Why do people stay religious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Religion is for people with zero confidence or brains.

Churches take donations all the time. 90% of the money or more goes right to the leaders pocket.

Mega Churches or
Cults like Chabad, Hassids, Lubbies, Opus Dei, Evangelicals etc...

All Kool-Aid indoctrination centers run by con men.

Look at Charlie Kirk's furneral for god's sake mega church pyrotechnics, asks for money and an RNC, KKK rally all sponsored by Christian Nationalists. Pay to play.

What's Kirk have to do with this? He wasn't starting a religion. Try to stay on topic instead of deflecting because your arguments are weak.

I had brains when I was religious and I still have brains. I'm not any smarter now that I no longer believe in God or other imaginary beings. I'm just more informed and happier, knowing this life is the only one I - or anyone - will ever have. I'm no longer looking forward to meeting my friends and family in heaven, but I am really appreciating them more while we're all here on earth. I'm lucky to be alive and in good health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand are devout people that keep doing the same bad behavior over and over or do it in hiding such as cheating or stealing money. Do they really believe in God? If you really believed in hell or this promise of heaven, wouldn't you quickly change your ways to ensure you were chosen? Religion just doesn't seem to have much of a hold on people, even religious ones.

I think believing in God is kind of like believing that someone else loves you or loves their children. There is no way to know for sure, but there is a lot of good reason to suspect it’s true.

I don’t know you, but I suspect you believe that most people love their children and that your parents love you the same way you love your children. In theory, that knowledge should inform our behavior. You and I should be kinder to our parents and our in-laws. As a society and as individuals, we should provide food and money to low income parents and assume they will do what’s best for their children with it.

However, in practice, you and I forget this knowledge sometimes when it’s convenient for us. Because we don’t know it’s true, and it takes an act of faith to believe it, we can ignore our belief when it gets in the way of doing what we want.

It’s the same with religious belief. You can believe it intellectually and know that it’s true, but also ignore it at times when it gets in the way of doing what you want to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand are devout people that keep doing the same bad behavior over and over or do it in hiding such as cheating or stealing money. Do they really believe in God? If you really believed in hell or this promise of heaven, wouldn't you quickly change your ways to ensure you were chosen? Religion just doesn't seem to have much of a hold on people, even religious ones.

I think believing in God is kind of like believing that someone else loves you or loves their children. There is no way to know for sure, but there is a lot of good reason to suspect it’s true.

I don’t know you, but I suspect you believe that most people love their children and that your parents love you the same way you love your children. In theory, that knowledge should inform our behavior. You and I should be kinder to our parents and our in-laws. As a society and as individuals, we should provide food and money to low income parents and assume they will do what’s best for their children with it.

However, in practice, you and I forget this knowledge sometimes when it’s convenient for us. Because we don’t know it’s true, and it takes an act of faith to believe it, we can ignore our belief when it gets in the way of doing what we want.

It’s the same with religious belief. You can believe it intellectually and know that it’s true, but also ignore it at times when it gets in the way of doing what you want to do.

I don't think so. I think people just do what they want to do -- whether it's believing in eternal life or screwing over people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand are devout people that keep doing the same bad behavior over and over or do it in hiding such as cheating or stealing money. Do they really believe in God? If you really believed in hell or this promise of heaven, wouldn't you quickly change your ways to ensure you were chosen? Religion just doesn't seem to have much of a hold on people, even religious ones.

I think believing in God is kind of like believing that someone else loves you or loves their children. There is no way to know for sure, but there is a lot of good reason to suspect it’s true.

I don’t know you, but I suspect you believe that most people love their children and that your parents love you the same way you love your children. In theory, that knowledge should inform our behavior. You and I should be kinder to our parents and our in-laws. As a society and as individuals, we should provide food and money to low income parents and assume they will do what’s best for their children with it.

However, in practice, you and I forget this knowledge sometimes when it’s convenient for us. Because we don’t know it’s true, and it takes an act of faith to believe it, we can ignore our belief when it gets in the way of doing what we want.

It’s the same with religious belief. You can believe it intellectually and know that it’s true, but also ignore it at times when it gets in the way of doing what you want to do.

I don't think so. I think people just do what they want to do -- whether it's believing in eternal life or screwing over people.

Most people love and care about their children and feel loved and cared about by other people in their lives.

Saying that you don’t believe this and you think people just do whatever they want, even if it screws over other people, makes you sound like kind of a psychopath.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand are devout people that keep doing the same bad behavior over and over or do it in hiding such as cheating or stealing money. Do they really believe in God? If you really believed in hell or this promise of heaven, wouldn't you quickly change your ways to ensure you were chosen? Religion just doesn't seem to have much of a hold on people, even religious ones.

I think believing in God is kind of like believing that someone else loves you or loves their children. There is no way to know for sure, but there is a lot of good reason to suspect it’s true.

I don’t know you, but I suspect you believe that most people love their children and that your parents love you the same way you love your children. In theory, that knowledge should inform our behavior. You and I should be kinder to our parents and our in-laws. As a society and as individuals, we should provide food and money to low income parents and assume they will do what’s best for their children with it.

However, in practice, you and I forget this knowledge sometimes when it’s convenient for us. Because we don’t know it’s true, and it takes an act of faith to believe it, we can ignore our belief when it gets in the way of doing what we want.

It’s the same with religious belief. You can believe it intellectually and know that it’s true, but also ignore it at times when it gets in the way of doing what you want to do.

I don't think so. I think people just do what they want to do -- whether it's believing in eternal life or screwing over people.

Most people love and care about their children and feel loved and cared about by other people in their lives.

Saying that you don’t believe this and you think people just do whatever they want, even if it screws over other people, makes you sound like kind of a psychopath.

At least I don't like twisting what people say to make it sound crazy and then call them awful names.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand are devout people that keep doing the same bad behavior over and over or do it in hiding such as cheating or stealing money. Do they really believe in God? If you really believed in hell or this promise of heaven, wouldn't you quickly change your ways to ensure you were chosen? Religion just doesn't seem to have much of a hold on people, even religious ones.

I think believing in God is kind of like believing that someone else loves you or loves their children. There is no way to know for sure, but there is a lot of good reason to suspect it’s true.

I don’t know you, but I suspect you believe that most people love their children and that your parents love you the same way you love your children. In theory, that knowledge should inform our behavior. You and I should be kinder to our parents and our in-laws. As a society and as individuals, we should provide food and money to low income parents and assume they will do what’s best for their children with it.

However, in practice, you and I forget this knowledge sometimes when it’s convenient for us. Because we don’t know it’s true, and it takes an act of faith to believe it, we can ignore our belief when it gets in the way of doing what we want.

It’s the same with religious belief. You can believe it intellectually and know that it’s true, but also ignore it at times when it gets in the way of doing what you want to do.

I don't think so. I think people just do what they want to do -- whether it's believing in eternal life or screwing over people.

Most people love and care about their children and feel loved and cared about by other people in their lives.

Saying that you don’t believe this and you think people just do whatever they want, even if it screws over other people, makes you sound like kind of a psychopath.

At least I don't like twisting what people say to make it sound crazy and then call them awful names.

I didn’t mean to twist your words or call you names. You responded to a post saying that believing in God is like believing that other people love their children. Rationally, you should always act on this belief, but often people don’t.

You said that you don’t believe that other people love their children, and you think people do what they want—whether it’s believing in eternal life or screwing other people over.

I interpreted this to mean that you think people do whatever they feel is best for themselves without regard to others or their own conscience. That’s a pretty dark view of the world. I don’t think you are a psychopath, but saying stuff like that makes you sound like one.

[Anonymous]

Church is a social club and identity for most people. Most people don't believe the dogma once they are adults. They go to church to be with a support system. That's usually a good thing. Unless it's a cult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand are devout people that keep doing the same bad behavior over and over or do it in hiding such as cheating or stealing money. Do they really believe in God? If you really believed in hell or this promise of heaven, wouldn't you quickly change your ways to ensure you were chosen? Religion just doesn't seem to have much of a hold on people, even religious ones.

I think believing in God is kind of like believing that someone else loves you or loves their children. There is no way to know for sure, but there is a lot of good reason to suspect it’s true.

I don’t know you, but I suspect you believe that most people love their children and that your parents love you the same way you love your children. In theory, that knowledge should inform our behavior. You and I should be kinder to our parents and our in-laws. As a society and as individuals, we should provide food and money to low income parents and assume they will do what’s best for their children with it.

However, in practice, you and I forget this knowledge sometimes when it’s convenient for us. Because we don’t know it’s true, and it takes an act of faith to believe it, we can ignore our belief when it gets in the way of doing what we want.

It’s the same with religious belief. You can believe it intellectually and know that it’s true, but also ignore it at times when it gets in the way of doing what you want to do.

I don't think so. I think people just do what they want to do -- whether it's believing in eternal life or screwing over people.

Most people love and care about their children and feel loved and cared about by other people in their lives.

Saying that you don’t believe this and you think people just do whatever they want, even if it screws over other people, makes you sound like kind of a psychopath.

At least I don't like twisting what people say to make it sound crazy and then call them awful names.

I didn’t mean to twist your words or call you names. You responded to a post saying that believing in God is like believing that other people love their children. Rationally, you should always act on this belief, but often people don’t.

You said that you don’t believe that other people love their children, and you think people do what they want—whether it’s believing in eternal life or screwing other people over.

I interpreted this to mean that you think people do whatever they feel is best for themselves without regard to others or their own conscience. That’s a pretty dark view of the world. I don’t think you are a psychopath, but saying stuff like that makes you sound like one.

Truth is, you don't know anything about the pp about whom you are commenting, just as I know nothing about you or why you'd say such a thing to a stranger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand are devout people that keep doing the same bad behavior over and over or do it in hiding such as cheating or stealing money. Do they really believe in God? If you really believed in hell or this promise of heaven, wouldn't you quickly change your ways to ensure you were chosen? Religion just doesn't seem to have much of a hold on people, even religious ones.

I think believing in God is kind of like believing that someone else loves you or loves their children. There is no way to know for sure, but there is a lot of good reason to suspect it’s true.

I don’t know you, but I suspect you believe that most people love their children and that your parents love you the same way you love your children. In theory, that knowledge should inform our behavior. You and I should be kinder to our parents and our in-laws. As a society and as individuals, we should provide food and money to low income parents and assume they will do what’s best for their children with it.

However, in practice, you and I forget this knowledge sometimes when it’s convenient for us. Because we don’t know it’s true, and it takes an act of faith to believe it, we can ignore our belief when it gets in the way of doing what we want.

It’s the same with religious belief. You can believe it intellectually and know that it’s true, but also ignore it at times when it gets in the way of doing what you want to do.

I don't think so. I think people just do what they want to do -- whether it's believing in eternal life or screwing over people.

Most people love and care about their children and feel loved and cared about by other people in their lives.

Saying that you don’t believe this and you think people just do whatever they want, even if it screws over other people, makes you sound like kind of a psychopath.

At least I don't like twisting what people say to make it sound crazy and then call them awful names.

I didn’t mean to twist your words or call you names. You responded to a post saying that believing in God is like believing that other people love their children. Rationally, you should always act on this belief, but often people don’t.

You said that you don’t believe that other people love their children, and you think people do what they want—whether it’s believing in eternal life or screwing other people over.

I interpreted this to mean that you think people do whatever they feel is best for themselves without regard to others or their own conscience. That’s a pretty dark view of the world. I don’t think you are a psychopath, but saying stuff like that makes you sound like one.

Go pick on someone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand are devout people that keep doing the same bad behavior over and over or do it in hiding such as cheating or stealing money. Do they really believe in God? If you really believed in hell or this promise of heaven, wouldn't you quickly change your ways to ensure you were chosen? Religion just doesn't seem to have much of a hold on people, even religious ones.

I think believing in God is kind of like believing that someone else loves you or loves their children. There is no way to know for sure, but there is a lot of good reason to suspect it’s true.

I don’t know you, but I suspect you believe that most people love their children and that your parents love you the same way you love your children. In theory, that knowledge should inform our behavior. You and I should be kinder to our parents and our in-laws. As a society and as individuals, we should provide food and money to low income parents and assume they will do what’s best for their children with it.

However, in practice, you and I forget this knowledge sometimes when it’s convenient for us. Because we don’t know it’s true, and it takes an act of faith to believe it, we can ignore our belief when it gets in the way of doing what we want.

It’s the same with religious belief. You can believe it intellectually and know that it’s true, but also ignore it at times when it gets in the way of doing what you want to do.

I don't think so. I think people just do what they want to do -- whether it's believing in eternal life or screwing over people.

Most people love and care about their children and feel loved and cared about by other people in their lives.

Saying that you don’t believe this and you think people just do whatever they want, even if it screws over other people, makes you sound like kind of a psychopath.

At least I don't like twisting what people say to make it sound crazy and then call them awful names.

I didn’t mean to twist your words or call you names. You responded to a post saying that believing in God is like believing that other people love their children. Rationally, you should always act on this belief, but often people don’t.

You said that you don’t believe that other people love their children, and you think people do what they want—whether it’s believing in eternal life or screwing other people over.

I interpreted this to mean that you think people do whatever they feel is best for themselves without regard to others or their own conscience. That’s a pretty dark view of the world. I don’t think you are a psychopath, but saying stuff like that makes you sound like one.

Truth is, you don't know anything about the pp about whom you are commenting, just as I know nothing about you or why you'd say such a thing to a stranger.

I guess I would say the same thing to anyone who told me they believe that (other?) people are don’t love their children, and that everyone is completely self-serving and willing to screw other people over.

I don’t have to know anything about it who said it. It’s a terrible thing to say. Period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand are devout people that keep doing the same bad behavior over and over or do it in hiding such as cheating or stealing money. Do they really believe in God? If you really believed in hell or this promise of heaven, wouldn't you quickly change your ways to ensure you were chosen? Religion just doesn't seem to have much of a hold on people, even religious ones.

I think believing in God is kind of like believing that someone else loves you or loves their children. There is no way to know for sure, but there is a lot of good reason to suspect it’s true.

I don’t know you, but I suspect you believe that most people love their children and that your parents love you the same way you love your children. In theory, that knowledge should inform our behavior. You and I should be kinder to our parents and our in-laws. As a society and as individuals, we should provide food and money to low income parents and assume they will do what’s best for their children with it.

However, in practice, you and I forget this knowledge sometimes when it’s convenient for us. Because we don’t know it’s true, and it takes an act of faith to believe it, we can ignore our belief when it gets in the way of doing what we want.

It’s the same with religious belief. You can believe it intellectually and know that it’s true, but also ignore it at times when it gets in the way of doing what you want to do.

I don't think so. I think people just do what they want to do -- whether it's believing in eternal life or screwing over people.

Most people love and care about their children and feel loved and cared about by other people in their lives.

Saying that you don’t believe this and you think people just do whatever they want, even if it screws over other people, makes you sound like kind of a psychopath.

At least I don't like twisting what people say to make it sound crazy and then call them awful names.

I didn’t mean to twist your words or call you names. You responded to a post saying that believing in God is like believing that other people love their children. Rationally, you should always act on this belief, but often people don’t.

You said that you don’t believe that other people love their children, and you think people do what they want—whether it’s believing in eternal life or screwing other people over.

I interpreted this to mean that you think people do whatever they feel is best for themselves without regard to others or their own conscience. That’s a pretty dark view of the world. I don’t think you are a psychopath, but saying stuff like that makes you sound like one.

Truth is, you don't know anything about the pp about whom you are commenting, just as I know nothing about you or why you'd say such a thing to a stranger.

I guess I would say the same thing to anyone who told me they believe that (other?) people are don’t love their children, and that everyone is completely self-serving and willing to screw other people over.

I don’t have to know anything about it who said it. It’s a terrible thing to say. Period.

My guess is that that poster had a pretty horrible childhood if she doesn’t believe that parents love their children and are willing to screw them over. I’m sorry for whatever happened. I hope that you get the help you need and find a therapist who does care about you and can show you what that kind of relationship can look like.

I wish you well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand are devout people that keep doing the same bad behavior over and over or do it in hiding such as cheating or stealing money. Do they really believe in God? If you really believed in hell or this promise of heaven, wouldn't you quickly change your ways to ensure you were chosen? Religion just doesn't seem to have much of a hold on people, even religious ones.

I think believing in God is kind of like believing that someone else loves you or loves their children. There is no way to know for sure, but there is a lot of good reason to suspect it’s true.

I don’t know you, but I suspect you believe that most people love their children and that your parents love you the same way you love your children. In theory, that knowledge should inform our behavior. You and I should be kinder to our parents and our in-laws. As a society and as individuals, we should provide food and money to low income parents and assume they will do what’s best for their children with it.

However, in practice, you and I forget this knowledge sometimes when it’s convenient for us. Because we don’t know it’s true, and it takes an act of faith to believe it, we can ignore our belief when it gets in the way of doing what we want.

It’s the same with religious belief. You can believe it intellectually and know that it’s true, but also ignore it at times when it gets in the way of doing what you want to do.

I don't think so. I think people just do what they want to do -- whether it's believing in eternal life or screwing over people.

Most people love and care about their children and feel loved and cared about by other people in their lives.

Saying that you don’t believe this and you think people just do whatever they want, even if it screws over other people, makes you sound like kind of a psychopath.

At least I don't like twisting what people say to make it sound crazy and then call them awful names.

I didn’t mean to twist your words or call you names. You responded to a post saying that believing in God is like believing that other people love their children. Rationally, you should always act on this belief, but often people don’t.

You said that you don’t believe that other people love their children, and you think people do what they want—whether it’s believing in eternal life or screwing other people over.

I interpreted this to mean that you think people do whatever they feel is best for themselves without regard to others or their own conscience. That’s a pretty dark view of the world. I don’t think you are a psychopath, but saying stuff like that makes you sound like one.

Truth is, you don't know anything about the pp about whom you are commenting, just as I know nothing about you or why you'd say such a thing to a stranger.

I guess I would say the same thing to anyone who told me they believe that (other?) people are don’t love their children, and that everyone is completely self-serving and willing to screw other people over.

I don’t have to know anything about it who said it. It’s a terrible thing to say. Period.

My guess is that that poster had a pretty horrible childhood if she doesn’t believe that parents love their children and are willing to screw them over. I’m sorry for whatever happened. I hope that you get the help you need and find a therapist who does care about you and can show you what that kind of relationship can look like.

I wish you well.

I hope you spend little time worrying about strangers on the internet and the stories you make up about them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Religion is for people with zero confidence or brains.

Churches take donations all the time. 90% of the money or more goes right to the leaders pocket.

Mega Churches or
Cults like Chabad, Hassids, Lubbies, Opus Dei, Evangelicals etc...

All Kool-Aid indoctrination centers run by con men.

Look at Charlie Kirk's furneral for god's sake mega church pyrotechnics, asks for money and an RNC, KKK rally all sponsored by Christian Nationalists. Pay to play.

What's Kirk have to do with this? He wasn't starting a religion. Try to stay on topic instead of deflecting because your arguments are weak.

No deflecting Kirk is a perfect example of someone claiming to be religious and then stealing every dime from the people who are indoctrinated by him. He’s a con man but you Bible thumping idiots think he’s a great human while he steaks from you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Religion is for people with zero confidence or brains.

Churches take donations all the time. 90% of the money or more goes right to the leaders pocket.

Mega Churches or
Cults like Chabad, Hassids, Lubbies, Opus Dei, Evangelicals etc...

All Kool-Aid indoctrination centers run by con men.

Look at Charlie Kirk's furneral for god's sake mega church pyrotechnics, asks for money and an RNC, KKK rally all sponsored by Christian Nationalists. Pay to play.

What's Kirk have to do with this? He wasn't starting a religion. Try to stay on topic instead of deflecting because your arguments are weak.

No deflecting Kirk is a perfect example of someone claiming to be religious and then stealing every dime from the people who are indoctrinated by him. He’s a con man but you Bible thumping idiots think he’s a great human while he steaks from you

He's a dead man now. His stealing days are over. He's dead, just like the dogs that were sent to the pound and injected or shot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank God there are people like OP to rescue us!

Some people don't need to be rescued. I feel sorry for you.