Why should one care if ''God'' exists?

[Jeremy E Walker]

I want to thank you guys for replying as you have. I'm on my phone and its hard to quite and reply etc...but I will later.

I'm thinking that I should have worded my OP differently. Thinking it through, maybe what I meant was "why do you feel a need to believe in a higher power?"

I was raised in a Christian home but this question night be good for converts to the faith to reply to since they weren't indoctrinated as kids. I'm of the opinion, when its thrust upon you in childhood, you have no choice to say no. But to convert in adulthood becomes a choice and I'm curious as to why someone would think believing in a higher power is necessary to having a "better" life?

I'll bbl.

I had a choice to say no as a child and did.

Don't believe me?

Ask my mom.

 

[FlameAlchemist]

I want to thank you guys for replying as you have. I'm on my phone and its hard to quite and reply etc...but I will later.

I'm thinking that I should have worded my OP differently. Thinking it through, maybe what I meant was "why do you feel a need to believe in a higher power?"

I was raised in a Christian home but this question night be good for converts to the faith to reply to since they weren't indoctrinated as kids. I'm of the opinion, when its thrust upon you in childhood, you have no choice to say no. But to convert in adulthood becomes a choice and I'm curious as to why someone would think believing in a higher power is necessary to having a "better" life?

I'll bbl.

Quite simply, I don't think that belief in God is necessary to have a better life. I didn't choose to be a Christian because it made me happy, there are plenty of things I could fill my life with that could, in theory, make me "happy." I believe in a God because it brings me fulfillment. It probably works best through example. This is a true story by the way.

Deion Sanders played baseball and football professionally. When he played for the Dallas Cowboys he and his team went on to win the Superbowl. That night he sat in his hotel room, called the front desk, told them to bring his new Lamborghini up to the front of the building. He sat in his room and said "Is this it? Is this what it was all for?" He then converted to Christianity shortly afterwards.

Why does a man with enough money, and fame to command whatever pleasure he wants feel the need for God?

That is the question I will leave you with.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Why does a man with enough money, and fame to command whatever pleasure he wants feel the need for God?

Fame and riches are overrated. They can't give one's life meaning.

The man (or woman) feels the need for some meaning to his existence because he (or she) was never given one. He took the easy way out and chose religion.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[PsychoSarah]

because in being united to God I can tell that everyone else is united to him as well.

Even the people who literally and openly worship satan?

 

[Deidre32]

I had a choice to say no as a child and did.

Don't believe me?

Ask my mom.

I don't care for your tone, anymore. So, whatever....man.

 

[Deidre32]

Quite simply, I don't think that belief in God is necessary to have a better life. I didn't choose to be a Christian because it made me happy, there are plenty of things I could fill my life with that could, in theory, make me "happy." I believe in a God because it brings me fulfillment. It probably works best through example. This is a true story by the way.

Deion Sanders played baseball and football professionally. When he played for the Dallas Cowboys he and his team went on to win the Superbowl. That night he sat in his hotel room, called the front desk, told them to bring his new Lamborghini up to the front of the building. He sat in his room and said "Is this it? Is this what it was all for?" He then converted to Christianity shortly afterwards.

Why does a man with enough money, and fame to command whatever pleasure he wants feel the need for God?

That is the question I will leave you with.

Appreciate your honest answer.

 

[FlameAlchemist]

The man (or woman) feels the need for some meaning to his existence because he (or she) was never given one. He took the easy way out and chose religion.


eudaimonia,

Mark

What is life without meaning?

 

[PsychoSarah]

What is life without meaning?

Whatever meaning you give to it.

 

[Aldebaran]

I'm thinking that I should have worded my OP differently. Thinking it through, maybe what I meant was "why do you feel a need to believe in a higher power?"

I guess I originally felt the need when I was convinced that this higher power existed. If I didn't think He did exist, I wouldn't be looking to invent one.

 

[Eudaimonist]

What is life without meaning?

Life without any purpose that matters.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[lost999]

Whatever meaning you give to it.

Looking at it objectively, it would be ultimately meaningless though.

 

[bhsmte]

Quite simply, I don't think that belief in God is necessary to have a better life. I didn't choose to be a Christian because it made me happy, there are plenty of things I could fill my life with that could, in theory, make me "happy." I believe in a God because it brings me fulfillment. It probably works best through example. This is a true story by the way.

Deion Sanders played baseball and football professionally. When he played for the Dallas Cowboys he and his team went on to win the Superbowl. That night he sat in his hotel room, called the front desk, told them to bring his new Lamborghini up to the front of the building. He sat in his room and said "Is this it? Is this what it was all for?" He then converted to Christianity shortly afterwards.

Why does a man with enough money, and fame to command whatever pleasure he wants feel the need for God?

That is the question I will leave you with.

IMO, it all comes down to, psychological need and we all have our own unique psychological needs.

 

[KCfromNC]

Looking at it objectively, it would be ultimately meaningless though.

I'm not seeing it. Meaning is meaning, no matter how much you try to hand-wave it away.

 

[Tinker Grey]

What is the significance of "ultimate"? Why should one care about "ultimate"?

If I have meaning in this life, that is enough. After this, I won't care.

 

[keith99]

If God exists, and if he is specifically the Christian God, it should be obvious why that ought to concern you.

Why? Since you believe that the issue was decided before I was born?

Or have you changed your belief since you selected your Icons?

 

[edens]

I'm an atheist but also a former Christian. Instead of asking Christians to show evidence of god's existence (which there is no objective proof; the Bible isn't proof of anything) why not tell me and other atheists, why is believing relevant? Why should anyone care if a god exists?

If a god exists, why does he/it need my buy in?

Why is believing in a god ...necessary to living a good and productive life? (It's not in my opinion, but I'm interested in learning from Christians here, why they feel otherwise)

Thanks!

I'm in between, not a christian or an atheist. I don't think you need to believe in anything. It's your life to live how you see fit and not my place force that upon anyone.

Everyone knows the difference between right and wrong. Using Satan and the devil as some reference that leads people astray seems silly to me.

It seems to me christians may think you need the guidance from the bible to live a right life. ( what does that mean? ) I suppose so you won't be mislead by satan and his dark army....( ei bad choices )

The only other reason I see is trying to convince you of a God and becoming a christian is to get some kind of reward in the afterlife for converting people.

There's also the fact some may have to validate their own beliefs by convincing you they are right and themselves at the same time.

and..I suppose some feel as though it may improve your life as maybe having that belief for them has helped their lives in some way.

 

[Noxot]

How can you tell to the point of knowing other people's inner most feelings?

because there is a difference in between someones human soul and someones real self. the human soul is like a plant in the garden of who they are in totality. by knowing the larger parts of all of humanity and thus every human on a deeper level it is easy to come to conclusions such as "everyone loves God". in eternity you can view people for who they are rather than viewing them in this world where all that is happening is that a story is being played out whos ultimate conclusion is the same as their ultimate beginning. viewing things from further back you see that everything was always part of an expression of free love that was so important that it afforded many things to be able to occur such as various evils in our world and even the death of the son of God. basically... God makes very complicated stories with his beloved.

Even the people who literally and openly worship satan?

even satan himself... after you dig through all the layers to find Lucifer.

 

[Eudaimonist]

because there is a difference in between someones human soul and someones real self. the human soul is like a plant in the garden of who they are in totality.

I don't follow your analogy. What are you trying to say here? What is the distinction that you are drawing?


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Deidre32]

because there is a difference in between someones human soul and someones real self. the human soul is like a plant in the garden of who they are in totality. by knowing the larger parts of all of humanity and thus every human on a deeper level it is easy to come to conclusions such as "everyone loves God". in eternity you can view people for who they are rather than viewing them in this world where all that is happening is that a story is being played out whos ultimate conclusion is the same as their ultimate beginning. viewing things from further back you see that everything was always part of an expression of free love that was so important that it afforded many things to be able to occur such as various evils in our world and even the death of the son of God. basically... God makes very complicated stories with his beloved.




even satan himself... after you dig through all the layers to find Lucifer.

The problem with what you're saying here is this is your opinion, yet there seems to an authoritative tone to your post. It is your opinion like all of religions is, if we're honest.

It would be like me saying, "2+2=10. No really. It does!"

But you know that my comment is based on opinion. I'm often mystified that religion gets away with talking authoritatively, to the point of affecting laws and government rulings and such, and it's really nothing more than people's opinions on who they think a god is to them.

I'm not judging you, but just stating that observation.

 

[Deidre32]

I'm in between, not a christian or an atheist. I don't think you need to believe in anything. It's your life to live how you see fit and not my place force that upon anyone.

Everyone knows the difference between right and wrong. Using Satan and the devil as some reference that leads people astray seems silly to me.

It seems to me christians may think you need the guidance from the bible to live a right life. ( what does that mean? ) I suppose so you won't be mislead by satan and his dark army....( ei bad choices )

The only other reason I see is trying to convince you of a God and becoming a christian is to get some kind of reward in the afterlife for converting people.

There's also the fact some may have to validate their own beliefs by convincing you they are right and themselves at the same time.

and..I suppose some feel as though it may improve your life as maybe having that belief for them has helped their lives in some way.

What an insightful, honest post! Thank you for your input. I agree on some of those points.