quote:

Originally posted by reducetension:
There are a variety of takes on this important of believe/faith in God. But why?

quote:

Originally posted by Paul_J:

quote:

Originally posted by reducetension:
There are a variety of takes on this important of believe/faith in God. But why? [but why not]

Maybe some people need the comfort of believing there is a purpose to "all this". Maybe they need to believe that there is order in the universe. Maybe it eases the mind to believe that there is justice and even if some people "get away with murder" sometimes; we can say "don't worry, they will get their "just rewards" in the hearafter". Maybe people need that faith to get them through senseless horrors. To be able to say "My son (wife, dad, etc) is not dead, he is in heaven". Or to be able to answer "Why was a tiny little boy struck down with cancer?" with "God moves in mysterious ways and always has a purpose even though we might not see that purpose." So that is basically saying "there is a good reason why this little boy died." Maybe this gives some people comfort and peace of mind. I don't know for sure. It's all idle speculation on my part.

Maybe also religion is important (or was important in the past) so we have a basis for laws. Rather than a human ruler saying "You must obey this law because I said so", perhaps it is better to say "You must obey this law because God says so and if you don't he will smite thee." So people behave themselves for fear of getting smoted....smitten....smited...smote?....

I admit, all of this is rather comforting, but if it's based on myths, and one knows it is, there is no comfort anymore.

Maybe it's better to just believe and have that sense of security?

For me though, I think the further along in knowledge we get, the more we're able to understand and explain the previously unexplainable and we won't need any myths anymore to comfort us.

Or maybe there is a God?

What do you think? Who is better off, the person with a security blanket(religion) or the one without?

quote:

Originally posted by 22398641:

quote:

Originally posted by Paul_J:

quote:

Originally posted by reducetension:
There are a variety of takes on this important of believe/faith in God. But why? [but why not]

Maybe some people need the comfort of believing there is a purpose to "all this". Maybe they need to believe that there is order in the universe. Maybe it eases the mind to believe that there is justice and even if some people "get away with murder" sometimes; we can say "don't worry, they will get their "just rewards" in the hearafter". Maybe people need that faith to get them through senseless horrors. To be able to say "My son (wife, dad, etc) is not dead, he is in heaven". Or to be able to answer "Why was a tiny little boy struck down with cancer?" with "God moves in mysterious ways and always has a purpose even though we might not see that purpose." So that is basically saying "there is a good reason why this little boy died." Maybe this gives some people comfort and peace of mind. I don't know for sure. It's all idle speculation on my part.

Maybe also religion is important (or was important in the past) so we have a basis for laws. Rather than a human ruler saying "You must obey this law because I said so", perhaps it is better to say "You must obey this law because God says so and if you don't he will smite thee." So people behave themselves for fear of getting smoted....smitten....smited...smote?....

I admit, all of this is rather comforting, but if it's based on myths, and one knows it is, there is no comfort anymore.

Maybe it's better to just believe and have that sense of security?

For me though, I think the further along in knowledge we get, the more we're able to understand and explain the previously unexplainable and we won't need any myths anymore to comfort us.

Or maybe there is a God?

What do you think? Who is better off, the person with a security blanket(religion) or the one without?

So people behave themselves (obey the law of the land) for fear of getting smoted....smitten....smited...smote?....

quote:

Originally posted by donniejanuarysr:
If this is the case we are in real trouble because it aint working
D.J.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul_J:

quote:

Originally posted by donniejanuarysr:
If this is the case we are in real trouble because it aint working
D.J.

That's for damn sure.

So, what, do we need a new god or sumpin?

quote:

Originally posted by reducetension:
Rational, reasonable, logical humanly inspired governance will do.... and it would come with consequences for due process of law conviction.... like we already have. Incivility is something you'll have to live with, you'll have jerks with you for ever. As long as all they do is offend by just "being", ignore them. If they do violence, etc. Give lawful consequences. The gods have nothing to do with it. How can nothing do something?

quote:

Originally posted by Paul_J:

quote:

Originally posted by reducetension:
Rational, reasonable, logical humanly inspired governance will do.... and it would come with consequences for due process of law conviction.... like we already have. Incivility is something you'll have to live with, you'll have jerks with you for ever. As long as all they do is offend by just "being", ignore them. If they do violence, etc. Give lawful consequences. The gods have nothing to do with it. How can nothing do something?

That makes sense to me.

So people behave themselves *(obey the law of the land) for fear of getting smoted....smitten....smited...smote.....by the courts. Law enforcement, courts, etc which are tangible, verifiable, observable, etc......AND, the evil doer doesn't have to wait for his punishment in the hereafter. It is much more immediate than that. Plus, maybe a dude decides to commit all types of sins his entire life, then at the last second before he dies, he asks for forgiveness and yadda yadda...so no punishment. Now ain't that just soooo convenient?

* Behave at least in part because of the law but hopefully some do it because they are just good people .

Anyway, original point was religion is maybe for comfort and peace of mind. IMHO

quote:

Originally posted by donniejanuarysr:

quote:

Originally posted by Paul_J:

quote:

Originally posted by reducetension:
Rational, reasonable, logical humanly inspired governance will do.... and it would come with consequences for due process of law conviction.... like we already have. Incivility is something you'll have to live with, you'll have jerks with you for ever. As long as all they do is offend by just "being", ignore them. If they do violence, etc. Give lawful consequences. The gods have nothing to do with it. How can nothing do something?

That makes sense to me.

So people behave themselves *(obey the law of the land) for fear of getting smoted....smitten....smited...smote.....by the courts. Law enforcement, courts, etc which are tangible, verifiable, observable, etc......AND, the evil doer doesn't have to wait for his punishment in the hereafter. It is much more immediate than that. Plus, maybe a dude decides to commit all types of sins his entire life, then at the last second before he dies, he asks for forgiveness and yadda yadda...so no punishment. Now ain't that just soooo convenient?

* Behave at least in part because of the law but hopefully some do it because they are just good people .

Anyway, original point was religion is maybe for comfort and peace of mind. IMHO

JMHO if we have G-D we know/hope there will be justice, As it is in our present life we already know we have more law breakers in office making more laws for them to break and to tie we the people down. With G-D we hope they will get their justice.
D.J.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul_J:

quote:

Originally posted by donniejanuarysr:

quote:

Originally posted by Paul_J:

quote:

Originally posted by reducetension:
Rational, reasonable, logical humanly inspired governance will do.... and it would come with consequences for due process of law conviction.... like we already have. Incivility is something you'll have to live with, you'll have jerks with you for ever. As long as all they do is offend by just "being", ignore them. If they do violence, etc. Give lawful consequences. The gods have nothing to do with it. How can nothing do something?

That makes sense to me.

So people behave themselves *(obey the law of the land) for fear of getting smoted....smitten....smited...smote.....by the courts. Law enforcement, courts, etc which are tangible, verifiable, observable, etc......AND, the evil doer doesn't have to wait for his punishment in the hereafter. It is much more immediate than that. Plus, maybe a dude decides to commit all types of sins his entire life, then at the last second before he dies, he asks for forgiveness and yadda yadda...so no punishment. Now ain't that just soooo convenient?

* Behave at least in part because of the law but hopefully some do it because they are just good people .

Anyway, original point was religion is maybe for comfort and peace of mind. IMHO

JMHO if we have G-D we know/hope there will be justice, As it is in our present life we already know we have more law breakers in office making more laws for them to break and to tie we the people down. With G-D we hope they will get their justice.
D.J.

Exactly, we hope or know they are going to get theirs in the end so it makes us feel better, ie gives us peace of mind. Whether it's true or not.

So, my question is: who is better off, the guy who has steadfast faith that there is a god so therefore has a security blanket, peace of mind, etc....or the guy who does not believe so does not have that blanket, and maybe has to find his security blanket elsewhere (if he ever does)?

quote:

Originally posted by Paul_J:

quote:

Originally posted by donniejanuarysr:
If this is the case we are in real trouble because it aint working
D.J.

That's for damn sure.

So, what, do we need a new god or sumpin?

quote:

Originally posted by 22398641:
Look in the mirror at the reflection thats all the god you and some others want and think they need.

quote:

Originally posted by 22398641:

quote:

Originally posted by Paul_J:

quote:

Originally posted by donniejanuarysr:
If this is the case we are in real trouble because it aint working
D.J.

That's for damn sure.

So, what, do we need a new god or sumpin?

Look in the mirror at the reflection thats all the god you and some others want and think they need.

quote:

Originally posted by donniejanuarysr:
I also know a preacher that made the statement that his god hung between his legs, proved he worshiped a mighty small god think he was a baptest preacher.
D.J.

quote:

Originally posted by 22398641:

quote:

Originally posted by Paul_J:

quote:

Originally posted by donniejanuarysr:
If this is the case we are in real trouble because it aint working
D.J.

That's for damn sure.

So, what, do we need a new god or sumpin?

Look in the mirror at the reflection thats all the god you and some others want and think they need.

quote:

Originally posted by reducetension:
There are a variety of takes on this important of believe/faith in God. But why?