How can rational people believe in any religion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have thought and thought about this. How can anyone believe religion is real? To me it is all superstition. I can understand why some people need it— it gives them community, structure, for some, morals and for others excuses to commit atrocities. But really, what separates idol worship from Jesus worship or monotheism? In my mind it is all a bunch of made up nonsense that is not grounded in reality. It’s crazy to think that highly intelligent people believe all this.

Smart, rational people do not start premises like this with “to me,” “I can understand,” etc

Smart, rational people know that there is a lot that they don’t know and just because they aren’t currently experiencing something at this given moment, does not mean it is not quite real.

Smart, rational people are that way because they are open to what they don’t know.

So you miss the boat there, OP

Are you saying that OP is not smart and rational and that you are?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why DO atheists care so much what other people think.

They don't. But they have reason and logic and don't understand how others get benefit from fairy tales. I grew up Catholic. But I'm pretty confident Mary conceived Jesus the usual way. I'm pretty confident Jesus didn't use miracles to turn water into wine. And I'm pretty confident the body of Jesus didn't magically rise into someplace called heaven three days after he was crucified. None of it makes sense. But people wil say you have to have faith. Ok, but I could also have faith in the spaghetti monster. It doesn't make it real. I think Jesus was a good dude and there's a lot of wisdom there. But I can't make myself believe in the hocus pocus.

.

But you being “pretty confident” means nothing.

Your lack of self awareness is astounding.

Many here don’t understand how a dash cam functions and think cavemen had straight white teeth and embrace a view of Jesus that has been debunked for centuries. Yet, they think they are the intelligent ones.

It tracks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn’t there only be one religion if religion is real?

I believe God presents himself to different people in different ways.

So there’s one God, but a multitude of religions and beliefs

Why does God allow people to fight and kill each other over different religious beliefs, if it is all one God?

They claim it's religion. Like the conquistadores came to save the heathens...who conveniently were thought to have great stores of jewels and precious metals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why DO atheists care so much what other people think.

They don't. But they have reason and logic and don't understand how others get benefit from fairy tales. I grew up Catholic. But I'm pretty confident Mary conceived Jesus the usual way. I'm pretty confident Jesus didn't use miracles to turn water into wine. And I'm pretty confident the body of Jesus didn't magically rise into someplace called heaven three days after he was crucified. None of it makes sense. But people wil say you have to have faith. Ok, but I could also have faith in the spaghetti monster. It doesn't make it real. I think Jesus was a good dude and there's a lot of wisdom there. But I can't make myself believe in the hocus pocus.

I don't understand how others want to have children especially multiple ones. But I accept that they do and I am stuck paying higher property taxes for public schools. I think they are well meaning and the kids will pay into my SSA and Medicare but I can't make myself feel a maternal "instinct" or baby craving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn’t there only be one religion if religion is real?

I believe God presents himself to different people in different ways.

So there’s one God, but a multitude of religions and beliefs

Why does God allow people to fight and kill each other over different religious beliefs, if it is all one God?

So we can learn and grow.

Same reason you don’t make a perfect life for your kid and give them everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You've thought and thought and can't get to something easily understood and obvious to everyone else?

Yikes.

But you are wrong- to logical people it makes no sense (not OP btw)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have thought and thought about this. How can anyone believe religion is real? To me it is all superstition. I can understand why some people need it— it gives them community, structure, for some, morals and for others excuses to commit atrocities. But really, what separates idol worship from Jesus worship or monotheism? In my mind it is all a bunch of made up nonsense that is not grounded in reality. It’s crazy to think that highly intelligent people believe all this.

My religion does not have a deity. It is based on love, acts of kindness, community, mutual respect………

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have thought and thought about this. How can anyone believe religion is real? To me it is all superstition. I can understand why some people need it— it gives them community, structure, for some, morals and for others excuses to commit atrocities. But really, what separates idol worship from Jesus worship or monotheism? In my mind it is all a bunch of made up nonsense that is not grounded in reality. It’s crazy to think that highly intelligent people believe all this.

Wow, another thread on this?

*yawn*

[Anonymous]

How can “rational” people not believe in entities greater than themselves? Start there, then add details.
Many religions explain the unexplained and provide supports of various kinds — including community— in the face of the unbearable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have thought and thought about this. How can anyone believe religion is real? To me it is all superstition. I can understand why some people need it— it gives them community, structure, for some, morals and for others excuses to commit atrocities. But really, what separates idol worship from Jesus worship or monotheism? In my mind it is all a bunch of made up nonsense that is not grounded in reality. It’s crazy to think that highly intelligent people believe all this.

Smart, rational people do not start premises like this with “to me,” “I can understand,” etc

Smart, rational people know that there is a lot that they don’t know and just because they aren’t currently experiencing something at this given moment, does not mean it is not quite real.

Smart, rational people are that way because they are open to what they don’t know.

So you miss the boat there, OP

Are you saying that OP is not smart and rational and that you are?

DP. They have a point here. Really smart and rational people don't think they have all the answers, and they're OK with ambiguity.

I read somewhere that it takes IQ over a certain threshold (I forget what) to be OK with ambiguous endings to stories or movies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have thought and thought about this. How can anyone believe religion is real? To me it is all superstition. I can understand why some people need it— it gives them community, structure, for some, morals and for others excuses to commit atrocities. But really, what separates idol worship from Jesus worship or monotheism? In my mind it is all a bunch of made up nonsense that is not grounded in reality. It’s crazy to think that highly intelligent people believe all this.

Smart, rational people do not start premises like this with “to me,” “I can understand,” etc

Smart, rational people know that there is a lot that they don’t know and just because they aren’t currently experiencing something at this given moment, does not mean it is not quite real.

Smart, rational people are that way because they are open to what they don’t know.

So you miss the boat there, OP

Are you saying that OP is not smart and rational and that you are?

DP. They have a point here. Really smart and rational people don't think they have all the answers, and they're OK with ambiguity.

I read somewhere that it takes IQ over a certain threshold (I forget what) to be OK with ambiguous endings to stories or movies.

+1

Anyone who claims to have all the answers is delusional.

[Anonymous]

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God and the earth proclaims his handiwork. Day into day sings out his presence and night into night his praise.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have thought and thought about this. How can anyone believe religion is real? To me it is all superstition. I can understand why some people need it— it gives them community, structure, for some, morals and for others excuses to commit atrocities. But really, what separates idol worship from Jesus worship or monotheism? In my mind it is all a bunch of made up nonsense that is not grounded in reality. It’s crazy to think that highly intelligent people believe all this.

Smart, rational people do not start premises like this with “to me,” “I can understand,” etc

Smart, rational people know that there is a lot that they don’t know and just because they aren’t currently experiencing something at this given moment, does not mean it is not quite real.

Smart, rational people are that way because they are open to what they don’t know.

So you miss the boat there, OP

Are you saying that OP is not smart and rational and that you are?

I’m certainly more self aware than OP appears to be, yes. And self awareness is an essential piece of wisdom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why DO atheists care so much what other people think.

They don't. But they have reason and logic and don't understand how others get benefit from fairy tales. I grew up Catholic. But I'm pretty confident Mary conceived Jesus the usual way. I'm pretty confident Jesus didn't use miracles to turn water into wine. And I'm pretty confident the body of Jesus didn't magically rise into someplace called heaven three days after he was crucified. None of it makes sense. But people wil say you have to have faith. Ok, but I could also have faith in the spaghetti monster. It doesn't make it real. I think Jesus was a good dude and there's a lot of wisdom there. But I can't make myself believe in the hocus pocus.

.

But you being “pretty confident” means nothing.

Your lack of self awareness is astounding.

Many here don’t understand how a dash cam functions and think cavemen had straight white teeth and embrace a view of Jesus that has been debunked for centuries. Yet, they think they are the intelligent ones.

It tracks.

You have no idea what “many here” understand or what views they embrace. You are projecting.

[Anonymous]

One person chooses to believe there is a God. You choose to believe there isn't one. You can't prove either stance, theirs or yours.