The Inherent Human Need To Believe In Something...

[joko]

some people cite the fact that, all over the planet, for thousands of years humans have believed in gods of some sort - as a kind of proof that gods must exist - if so many people believe it.

but actually i think this argument really just proves the opposite.

it proves humans inherent need to feel there is a higher purpose.
it shows its in our NATURE to search for more and to invent it if necessary.

all these gods take so many different forms and have many different ways, ways that suit the paticular society.
they also note the really remote tribes who have no outside contact who also know about god etc.
but each one totally believes that theirs is the one true god - so doesn't that show how it all MUST just be all in our minds?

if there was only one true god - wouldn't all these remote tribes all be worshiping the same one?
wouldn't the 'real' god, make sure they knew about him?

if all these other gods are false idols - why wouldn't 'god' try to correct them? why would he just let them blindly believe a fake one?

it cannot be the old chestnut of freewill - because that can only work when someone knows the 'truth' yet chooses the wrong path - so what about people who don't even know a path exists in the first place?

how can god expect people to follow him, if he does not make himself known to them...?

[Khandro]

V-E; //...the millions of decent Christians who do good things to others not for profit, not from fear, but because they are good people.// and what is more, get murdered for doing so. According to the Catholic charity, Aid to the Church in Need, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the Catholic Church provides extensive relief services, 'Christians are victims of brutal, apparently indiscriminate violence.' which the media seems to neglect.
I agree with your assessment of Thomas Williams - who he? (I won't bother looking him up) but it raises the question of why take the trouble of quoting someone with whom you disagree? If I were to do that I would be embroiled in a never-ending task. :-)

[joko]

don't get me wrong here - of course plenty of eligious people would do good because they are genuinely good people - i was referring to the ones who only do it for that reason.

i also agree that its the good deed that counts regardless of how or why its done

i just find that the idea, that many religious people seem to have that atheists are immoral and don't know how to be good, is quite ridiculous
many theists seem proud to be afraid, to be god fearing