Religious People - Prepared To Risk?

[agchristie]

Question mainly for theists (atheists welcome to comment though) as a study shows that religious folk are prepared to take risks...

Do you take risks as you believe that God will be right behind you?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2970682/Does-religion-make-risks-Believing-God-make-think-protected-harm.html

[benhilton]

agchristie I just read the article in your link and no-where does it mention that they asked anyone whether they were religious or not .
Is there a link to the full survey rather than the DM report ?
As for my own opinion , God will only be behind you if you do the right thing . Whether it's risky or not is irrelevant .

[agchristie]

Ben, from the report:-

///Psychologists suggest that religious people are willing to take risks because they believe God will protect them from harm.///

I don't have the exact figures concerning people's religion.

///As for my own opinion , God will only be behind you if you do the right thing///

But some folk are well-intentioned and think they are doing the right thing. If this doesn't turn out to be the case would they still not have God's blessing?

[benhilton]

I've searched and I can only access the abstract , to access the full survey you have to subscribe and log in .
Basing my judgement only on what's been reported , I think the survey is nonsense .

[seadogg]

Sounds odd to me. Believers are certain that they will have an after life but surely they must also realise that being hit by a vehicle while jaywalking is going to hurt and may not lead directly to heaven.

[woofgang]

Psychologists also suggest that men with beards are seen as untrustworthy/masculine and attractive depending on which report you read.

[woofgang]

just read the link....its written in America.....say no more.

[benhilton]

Your point about well-intentioned folk not doing the right thing , if they were well intentioned they would certainly have God's forgiveness , but maybe not his blessing...

About the survey , have you looked at the details of what they asked ? Maybe describing it as nonsense is a bit strong , it will encourage debate among their fellow psychologists , but I fail to see how they can draw any conclusions .

[agchristie]

Seadogg,

///but surely they must also realise that being hit by a vehicle while jaywalking is going to hurt and may not lead directly to heaven.///

Certainly the skydivers would be brought down to earth with a bump!

[agchristie]

Ben,

///it will encourage debate among their fellow psychologists , but I fail to see how they can draw any conclusions .///

It certainly will and the findings contradicts earlier research. Who knows?

[sandyRoe]

God gave most of us the wits to look after ourselves. Taking unnecessary risks would be throwing that gift back in his face.

[agchristie]

Woofgang,

///men with beards are seen as untrustworthy/masculine and attractive depending on which report you read.///

Gorgeous George fits all three? :-)

[agchristie]

Sandy,

///God gave most of us the wits to look after ourselves. ///

Why only 'most of us'? Do you think God has separated the unnecessary risk takers?

[keyplus90]

It depends on what level of risk. I believe that putting yourself in an undue risk where there might be another risk free way is wrong according to any religion.

[DaisyNonna]

He may be busy counting sparrows

[beso]

It is one of the reasons religion is so prevalent.

People who have survived a difficulty often speak of how God saved them. Of course those who died never speak of how God let them die so there tends to be a bias in the reporting.

[agchristie]

Beso,

///People who have survived a difficulty often speak of how God saved them. ///

Yes, this selection process is a strange one. Just why does God save some folk and not others? You often hear the phrase 'didn't deserve to die' and yet others survive who to some would be less deserving.

Is everyone equal in the eyes of the Lord? Does he have better plans for those who go before their time?

[idiosyncrasy]

I have a strong faith in God and believe that he is with me. However, I am not so stupid as to believe that he will be with me and protect me when I deliberately put my life at risk. I do value my life and take every effort to preserve it.

God is not partial so he would not choose to save one person over another, but the Bible does tell us that "unforeseen circumstances affect us all".

[naomi24]

idiosyncrasy, //God is not partial so he would not choose to save one person over another//

Why pray to him to save the sick then? Surely a futile pursuit?

[sandyRoe]

Praying for someone who is unwell will likely not change the course of their illness. It might be seen as a kind of a meditation on them and yourself and the relationship you both have.

[naomi24]

sandyRoe, possibly, but in my experience people who pray for the sick to be healed often genuinely believe that as a result of their supplications God will look kindly upon them and oblige, which really contradicts what idiosyncrasy said.