Why believe in god?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_Wager

Why not? Really? That is a ridiculous argument! Why not believe in unicorns, jackalopes, and the old lady that lived in a shoe?

Religion provides community. Praying has medicinal value. People who have a religion are happier and healthier.

If there was that much benefit from believing in the others I would believe in those also.

Did you actually read the link?

You don't have to believe to attend a church community. Prayer has no medicinal value-- stress relief, maybe. And the last point is just plain not true.

Sure you don't have to attend a church but it is one way to be part of a community... which has show to add value to happiness.

Yes, Prayer has show to provide the same value as meditation, religion provides the framework around which prayer is done on a regular basis.

Yes, it is true. People who practice a religion are happier and healthier. Just like married men are on average happier and healthier. Sorry if that bothers you.

Do you mean they're more mentally content (ignorance is bliss) or they're actually more healthy? Because the average practicer of religion is older, higher BMI, greying etc. Young people are generally healthier and they are more likely to not actively practice religion.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, your counterpoints are getting more and more ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are so many miracles we witness every day. Religion provides a framework for appreciating those miracles and mysteries. I am Christian because that is the framework I grew up with and am comfortable with, not because I think it is more right than any other religion.

What about all the horrible things that happen every day -- is religion responsible for those too, or just the miracles? If not, where do the horrible things come from, and how do you know?

The fact that we are here, babies are born, the sun rises etc. are all miracles. Yes, they all have scientific explanations , but the fact that these complex processes exist in the first place is so incredible and mysterious. I think bad things happen because we have free will, but I think that argument about why do bad things happen casts doubt on the goodness of God, not the existence of god.

You think little kids get cancer and die because we have free will?

Yes. It is up to us to figure out why it happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All arguments are made up by someone. What kind of critique is this?

The God is truth argument is not one of the traditional arguments for the existence of God. Is that what is throwing you off?

Where is the weak thinking here? I think it's quite difficult to argue that there is not an absolute truth. Don't scientists, whom you seem to revere, dedicate their lives to getting at some piece of this absolute truth? Is it hard for you to accept that nonscientists and people of religion pursue the truth as well?

An earlier PP based one of her arguments for God that fact that billions of people who live or have lived have believed in God. I thought that argument was weak, but your argument that the fact that fewer people believe in God than in days past throws into question the existence of God is equally weak.

To pursue truth, you needs facts --which are sadly lacking when trying to prove the existence of an invisible, supernatural being only known by the stories humans, often ancient, ignorance humans, have made up about him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, your counterpoints are getting more and more ridiculous.

and harder for believers to refute!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are so many miracles we witness every day. Religion provides a framework for appreciating those miracles and mysteries. I am Christian because that is the framework I grew up with and am comfortable with, not because I think it is more right than any other religion.

What about all the horrible things that happen every day -- is religion responsible for those too, or just the miracles? If not, where do the horrible things come from, and how do you know?

The fact that we are here, babies are born, the sun rises etc. are all miracles. Yes, they all have scientific explanations , but the fact that these complex processes exist in the first place is so incredible and mysterious. I think bad things happen because we have free will, but I think that argument about why do bad things happen casts doubt on the goodness of God, not the existence of god.

You think little kids get cancer and die because we have free will?

Yes. It is up to us to figure out why it happens.

What about the kids with cancer - i.e. the people directly and horribly affected by it? how does free will fit in in their case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are so many miracles we witness every day. Religion provides a framework for appreciating those miracles and mysteries. I am Christian because that is the framework I grew up with and am comfortable with, not because I think it is more right than any other religion.

What about all the horrible things that happen every day -- is religion responsible for those too, or just the miracles? If not, where do the horrible things come from, and how do you know?

The fact that we are here, babies are born, the sun rises etc. are all miracles. Yes, they all have scientific explanations , but the fact that these complex processes exist in the first place is so incredible and mysterious. I think bad things happen because we have free will, but I think that argument about why do bad things happen casts doubt on the goodness of God, not the existence of god.

You think little kids get cancer and die because we have free will?

Yes. It is up to us to figure out why it happens.

What about the kids with cancer - i.e. the people directly and horribly affected by it? how does free will fit in in their case.

And until doctors use their free will to find a cure, more kids will die of horrible diseases. This is the way of all diseases of the past, that we now have cures for. People of little or no faith don't get this.

[Anonymous]

I bet if you checked around, more people who believe in God are helping take care these sick kids than those who don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I bet if you checked around, more people who believe in God are helping take care these sick kids than those who don't.

Is that the best you can do? what about the kids' free will -- given up on that?

[Anonymous]

Since you don't have a soul . The only thing wrong with killing you is that you might get caught. You have no more value than a rock or a chicken.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since you don't have a soul . The only thing wrong with killing you is that you might get caught. You have no more value than a rock or a chicken.

Wait -- is this a Christian talking? all humans have souls, whether they believe it or not and if you use your free will to not believe in god, then you go to hell-- according to Christian beliefs. (or just die like everything else in the universe, if Christian beliefs are not True)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since you don't have a soul . The only thing wrong with killing you is that you might get caught. You have no more value than a rock or a chicken.

Wait -- is this a Christian talking? all humans have souls, whether they believe it or not and if you use your free will to not believe in god, then you go to hell-- according to Christian beliefs. (or just die like everything else in the universe, if Christian beliefs are not True)

If atheism is true he has no soul. Then his life is of no more universal consequence than that of a worm. His opinions and feelings are the weak squeaking of a mouse. The very fact that he believes in no God and yet feels his opinion is important is hilarious!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, your counterpoints are getting more and more ridiculous.

and harder for believers to refute!

The PP argued that people of younger age and lower BMI have greater insight into ontological questions.

This is hard to refute????!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since you don't have a soul . The only thing wrong with killing you is that you might get caught. You have no more value than a rock or a chicken.

Wait -- is this a Christian talking? all humans have souls, whether they believe it or not and if you use your free will to not believe in god, then you go to hell-- according to Christian beliefs. (or just die like everything else in the universe, if Christian beliefs are not True)

If atheism is true he has no soul. Then his life is of no more universal consequence than that of a worm. His opinions and feelings are the weak squeaking of a mouse. The very fact that he believes in no God and yet feels his opinion is important is hilarious!

But atheism isn't true, is it? so when pp dies, he suffers a christian fate, right? like everyone else -- assuming, of course, that Christianity is true.

do dead christians, once in heaven, have opinions and feelings that have "universal consequence?" I don't remember hearing anything about that in church.

[Anonymous]

It's interesting that atheists have a problem with there being a God who would tell them how to live, and then they complain that that same God that they don't believe in doesn't somehow make everyone behave so that no one is ever harmed.