her the strength for rough times. There is no "replenishing." The christian, though, can go to god and receive compassion, joy, strength (authors assertion) so BECAUSE of this, its good to believe in god.

Thoughts? I dont know if i agree because it asserts that without god, one would fall apart under extreme stress and pressure. Is god just a crutch for "weak" people?

One thing I miss about being a Christian is the notion that God is with me in times of trouble. However, whenever I am stressed I quickly remember that God is ultimately just a delusion. How exactly does he help when we're in trouble? Or stressed? Or heartbroken? He doesn't. It is all in the believer's head. To put it another way, we evolved in such a way that belief in a God is advantageous to us in coping with death and grief. We are only animals. However, we evolved the capacity for thinking, and as such we suffer the knowledge that one day we will be faced with the death of those we love and our own death too. Religion, as you say, is just a crutch for coping with the knowledge of our fates.

Personally, I would rather deal with reality as it is without resorting to invisible friends to help me cope with life.
 
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