Enemy Ace Asks: Why do you need religion...?

[CurtSibling]

Hullo!

Obviously, my latest thread is primarily aimed at thosw who are into religion.
But! Anyone who feels they have useful insights is warmly welcomed to join in.

Now here are my questions.
You will answer them carefully and precisely.

1)
What is it in your life or situation that draws you to religion?

2)
Explain why are you reliant on the idea of a god or deity?

3)
How far are you willing to go to defend that belief?

I am eager to hear your ideas and reasonings.

Fire away!

I'll thank everyone for no holy wars or veering
far from the questions. Keep it civil and relevant.

.

 

[The Omega]

1. Because otherwise I'd have nothign to do on Sunday mornings.

2. Because if it turns out he does exist, I really, really don't wanna go to hell.

3. Not very. I've switcehd religions about 5 times this year alone.

 

[Erik Mesoy]

1)
In the present, I am attracted by the frequency of answer to prayer. In the long term, I am attracted by how the end will be.

2)
I rely on my Christian God to provide an afterlife and a final judg(e)ment. I'm not sure how you mean "reliant" in this question.

3)
I would rather die than abandon my belief, but in the right sort of wierd hypothetical situation, I'd lie about my beliefs to avoid a pointless death.

 

[Sidhe]

I would rather die than abandon my belief, but in the right sort of wierd hypothetical situation, I'd lie about my beliefs to avoid a pointless death.

St Peter did that, much to his shame, so your not alone Erik.

I did have that sort of belief once, but it seems I outgrew it at some point, although I'm not saying it couldn't come back, who knows?

 

[puglover]

1)
What is it in your life or situation that draws you to religion?

2)
Explain why are you reliant on the idea of a god or deity?

3)
How far are you willing to go to defend that belief?

I am eager to hear your ideas and reasonings.

Fire away!

I'll thank everyone for no holy wars or veering
far from the questions. Keep it civil and relevant.

.

1) God is a truth that deserves worship, and also draws men to study and seek him, to grow in his knowledge. Religion is one of the many tools man uses in seeking truth.

2) What do you mean by reliant?

3) Really, it depends on the situation. If I see that something is true, I will hold to that truth until it is shown to be false. I won't go killing those who do not share my beliefs, if that is what you mean.

2. Because if it turns out he does exist, I really, really don't wanna go to hell.

Sort of a Pascal's Wager, then?

I did have that sort of belief once, but it seems I outgrew it at some point, although I'm not saying it couldn't come back, who knows?

How did you outgrow it? Did you outgrow it in the sense that your faith grew stronger, that you became confident, or that you abandoned your faith altogether?

 

[aneeshm]

1) Its openness and receptivity towards differing beliefs , such as my agnosticism .

2) As said before , I am not reliant on any such idea . I am an agnostic , and my religion allows me that .

3) This is irrelevant , because you cannot really "defend" agnosticism . I do , however , defend the culture that produced such an open religious idea .





But then , maybe I do not fit into the category of religions that CurtSibling had in mind .

 

[CurtSibling]

All answers are welcome, and all are good so far.

@Puglover:
In question two, I mean 'reliant' on the way that you are unable to cope without the
perception of a godhead. Or are unwilling to accept the possibility that there is no god.

Not you perosnally, but speaking figuratively.

.

 

[puglover]

@Puglover:
In question two, I mean 'reliant' on the way that you are unable to cope without the
perception of a godhead. Or are unwilling to accept the possibility that there is no god.

Not you perosnally, but speaking figuratively.

.

It's not like I believe in God out of desperation. Evidence leads me to the conclusion that there is a God, and the same God who reveals himself through the Christian Bible. Life would be pretty pointless and grim without God, but that's not the reason I believe he exists, so I'm not "reliant" in the sense you describe.

Does that answer the question?

 

[Sidhe]

How did you outgrow it? Did you outgrow it in the sense that your faith grew stronger, that you became confident, or that you abandoned your faith altogether?

I became weakly agnostic, so I drifted away, outgrew is perhaps not accurate, I just became less devout as I grew up, that sounds better, less negative connotation.

 

[Heretic_Cata]

1)What is it in your life or situation that draws you to religion?
2)Explain why are you reliant on the idea of a god or deity?
3)How far are you willing to go to defend that belief?

1) Not much ... but the question is what draws people to phylosophy ? (or other such crap) It the same thing basicaly. (for me at least) Each religion is a freaky sort of phylosophy which represents the views of some dude or another.
So to answer the question in short - because phylosophy is cool.

2) Why exclude the possiblity ? Why accept the possibility ?
The way i see it everyone should be agnostic ...
But the reasons why i believe in a god ... hehe, i assure you i have reasons. Stuff which i won't share with you guys though ...

3) Considering that my system of beliefs is flexible by definition i doubt i'd fight to the death for it, or resist a formal conversion kuz that won't change squat.
But i would defend the church, even though i don't believe in what they do. It's good to get friend in "high places" ya know (if the occasion apears) ... and i'm not talking about God. ()

I did defend it on several ocasions IIRC ... (only online ... i'm not talking about protests and stuff)

 

[Rhymes]

Life would be pretty pointless and grim without God,

I would really like it if you could explain that more precisely. What would change in your everyday life without god? Is it a question of how you feel in general? enlighten me.

 

[Kyriakos]

Hey, do not compare religion to philosophy


Infact there is a nice quote by Nietzsche: "You want to be able on the one hand to claim everything you like as true, and on the other to have all different views be accepted as true. But then it must be said that what you want is no longer philosophy. What you want is now religion"

 

[Perfection]

Evidence leads me to the conclusion that there is a God
, and the same God who reveals himself through the Christian Bible.

Evidence, eh? What sort of evidence?

Life would be pretty pointless and grim without God, but that's not the reason I believe he exists, so I'm not "reliant" in the sense you describe.

I don't find life grim, how do you explain that?

 

[GenMarshall]

1)
What is it in your life or situation that draws you to religion?
Mainly for me, I felt an emptyness in my life that could not be filled with material things or relationships.

2)
Explain why are you reliant on the idea of a god or deity?
Its kind of hard to explain because a belief in God is unique to each individual. I believe in a idea of a God because I feel he is there in my time of need as well as time to ask for God to watch over my friends and relatives.

3)
How far are you willing to go to defend that belief?
I would back my beliefs with feelings, scriptures, and other religious text. But I wont go as far as flaming because thats not my character.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

1) What is it in your life or situation that draws you to religion?

2) Explain why are you reliant on the idea of a god or deity?

3) How far are you willing to go to defend that belief?

1) Just the chance of annoying you, Curt.

2) No-one else has offered me life after death. Personally, I think that's a bit mean of them, but that's probably a separate issue.

3) Carlisle.

 

[greekguy]

1)
What is it in your life or situation that draws you to religion?

Well, I was raised Jewish and still think it has a good impact on my life.

2)
Explain why are you reliant on the idea of a god or deity?

For me, it is because I cannot accept the belief that the universe came in to being by pure random chance.

3)
How far are you willing to go to defend that belief?

If science would prove something in the Bible wrong, then I would go with science instead of religion (i.e. Theory of Evolution proves that Creation took place over more than 7 days)

 

[aussieboy]

1) I actually was once leaning on the agnostic side myself, and often just went to church to please my folks. However, when I managed to improve my grades, almost miraculously, I was convinced there was a God. Furthermore, I guess it was my upbringing. Being an immigrant Filipino, it was one of those things that are deeply ingrained into the culture. Finally, it gives one a sense of community.
2) Well, I suppose I could live like any other without strongly believing in God, at least on paper. But I cannot fathom the possibility of the non-existence of God. I cannot accept that all the intricacies of nature were just caused by random chance. Someone had to at the very least, ‘cast the dice’.
3) Well, theoretically I am willing to put my life down for my God, as a martyr. But I would not know what would really happen. I mean even St. Peter, the first Pope, could not risk his life for Jesus when the latter was crucified, and I’m peanuts compared to him.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

1. It makes sense and does as good a job of explaining the world as any belief system. Also, I feel that God has answered my prayers.

2. In the sense that I can't function without my beliefs, I am not. I can easily comprehend a world without God and if I lost my faith tomorrow, I would be able to live much as I do now. But I feel it would be dishonest of me to deny what I believe.

3. I am willing to share how I feel to others even if it is inconvenient or difficult. I did spend 2 years of my life doing just that, after all. I will not however force my views on others or judge them for what I perceive as wrong. I am willing, under some circumstances, to die for my beliefs; I would never kill for them.

 

[Elrohir]

1. First, I believe God deserves worship. Second, I believe it is only through Christ that I can have a moral, and happy life. And third, I think it's simply the right path to follow.

2. First because I can't understand the logic of the argument that the universe exists, but it wasn't created. That makes no sense to me. Second, I believe it is only through Christ that my sins can be atoned for.

3. I would die rather than abandon, or leave it. I'm willing to argue and debate against intellectual attacks, and I would fight physically against physical attacks.

 

[CurtSibling]

It's not like I believe in God out of desperation. Evidence leads me to the conclusion that there is a God, and the same God who reveals himself through the Christian Bible. Life would be pretty pointless and grim without God, but that's not the reason I believe he exists, so I'm not "reliant" in the sense you describe.

Does that answer the question?

In the context of your personal view, sort of.

The only bit that eludes me is the 'evidence' part...
....But that is for another thread.

.