Why Don’t The Religious Ask Why?

[naomi24]

Pondering the posts here, Goodlife quotes from The Watchtower or his preferred version of the bible, Theland quotes from anything that agrees with his own views at any given time (even the much despised Billy Graham organisation if it suits the purpose), Khandro quotes philosophers and those he regards as men of wisdom… and so on… but not one of them ever appears to have an independent thought. They accept it all ‘religiously’ without ever asking ‘Why?’

Why, for example, if God is, as we’re led to believe, omniscient/omnipotent/omnipresent, did he err? Why, if he knew what the outcome would be, did he create man and then regret it? Why (as Idiosyncrasy claimed the other day).did God give Satan permission to rule the earth when that sort of rule wasn’t what God wanted at all? To me none of it makes sense - so it makes sense to ask ‘Why?’ ... doesn’t it?

Why don’t you?

[goodlife]

Yes I chose to. I didn't have at one time but now I do, but you can quit anytime you like, the same as Adam and Eve did, and everybody else, if they don't want to follow and do what's right.

[andy-hughes]

goodlife - // Yes I chose to. I didn't have at one time but now I do, but you can quit anytime you like, the same as Adam and Eve did, and everybody else, if they don't want to follow and do what's right. //

The question of 'what's right' is a choice of the individual, it doesn't become one thing simply because you say so.

[goodlife]

True and look at the world that you love.

[andy-hughes]

goodlife - // True and look at the world that you love. //

I never said I 'love the world' - please do not put words in my mouth.

I do think the world has a mass of problems, but I'll take it over your unreliable alternative any day.

[barry1010]

Why do you assume that those with faith don't ask 'why'? Many do, many have 'wobbles' where they lose faith for a time or permanently. I know lots of people with faith and even those who would be considered committed to their particular faith still question it at times.

[andy-hughes]

barry - // Why do you assume that those with faith don't ask 'why'? Many do, many have 'wobbles' where they lose faith for a time or permanently. I know lots of people with faith and even those who would be considered committed to their particular faith still question it at times. //

They may question in a superficial way - because anything approaching serious and objective questioning of religious faith opens the questioner to a lifetime of evidence that their belief is not doing the world they live in a scintilla of good - starting with the endless wars in pursuit of blind belief, before starting on the world's woes which any god of choice sees fit to simply ignore.

And hopefully you won't offer me the pat answer of 'man's free will ...' I have heard it and it doesn't fly.

[naomi24]

Barry, yes, people do question their faith at times, but in my experience they very rarely question the logic of believing what they believe in the first place. They say God is infallible but if you read the bible it’s abundantly clear he isn’t. When I read that Adam and Eve hid from God and he couldn’t find them, I have to ask why? He’s omniscient, isn’t he?

[goodlife]

Naomi you are funny you only want to believe the bits that you want to believe.

[vulcan42]

goodlife,\\ you only want to believe the bits that you want to believe.//
You have succinctly described every religious follower throughout the world.

[goodlife]

You know what I studied every religion of the world ,that why.

[naomi24]

It’s there, Goodlife. Why don’t you believe it?

[TrevorThePug]

mibn2cweus "In my experience dedicated believers appear to place a premium on their belief over reason"

This is human nature by default, fanaticism (mild or extreme) for some its their religion, for others its their football team or politics, and for others its their prejudices. I doubt many would stop to ask 'why' they are tuned/brainwashed/influenced that way because it brings into question the very foundations of ones existence and justification of their outlook and views.

[nailit]

I was one of the religious that *DID* ask why!
A few years of Evangelical Fundamentalism and I knew that I had to start thinking for myself rather than accepting non-answers from the pastors and preachers at church...otherwise I could have ended up as deluded as some on here.

[nailit]

//Atheist like Nailit rarely bring anything new to the party//
Believers like fiveleaves rarely bring anything new to the party.

[Canary42]

///Atheist[s] ....... rarely bring anything new to the party// ///

And has it occurred to you why they doesn't. It's because God does not exist, there's nothing more to be said, so nothing new will appear. That's logic of course, so you're bound to find it difficult to handle.

[Canary42]

*don't not doesn't

[Theland]

Naomi, this a good question, with many facets to be explored.
I hope, I really hope that you get sensible well thought out answers, and I too shall try to contribute.
Regarding your reference to Billy Graham, he compromised his faith when he embraced roman Catholicism, which is a cult, but that does not negate his previous pure evangelism.

[Theland]

Mkbn2ceweus - You worship the god of reason.
Two things.
First of all, you cannot reason your way to an objective reality.
(Prove me wrong?)
Secondly, psychopaths are entirely reasonable.
Why not take whatever I like, and use people for whatever I want, and eliminate them if they get in the way of my pleasure / ambitions / plans / whims?
Dawkins himself said that the universe is devoid of morals, no good, no evil, just a cold indifference.
From your perspective then, what value reason?

[HansUrbancka]

Theland....Why are you bothering with this thread after walking(or should I say running) away from two threads which you started and failed to complete.?

Hans.

[Theland]

Hans - Because like you I only have 24 hours in my day, and do you know what?
I really don't give a toss what you think!
You are quite typical. A NITPICKER!
Get over yourself!
Oh hang on!
Just to please you I could use my valuable time to placate you?
Again! Get over yourself. You are not important.
Correction, you are less important than that.