Why do people stay religious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I stay religious simply because I have faith. I grew up Catholic and at core I believe the Catholic faith. More importantly, though, it doesn’t really matter to me what part of which religious belief systems are factually accurate. I believe that there is a God And that there are many paths to God. I believe that there is more that I don’t know than that I know, and I believe that God may have given people across the world different understandings for purposes I don’t know. I don’t think about the afterlife and don’t feel I believe anything in hopes of it, and if Someone Were to reveal that it didn’t exist, that’s fine by me. But at core, I believe there is a form of God and it’s based on faith, not logic.

It sounds a little wacky to me.

Sounds like they made up their own religion. Why not - all religions are made up anyhow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I stay religious simply because I have faith. I grew up Catholic and at core I believe the Catholic faith. More importantly, though, it doesn’t really matter to me what part of which religious belief systems are factually accurate. I believe that there is a God And that there are many paths to God. I believe that there is more that I don’t know than that I know, and I believe that God may have given people across the world different understandings for purposes I don’t know. I don’t think about the afterlife and don’t feel I believe anything in hopes of it, and if Someone Were to reveal that it didn’t exist, that’s fine by me. But at core, I believe there is a form of God and it’s based on faith, not logic.

You sound like a bad Catholic.

Meh, more like a typical Catholic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I stay religious simply because I have faith. I grew up Catholic and at core I believe the Catholic faith. More importantly, though, it doesn’t really matter to me what part of which religious belief systems are factually accurate. I believe that there is a God And that there are many paths to God. I believe that there is more that I don’t know than that I know, and I believe that God may have given people across the world different understandings for purposes I don’t know. I don’t think about the afterlife and don’t feel I believe anything in hopes of it, and if Someone Were to reveal that it didn’t exist, that’s fine by me. But at core, I believe there is a form of God and it’s based on faith, not logic.

You sound like a bad Catholic.

Meh, more like a typical Catholic.

I agree. Seems like most Catholics I know.

[Anonymous]

TLDR - ignorance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TLDR - ignorance

There certainly is a lot of ignorance on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I swear we need an atheists forum.

This.

No, what you really want is an echo chamber. Start your own and stop whining.

No, I disagree. A lot of people post as if they are experts on a topic they have never studied at all, and it's just annoying noise. The premises are false, the fact are wrong, the gotchas are tropes. It's tiring. Intellectual theological debates in college classrooms are actually interesting. This is just kindergarteners throwing insults using words they don't understand (frequently on both sides, by the way).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I swear we need an atheists forum.

This.

No, what you really want is an echo chamber. Start your own and stop whining.

No, I disagree. A lot of people post as if they are experts on a topic they have never studied at all, and it's just annoying noise. The premises are false, the fact are wrong, the gotchas are tropes. It's tiring. Intellectual theological debates in college classrooms are actually interesting. This is just kindergarteners throwing insults using words they don't understand (frequently on both sides, by the way).

It’s fine you disagree, but I disagree with you quite strongly. I recommend instead of whining about generalities you specifically address individual points using your scholarship. If your points are clear, strong, and supported by evidence you’ll be successful. A second choice would be just to ignore the posts you don’t like. Both are better choices than one word complaint posts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:- it gives them a feeling of tribe/community (for better or for worse)
- they're too scared to delve into doubt and let their minds even go there
- they really do believe (and aren't very bright)
- they haven't been exposed to other ideas, or the idea that literally every religions claims to be 'the truth'
- they like tradition. they dislike change.
- they're afraid of what other people would think, or of letting down others if they admitted disbelief

You had to insert that, didn't you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:- it gives them a feeling of tribe/community (for better or for worse)
- they're too scared to delve into doubt and let their minds even go there
- they really do believe (and aren't very bright)
- they haven't been exposed to other ideas, or the idea that literally every religions claims to be 'the truth'
- they like tradition. they dislike change.
- they're afraid of what other people would think, or of letting down others if they admitted disbelief

A lot comes down to "other" factor : haven't been exposed to other ideas. Etc. disklike change (other). Think what other people will think. or letting down others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I stay religious simply because I have faith. I grew up Catholic and at core I believe the Catholic faith. More importantly, though, it doesn’t really matter to me what part of which religious belief systems are factually accurate. I believe that there is a God And that there are many paths to God. I believe that there is more that I don’t know than that I know, and I believe that God may have given people across the world different understandings for purposes I don’t know. I don’t think about the afterlife and don’t feel I believe anything in hopes of it, and if Someone Were to reveal that it didn’t exist, that’s fine by me. But at core, I believe there is a form of God and it’s based on faith, not logic.

You do understand the catholic religion teaches there is an afterlife with God and this is the main goal in life to get there right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I swear we need an atheists forum.

This.

No, what you really want is an echo chamber. Start your own and stop whining.

No, I disagree. A lot of people post as if they are experts on a topic they have never studied at all, and it's just annoying noise. The premises are false, the fact are wrong, the gotchas are tropes. It's tiring. Intellectual theological debates in college classrooms are actually interesting. This is just kindergarteners throwing insults using words they don't understand (frequently on both sides, by the way).

I suggest you leave this forum and instead confer with more worthy people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe because they like it. It feels good. Most everyone else they know does it.

Do they really believe? I doubt it. I can see why people believed it 2,000 years ago, but how can anyone these days possibly believe that long ago, a guy who was actually God, had a mother who was a virgin. He was later died by hanging on a cross, then came back to life and ultimately went up to the sky (heaven) to live with his father (God) and if you believe that, you’ll get to live forever just like him. If you don’t, then you’ll burn forever, instead.

It’s a story, obviously.

There’s a great new 15 min video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrdgVM0WGKg on “Why intelligent people are leaving religion”. You can play it at high speed.

Here’s how it starts: “It’s becoming more common now. You meet people who followed every rule and custom and they tell you ‘I don’t really believe anymore.’ They’re not angry about it. They just tell you: ‘I just left.’ Many are well read and curious people. People who ask questions. People who listen carefully to the answers.”

What religion teaches that you "go up to the sky" when you die? Or that you will literally "burn forever" if you don't believe all the things you just wrote? It isn't Catholicism or main stream Christianity, so which religion is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe because they like it. It feels good. Most everyone else they know does it.

Do they really believe? I doubt it. I can see why people believed it 2,000 years ago, but how can anyone these days possibly believe that long ago, a guy who was actually God, had a mother who was a virgin. He was later died by hanging on a cross, then came back to life and ultimately went up to the sky (heaven) to live with his father (God) and if you believe that, you’ll get to live forever just like him. If you don’t, then you’ll burn forever, instead.

It’s a story, obviously.

There’s a great new 15 min video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrdgVM0WGKg on “Why intelligent people are leaving religion”. You can play it at high speed.

Here’s how it starts: “It’s becoming more common now. You meet people who followed every rule and custom and they tell you ‘I don’t really believe anymore.’ They’re not angry about it. They just tell you: ‘I just left.’ Many are well read and curious people. People who ask questions. People who listen carefully to the answers.”

What religion teaches that you "go up to the sky" when you die? Or that you will literally "burn forever" if you don't believe all the things you just wrote? It isn't Catholicism or main stream Christianity, so which religion is it?

AI:

Jesus warns in Mark 9:43 that it is better to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell, "into the fire that shall never be quenched". Similarly, Matthew 10:28 instructs believers to fear God, who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. The imagery of unquenchable fire is also found in Matthew 25:41, where the wicked are sent into "everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels". Revelation 14:11 describes the torment of those who worship the beast: "And the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever". Revelation 20:10 states that the devil, the beast, and the false prophet will be tormented "day and night forever and ever" in the lake of fire. The lake of fire is described as the "second death" in Revelation 20:14 and 21:8, where the cowardly, unbelieving, murderers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars are cast

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe because they like it. It feels good. Most everyone else they know does it.

Do they really believe? I doubt it. I can see why people believed it 2,000 years ago, but how can anyone these days possibly believe that long ago, a guy who was actually God, had a mother who was a virgin. He was later died by hanging on a cross, then came back to life and ultimately went up to the sky (heaven) to live with his father (God) and if you believe that, you’ll get to live forever just like him. If you don’t, then you’ll burn forever, instead.

It’s a story, obviously.

There’s a great new 15 min video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrdgVM0WGKg on “Why intelligent people are leaving religion”. You can play it at high speed.

Here’s how it starts: “It’s becoming more common now. You meet people who followed every rule and custom and they tell you ‘I don’t really believe anymore.’ They’re not angry about it. They just tell you: ‘I just left.’ Many are well read and curious people. People who ask questions. People who listen carefully to the answers.”

What religion teaches that you "go up to the sky" when you die? Or that you will literally "burn forever" if you don't believe all the things you just wrote? It isn't Catholicism or main stream Christianity, so which religion is it?

AI:

Jesus warns in Mark 9:43 that it is better to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell, "into the fire that shall never be quenched". Similarly, Matthew 10:28 instructs believers to fear God, who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. The imagery of unquenchable fire is also found in Matthew 25:41, where the wicked are sent into "everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels". Revelation 14:11 describes the torment of those who worship the beast: "And the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever". Revelation 20:10 states that the devil, the beast, and the false prophet will be tormented "day and night forever and ever" in the lake of fire. The lake of fire is described as the "second death" in Revelation 20:14 and 21:8, where the cowardly, unbelieving, murderers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars are cast

There are centuries of post-Biblical texts and theological development/interpretation that inform religious thought and practice today. The fire and brimstone of the Bible can be (and often is) interpreted as metaphor, or simply downplayed in favor of messages of love, grace, and peace. Asking AI for sources in Christianity about burning forever in hell isn't going to tell you how actual Catholics or mainstream Christians today teach or view heaven and hell or how they approach living a good life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe because they like it. It feels good. Most everyone else they know does it.

Do they really believe? I doubt it. I can see why people believed it 2,000 years ago, but how can anyone these days possibly believe that long ago, a guy who was actually God, had a mother who was a virgin. He was later died by hanging on a cross, then came back to life and ultimately went up to the sky (heaven) to live with his father (God) and if you believe that, you’ll get to live forever just like him. If you don’t, then you’ll burn forever, instead.

It’s a story, obviously.

There’s a great new 15 min video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrdgVM0WGKg on “Why intelligent people are leaving religion”. You can play it at high speed.

Here’s how it starts: “It’s becoming more common now. You meet people who followed every rule and custom and they tell you ‘I don’t really believe anymore.’ They’re not angry about it. They just tell you: ‘I just left.’ Many are well read and curious people. People who ask questions. People who listen carefully to the answers.”

What religion teaches that you "go up to the sky" when you die? Or that you will literally "burn forever" if you don't believe all the things you just wrote? It isn't Catholicism or main stream Christianity, so which religion is it?

AI:

Jesus warns in Mark 9:43 that it is better to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell, "into the fire that shall never be quenched". Similarly, Matthew 10:28 instructs believers to fear God, who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. The imagery of unquenchable fire is also found in Matthew 25:41, where the wicked are sent into "everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels". Revelation 14:11 describes the torment of those who worship the beast: "And the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever". Revelation 20:10 states that the devil, the beast, and the false prophet will be tormented "day and night forever and ever" in the lake of fire. The lake of fire is described as the "second death" in Revelation 20:14 and 21:8, where the cowardly, unbelieving, murderers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars are cast

There are centuries of post-Biblical texts and theological development/interpretation that inform religious thought and practice today. The fire and brimstone of the Bible can be (and often is) interpreted as metaphor, or simply downplayed in favor of messages of love, grace, and peace. Asking AI for sources in Christianity about burning forever in hell isn't going to tell you how actual Catholics or mainstream Christians today teach or view heaven and hell or how they approach living a good life.

I should add that the "love, grace, and peace" that are taught/emphasized are also abundant in the Bible and not new/foreign concepts to religion.