How can sensible, educated people be religious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because:

The Heavens proclaim the Glory of God;
And the Earth proclaims his handiwork.
Day unto day sings out his presence;
And night unto night his praise.

Says who!

In this case, of course, King David, in Psalm 19.

But as prior posters have observed, the existence of a well-ordered universe points toward a creator.

Religion is a natural virtue. People are drawn to what is greater than themselves.

“God” is a name given to an essentially unknowable being marked by the ultimate degree of every virtue, power and perfection.

My own admittedly limited experience suggests that a significant percentage of people who reject the existence of a higher power do so because they’re attached to one or another behavior that they know is bad for them and/or others but don’t want to give up. That or they’re fighting with some conception of a deity that they blame for the perceived misconduct of that deity’s all-too-non-divine followers.

Why does a universe point to a creator?

And this universe is clearly not well ordered, unless you are a black hole, as stephen hawking said.

The arguments from observed nature are alluded to in prior posts and widely available if you’d like to find them. OP asked how “sensible, educated people” can be religious. The answers are probably as many as sensible, educated believers, but one answer is that the existence of a higher power can be known from nature. People are free to believe or not.

You can’t even answer one question directly related to your point.

Why should anyone take you seriously?

I can answer it fine. But I don’t feel like bothering. It’s a lot of typing on a tiny keyboard. All of the material is readily available online, as I said.

And all the material that answers why believing in a god or gods is non-sensical is also readily available online.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because:

The Heavens proclaim the Glory of God;
And the Earth proclaims his handiwork.
Day unto day sings out his presence;
And night unto night his praise.

Says who!

In this case, of course, King David, in Psalm 19.

But as prior posters have observed, the existence of a well-ordered universe points toward a creator.

Religion is a natural virtue. People are drawn to what is greater than themselves.

“God” is a name given to an essentially unknowable being marked by the ultimate degree of every virtue, power and perfection.

My own admittedly limited experience suggests that a significant percentage of people who reject the existence of a higher power do so because they’re attached to one or another behavior that they know is bad for them and/or others but don’t want to give up. That or they’re fighting with some conception of a deity that they blame for the perceived misconduct of that deity’s all-too-non-divine followers.

Why does a universe point to a creator?

And this universe is clearly not well ordered, unless you are a black hole, as stephen hawking said.

The arguments from observed nature are alluded to in prior posts and widely available if you’d like to find them. OP asked how “sensible, educated people” can be religious. The answers are probably as many as sensible, educated believers, but one answer is that the existence of a higher power can be known from nature. People are free to believe or not.

You can’t even answer one question directly related to your point.

Why should anyone take you seriously?

I can answer it fine. But I don’t feel like bothering. It’s a lot of typing on a tiny keyboard. All of the material is readily available online, as I said.

And all the material that answers why believing in a god or gods is non-sensical is also readily available online.

Suit yourself. You seem terribly angry. I’m sorry the god of your understanding has been such a disappointment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because:

The Heavens proclaim the Glory of God;
And the Earth proclaims his handiwork.
Day unto day sings out his presence;
And night unto night his praise.

Says who!

In this case, of course, King David, in Psalm 19.

But as prior posters have observed, the existence of a well-ordered universe points toward a creator.

Religion is a natural virtue. People are drawn to what is greater than themselves.

“God” is a name given to an essentially unknowable being marked by the ultimate degree of every virtue, power and perfection.

My own admittedly limited experience suggests that a significant percentage of people who reject the existence of a higher power do so because they’re attached to one or another behavior that they know is bad for them and/or others but don’t want to give up. That or they’re fighting with some conception of a deity that they blame for the perceived misconduct of that deity’s all-too-non-divine followers.

Why does a universe point to a creator?

And this universe is clearly not well ordered, unless you are a black hole, as stephen hawking said.

The arguments from observed nature are alluded to in prior posts and widely available if you’d like to find them. OP asked how “sensible, educated people” can be religious. The answers are probably as many as sensible, educated believers, but one answer is that the existence of a higher power can be known from nature. People are free to believe or not.

You can’t even answer one question directly related to your point.

Why should anyone take you seriously?

I can answer it fine. But I don’t feel like bothering. It’s a lot of typing on a tiny keyboard. All of the material is readily available online, as I said.

And all the material that answers why believing in a god or gods is non-sensical is also readily available online.

Suit yourself. You seem terribly angry. I’m sorry the god of your understanding has been such a disappointment.

FYI you are responding to multiple posters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because:

The Heavens proclaim the Glory of God;
And the Earth proclaims his handiwork.
Day unto day sings out his presence;
And night unto night his praise.

Says who!

In this case, of course, King David, in Psalm 19.

But as prior posters have observed, the existence of a well-ordered universe points toward a creator.

Religion is a natural virtue. People are drawn to what is greater than themselves.

“God” is a name given to an essentially unknowable being marked by the ultimate degree of every virtue, power and perfection.

My own admittedly limited experience suggests that a significant percentage of people who reject the existence of a higher power do so because they’re attached to one or another behavior that they know is bad for them and/or others but don’t want to give up. That or they’re fighting with some conception of a deity that they blame for the perceived misconduct of that deity’s all-too-non-divine followers.

Why does a universe point to a creator?

And this universe is clearly not well ordered, unless you are a black hole, as stephen hawking said.

The arguments from observed nature are alluded to in prior posts and widely available if you’d like to find them. OP asked how “sensible, educated people” can be religious. The answers are probably as many as sensible, educated believers, but one answer is that the existence of a higher power can be known from nature. People are free to believe or not.

You can’t even answer one question directly related to your point.

Why should anyone take you seriously?

I can answer it fine. But I don’t feel like bothering. It’s a lot of typing on a tiny keyboard. All of the material is readily available online, as I said.

And all the material that answers why believing in a god or gods is non-sensical is also readily available online.

Suit yourself. You seem terribly angry. I’m sorry the god of your understanding has been such a disappointment.

FYI you are responding to multiple posters.

I’m responding to the quoted post from a single individual beginning with “and” and ending with “online.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because:

The Heavens proclaim the Glory of God;
And the Earth proclaims his handiwork.
Day unto day sings out his presence;
And night unto night his praise.

Says who!

In this case, of course, King David, in Psalm 19.

But as prior posters have observed, the existence of a well-ordered universe points toward a creator.

Religion is a natural virtue. People are drawn to what is greater than themselves.

“God” is a name given to an essentially unknowable being marked by the ultimate degree of every virtue, power and perfection.

My own admittedly limited experience suggests that a significant percentage of people who reject the existence of a higher power do so because they’re attached to one or another behavior that they know is bad for them and/or others but don’t want to give up. That or they’re fighting with some conception of a deity that they blame for the perceived misconduct of that deity’s all-too-non-divine followers.

Why does a universe point to a creator?

And this universe is clearly not well ordered, unless you are a black hole, as stephen hawking said.

The arguments from observed nature are alluded to in prior posts and widely available if you’d like to find them. OP asked how “sensible, educated people” can be religious. The answers are probably as many as sensible, educated believers, but one answer is that the existence of a higher power can be known from nature. People are free to believe or not.

You can’t even answer one question directly related to your point.

Why should anyone take you seriously?

I can answer it fine. But I don’t feel like bothering. It’s a lot of typing on a tiny keyboard. All of the material is readily available online, as I said.

And all the material that answers why believing in a god or gods is non-sensical is also readily available online.

Suit yourself. You seem terribly angry. I’m sorry the god of your understanding has been such a disappointment.

FYI you are responding to multiple posters.

I’m responding to the quoted post from a single individual beginning with “and” and ending with “online.”

Fine. That's not me, but what about that short post is "terribly angry"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because:

The Heavens proclaim the Glory of God;
And the Earth proclaims his handiwork.
Day unto day sings out his presence;
And night unto night his praise.

Says who!

In this case, of course, King David, in Psalm 19.

But as prior posters have observed, the existence of a well-ordered universe points toward a creator.

Religion is a natural virtue. People are drawn to what is greater than themselves.

“God” is a name given to an essentially unknowable being marked by the ultimate degree of every virtue, power and perfection.

My own admittedly limited experience suggests that a significant percentage of people who reject the existence of a higher power do so because they’re attached to one or another behavior that they know is bad for them and/or others but don’t want to give up. That or they’re fighting with some conception of a deity that they blame for the perceived misconduct of that deity’s all-too-non-divine followers.

Why does a universe point to a creator?

And this universe is clearly not well ordered, unless you are a black hole, as stephen hawking said.

The arguments from observed nature are alluded to in prior posts and widely available if you’d like to find them. OP asked how “sensible, educated people” can be religious. The answers are probably as many as sensible, educated believers, but one answer is that the existence of a higher power can be known from nature. People are free to believe or not.

You can’t even answer one question directly related to your point.

Why should anyone take you seriously?

I can answer it fine. But I don’t feel like bothering. It’s a lot of typing on a tiny keyboard. All of the material is readily available online, as I said.

And all the material that answers why believing in a god or gods is non-sensical is also readily available online.

Suit yourself. You seem terribly angry. I’m sorry the god of your understanding has been such a disappointment.

Huh? What does, "the god of your understanding" supposed to mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because:

The Heavens proclaim the Glory of God;
And the Earth proclaims his handiwork.
Day unto day sings out his presence;
And night unto night his praise.

Says who!

In this case, of course, King David, in Psalm 19.

But as prior posters have observed, the existence of a well-ordered universe points toward a creator.

Religion is a natural virtue. People are drawn to what is greater than themselves.

“God” is a name given to an essentially unknowable being marked by the ultimate degree of every virtue, power and perfection.

My own admittedly limited experience suggests that a significant percentage of people who reject the existence of a higher power do so because they’re attached to one or another behavior that they know is bad for them and/or others but don’t want to give up. That or they’re fighting with some conception of a deity that they blame for the perceived misconduct of that deity’s all-too-non-divine followers.

Why does a universe point to a creator?

And this universe is clearly not well ordered, unless you are a black hole, as stephen hawking said.

The arguments from observed nature are alluded to in prior posts and widely available if you’d like to find them. OP asked how “sensible, educated people” can be religious. The answers are probably as many as sensible, educated believers, but one answer is that the existence of a higher power can be known from nature. People are free to believe or not.

You can’t even answer one question directly related to your point.

Why should anyone take you seriously?

I can answer it fine. But I don’t feel like bothering. It’s a lot of typing on a tiny keyboard. All of the material is readily available online, as I said.

And all the material that answers why believing in a god or gods is non-sensical is also readily available online.

Suit yourself. You seem terribly angry. I’m sorry the god of your understanding has been such a disappointment.

Huh? What does, "the god of your understanding" supposed to mean?

DP - I think pp is trying to be inclusive, in which "the god of your understanding" is saying something like "whatever you perceive god to be"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because most people, even highly educated ones, struggle with confronting the idea of death. Religion provides comforting stories that assuage those anxieties about our own mortality and the mortality of the ones we love.

For me, I find more comfort in the idea that there is no overarching meaning or plan or design than the thought that there is some megalomaniacal supernatural being demanding my worship or else I’ll be cast into hell.

But I understand needing the comfort of the stories. Life is hard and painful and completely unfair. It is also beautiful.

OP here -- thanks. This does somewhat explain how some intelligent people can be religious, despite all the evidence to the contrary.

Even if people had our knowledge 2,000 years ago, maybe some of them still would have made up comforting stories and some of them would have believed the stories, just as they do today.

OP,
Your comment above intrigues me (“… despite all evidence to the contrary.”)

Frankly, I have yet to see any evidence that proves God doesn’t exist. If it’s out there, point me to it and I’ll reevaluate. If you’re going to say “science,” then count me among the many scientifically- inclined people who don’t see the two as mutually exclusive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can an educated person look at the universe and think they know all there is to know? How can you not be humbled and realize what a tiny speck we are, tumbling through the universe on a very tiny rock, here for but a moment? And to realize there may be more to this world than what our five senses perceive, and maybe, just maybe, there’s something more to it all?

These are just random words jumbled together to make … nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can an educated person look at the universe and think they know all there is to know? How can you not be humbled and realize what a tiny speck we are, tumbling through the universe on a very tiny rock, here for but a moment? And to realize there may be more to this world than what our five senses perceive, and maybe, just maybe, there’s something more to it all?

These are just random words jumbled together to make … nothing.

if you're religious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because most people, even highly educated ones, struggle with confronting the idea of death. Religion provides comforting stories that assuage those anxieties about our own mortality and the mortality of the ones we love.

For me, I find more comfort in the idea that there is no overarching meaning or plan or design than the thought that there is some megalomaniacal supernatural being demanding my worship or else I’ll be cast into hell.

But I understand needing the comfort of the stories. Life is hard and painful and completely unfair. It is also beautiful.

OP here -- thanks. This does somewhat explain how some intelligent people can be religious, despite all the evidence to the contrary.

Even if people had our knowledge 2,000 years ago, maybe some of them still would have made up comforting stories and some of them would have believed the stories, just as they do today.

OP,
Your comment above intrigues me (“… despite all evidence to the contrary.”)

Frankly, I have yet to see any evidence that proves God doesn’t exist. If it’s out there, point me to it and I’ll reevaluate. If you’re going to say “science,” then count me among the many scientifically- inclined people who don’t see the two as mutually exclusive.

You haven't seen the lack of evidence for God because you don't want to. That's my feeling. Just go right ahead and be "scientifically inclined" and be religious. Your choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because most people, even highly educated ones, struggle with confronting the idea of death. Religion provides comforting stories that assuage those anxieties about our own mortality and the mortality of the ones we love.

For me, I find more comfort in the idea that there is no overarching meaning or plan or design than the thought that there is some megalomaniacal supernatural being demanding my worship or else I’ll be cast into hell.

But I understand needing the comfort of the stories. Life is hard and painful and completely unfair. It is also beautiful.

OP here -- thanks. This does somewhat explain how some intelligent people can be religious, despite all the evidence to the contrary.

Even if people had our knowledge 2,000 years ago, maybe some of them still would have made up comforting stories and some of them would have believed the stories, just as they do today.

OP,
Your comment above intrigues me (“… despite all evidence to the contrary.”)

Frankly, I have yet to see any evidence that proves God doesn’t exist. If it’s out there, point me to it and I’ll reevaluate. If you’re going to say “science,” then count me among the many scientifically- inclined people who don’t see the two as mutually exclusive.

THere's no evidence out there to prove that leprechauns don't exist either, but I bet you don't believe in them. I don't blame you. Leprechauns are silly -- not like God, who gives you eternal life with him in heaven.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because most people, even highly educated ones, struggle with confronting the idea of death. Religion provides comforting stories that assuage those anxieties about our own mortality and the mortality of the ones we love.

For me, I find more comfort in the idea that there is no overarching meaning or plan or design than the thought that there is some megalomaniacal supernatural being demanding my worship or else I’ll be cast into hell.

But I understand needing the comfort of the stories. Life is hard and painful and completely unfair. It is also beautiful.

OP here -- thanks. This does somewhat explain how some intelligent people can be religious, despite all the evidence to the contrary.

Even if people had our knowledge 2,000 years ago, maybe some of them still would have made up comforting stories and some of them would have believed the stories, just as they do today.

OP,
Your comment above intrigues me (“… despite all evidence to the contrary.”)

Frankly, I have yet to see any evidence that proves God doesn’t exist. If it’s out there, point me to it and I’ll reevaluate. If you’re going to say “science,” then count me among the many scientifically- inclined people who don’t see the two as mutually exclusive.

I haven't seen evidence that Santa doesn't exist. In fact, there are a number of stories, movies, books to support him. None of that makes him any more real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because most people, even highly educated ones, struggle with confronting the idea of death. Religion provides comforting stories that assuage those anxieties about our own mortality and the mortality of the ones we love.

For me, I find more comfort in the idea that there is no overarching meaning or plan or design than the thought that there is some megalomaniacal supernatural being demanding my worship or else I’ll be cast into hell.

But I understand needing the comfort of the stories. Life is hard and painful and completely unfair. It is also beautiful.

OP here -- thanks. This does somewhat explain how some intelligent people can be religious, despite all the evidence to the contrary.

Even if people had our knowledge 2,000 years ago, maybe some of them still would have made up comforting stories and some of them would have believed the stories, just as they do today.

OP,
Your comment above intrigues me (“… despite all evidence to the contrary.”)

Frankly, I have yet to see any evidence that proves God doesn’t exist. If it’s out there, point me to it and I’ll reevaluate. If you’re going to say “science,” then count me among the many scientifically- inclined people who don’t see the two as mutually exclusive.

You haven't seen the lack of evidence for God because you don't want to. That's my feeling. Just go right ahead and be "scientifically inclined" and be religious. Your choice.

I’m the PP. If you have evidence, then point it out. I already stated I’d be open to see it.

So please share.

It’s easy to say I don’t want to see evidence, but I’ve now asked twice.

[Anonymous]

How can educated people have such a misunderstanding of religion like OP demonstrates?