Why do we believe in God?

[kivie22]

Hi! The other day, I was asked this question by an agnostic friend of mine, and I really wasn't equipped to answer it. I mean, I feel God's presence in my life, but I'm not able to vocalize a concrete and discernible answer to this very prominent question. So what do you think? Why do we believe in God?

 

[Skitsskat]

Honestly I'm trying to come up with an answer for this but it's so hard to get my mind working, I guess this question is harder than we think. The only answer to this is that we just rely on faith, but that's not really a good answer is it? So experience is my answer. Every day going through troubles and hardships that God and only God can save you from is the answer to me. The fear, the love, the one and only presence of God is incredibly real, or so to me. I believe in God because if I didn't I wouldn't have hope for anything.

 

[snoopy500]

Honestly I'm trying to come up with an answer for this but it's so hard to get my mind working, I guess this question is harder than we think. The only answer to this is that we just rely on faith, but that's not really a good answer is it? So experience is my answer. Every day going through troubles and hardships that God and only God can save you from is the answer to me. The fear, the love, the one and only presence of God is incredibly real, or so to me. I believe in God because if I didn't I wouldn't have hope for anything.

well said honestly. I feel that God is there for when I have nobody else around. He definitely was a big help when I thought about killing myself at one time. God really does look out for u and he tried to help you out when you are bad decisions. You as a person just have to be willing to let him into your heart and hear what he has to say. I guess this is why I believe in him

 

[Asvin]

I believe in God first and foremost because I prayed to God and confessed my sins.. I also asked God to show me some signs of change and he did.. I am not obsessive over things anymore and my attitude has changed! Another reason is because when I read the bible, I feel God speaking to me directly.. It is nothing like other books I have read! Yet another reason why I believe in the Christian God is because current scientific evidence points to a universe with a cause... that cause is God!

 

[Precisely]

Belief in God is in our DNA. All you have to do is walk outside and open your eyes to behold God's signature. Life has no meaning, nor does it make sense without God. Just as the world revolves around the sun, the world revolves around the Son.

 

[AfanofJesus]

I cannot do anything but to agree with above speakers. This question is SO MUCH harder than what you think. Especially if you are looking for a waterproof argument presented in a logical way. However I think that my best answer that suits me best is:

I turned to God since I believe he was "pulling the strings", I was a radical atheist making a lot of efforts to kill any hope in God and to prove God wrong by arbitrary scientifically arguments that are as ineligible as they ever can be. But after a chain of coincidences I ended up in a year of confirmation. I was hardly interested mostly playing the cool and uninterested guy. Somehow is was still like drawn to church, I couldn't resist, I went alone (without any close friend) to mass where it was only totally unknown people. Eventually I ended up as youth leader, super active in my church, starting a worship band iny church and so on. When such a thing happens and the holy spirit is doing its/his/her work reason is not needed. Although I think support and comfort in life, meeting a lot of new people and being involved I something more important are other things that affects our church attendance a lot. For me a high level of church attendance leads more or less inevitably to a believe in God if you are interested and open up your heart.

 

[AndrewRyan]

Belief in God is in our DNA. All you have to do is walk outside and open your eyes to behold God's signature. Life has no meaning, nor does it make sense without God. Just as the world revolves around the sun, the world revolves around the Son.

Actually belief of god is Given to us from our parents, everyone is born an atheist.

 

[AfanofJesus]

Actually belief of god is Given to us from our parents, everyone is born an atheist.

Honestly, you/we can't know for sure whether God has programmed us through DNA to a belief in him or not. Except of course if he reveals that to us. Besides that I believe in God but none of my parents nor relatives believe in God. Actually my parents disdain my church attendance, involvement and faith. Thankfully this is not the case for the majority, although I'm not the only one having that experience. Btw I'd say you are born in a neutral position, I mean as a baby you don't actively "believe" that nothing such as deities can exist - you simply don't know, nor care?

 

[AndrewRyan]

Honestly, you/we can't know for sure whether God has programmed us through DNA to a belief in him or not. Except of course if he reveals that to us. Besides that I believe in God but none of my parents nor relatives believe in God. Actually my parents disdain my church attendance, involvement and faith. Thankfully this is not the case for the majority, although I'm not the only one having that experience. Btw I'd say you are born in a neutral position, I mean as a baby you don't actively "believe" that nothing such as deities can exist - you simply don't know, nor care?

My bad about the parents thing, but its what happens most of the time. Not all christians are forced to learn the religion be cause of family. And when were born, if not taught any religion, we would have to base our understanding of life and how things work by studying our surroundings, and thats what we have been doing for thousands of years.

 

[AfanofJesus]

My bad about the parents thing, but its what happens most of the time.

That's fine, I didn't mean like pointing out errors - it's just that it wasn't the case for me. Further, for example in Sweden the parents to my generation or later are not generally christian, nor religious so here it's pretty common to be taught into that in other ways. I guess though in the world it's more common growing up with one's parent's religion.

Not all christians are forced to learn the religion be cause of family. And when were born, if not taught any religion, we would have to base our understanding of life and how things work by studying our surroundings, and thats what we have been doing for thousands of years.

Yeah, sure, I just meant that atheism might be more of a actively choosen viewpoint. To me when someone is an atheist, they are "convinced" that there are nothing such deities, they BELIEVE that there ain't. When growing up, while in younger ages, I don't think you actively choose to disapprove of God's existence, I think you simply don't know. I think we mean the same thing. I have been taught that atheism=believing that there is/are no God/gods. Although not believing in God, doesn't mean you don't believe one exists? Whatever, I think we are on the same track?

For me it was the fallen state of the world that made me consider God. If one thinks too much about the world/society and its workings, the thought process will spiral down to cynicism. The goals that our world revolve upon fail upon further inspection. Gaining money? The idea that rich people just sit in mansions all day is a childhood dream. Rich people have a lot more to worry about and can't sleep since their assets are so great. And when they die, their kid could just be a spoiled brat that ruins everything, and if not them, maybe the grandchildren.

And it's not just goals in life too, there are an infinite number of ways a rational mind will find cynicism. For example: the role of government/politics, the meaning of the acquisition of knowledge, death and its inevitability for all people, the list goes on and on.

Eventually, the universe feels like a system. A circular gear that spins round and round, thinking it is accomplishing work when it is just wearing itself out until it doesn't work anymore. Generations come and go, but nothing really changes. Nothing we do is worth anything in the end.

And yet even in these rantings, the world feels like something more. Where is the survival value in things like art and music? Why does humanity seek to understand undefined things such as "soul", "passion", and "love"? Are all the moments that send chills up our spines and light our hearts on fire artificial? Is all of humanity simply deluding itself? No. I believe that the world isn't the circular prison it appears to be. I don't think that we exist simply to run in the race track that we fallible humans have created for ourselves. Because humanity is different. We're not just like any other animal species out there. This is where faith starts for me. A faith that humanity is different, and that the pursuits of the soul are not empty, that humanity can do something more. And why would I believe this unless there is some other force than secular logic? And what could that force be? The next string of questions lead me to God. I haven't looked back at the circular track I was running since.

Wow, that was a very well-written way to put it. I totally agree with you! From that point I think the obvious choice in life is too go with God, although the world makes us face more obstacles - philosophers, theologists, journalists, well educated people. Although I have a sense that most of these people would have no real problem believing in God after a time in the right environment, with the right type of person. Discussing whether God exists is like the well educated man's most honerable internet- and "debate-sport". These people don't want to seem weak in other people's eyes, people look up to people who debate tough questions, while it probably would be easier for all these people to surrender to God. I don't know, maybe I'm just wrong?

 

[Chris Blanks]

I think that people believe in god because of a few reasons. One, kind of going back to the being a baby thing is that most of us are told these things from a young age and it sticks, it's called fear tactics through stories, we become fearful of a deity(who are generally [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]s). When children are told to live their life as the bible tells them or burn in hell, they become fearful of that imaginary place called hell. The second reason is that most humans need some kind of guidance in their life and so they take hold of this "god" as the reason we are all here(even though science says otherwise).
I personal do not believe in god and really never have. When I was a child my parents told me to develop my own beliefs and not let anyone influence my decision. There may be a possibly of a higher power existing but as of now there is no real proof of that(A book whose legitimacy is debatable does not count). If down the road something happens and it is proven that a higher power exists then I will take that as fact, but as of now THERE IS NO GOD

 

[ssammoh]

I always had faith in God.
It's just faith.
Simple as that.

 

[Chris Blanks]

@ssammoh Thanks for proving my point. The definition of faith is belief that is not based on proof. So at least you people admit that there is no proof that god exists. No proof = non-existent

 

[Shane Plew]

Actually no proof of something/someone just means there is no reason to believe in it, not that it doesn't exist.

And just to clarify for those of you that don't seem to understand :

Atheism is a stance on belief. That stance being that an atheist doesn't believe in any god. Most atheists will also say that they can't prove that there isn't a god but there is no evidence for one existing(at least not any credible/testable evidence). This is called agnosticism which is a stance on knowledge. It is possible to be a agnostic Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, etc. In fact most of you probably are agnostic Christians unless you're not honest, you're ignorant, or know something I don't. In the last case I would be happy if you would share it with me. Even I can see the appeal in eternal life in paradise.

 

[OrenG]

I was raised in it, fell away from it and have since returned stronger than I was before. A world without God is a cold and dark place, to think that we were thrust into this world for no apparent reason, going through our trials and tribulations for absolutely no reason brings about depression and anxiety.

I find it awfully hard to believe we are here for a random, unexplained/meaningless reason. I have yet to see any reason for why things on earth should work out so perfectly. Carbon dioxide into oxygen, and vice versa. I just look out at any scene of nature and see God's finger print in all of it.

Then again if I'm wrong, at least there won't be pain or suffering, and I won't be conscious to know I don't exist.

 

[Shane Plew]

What I don't understand is how you see order in everything. I find the world to be an extremely chaotic place. Why do you see order when there is none? It makes no sense at all.

Also I don't find lack of a purpose a depressing thing at all. It gives you the freedom to handle things the way you see fit, and I know someone is going to think of course a moraless atheist would say that. I just want to say, before you jump to conclusions, that my moral code is better than that of your god.

 

[OrenG]

What I don't understand is how you see order in everything. I find the world to be an extremely chaotic place. Why do you see order when there is none? It makes no sense at all.

The chaos you see comes from man, not from God. God is not responsible for the chaos that man creates.

Also I don't find lack of a purpose a depressing thing at all. It gives you the freedom to handle things the way you see fit, and I know someone is going to think of course a moraless atheist would say that. I just want to say, before you jump to conclusions, that my moral code is better than that of your god.

I'm not here to discuss what your moral code is, that's your business. What I'm a little annoyed at is your insistence and persistence that you are somehow better than us. I'd like to know how. What is it you seek to gain by not believing in God and not following his commandments and guidelines for life?

 

[Shane Plew]

I never claimed to be better than anybody. If anything you are probably a way better person than I am by most people's standards. I only claimed to be better than your god, but I don't really want to have this argument here especially since I'm doing this on my phone. If you really want to have this argument then pm me if that is even possible on this Site.

As for the chaos thing, how do you know the chaos is a result of man and man isn't a result of chaos? I think my original qestion needs to be restated in a clearer manner. Why do you see order in the universe?

 

[OrenG]

I never claimed to be better than anybody. If anything you are probably a way better person than I am by most people's standards. I only claimed to be better than your god, but I don't really want to have this argument here especially since I'm doing this on my phone. If you really want to have this argument then pm me if that is even possible on this Site.

As for the chaos thing, how do you know the chaos is a result of man and man isn't a result of chaos? I think my original qestion needs to be restated in a clearer manner. Why do you see order in the universe?

Because I find the notion that randomness and things happening for no apparent reason are absolutely ridiculous. Nothing in our universe happens without a cause.

 

[Shane Plew]

That still does not answer the question. You are answering with the statement in question which makes no sense at all. Please answer my question clearly with an answer that makes sense even if you have to research it a little more or think about it for a bit. Thank you.