Why do you believe in God?

[naomi24]

He doesn't seem to be much in evidence over the past two thousand years, so why?

[Panic Button]

I don't

[Theland1]

I do believe in God, and for a variety of reasons, each in its own way as important as the others.
God, to me is the First Cause in a universe of cause and effect, and the giver and sustainer of life.
As close as scientists have come to creating some of the constituent parts necessary for life, they have consistently failed to re-create life, even with all of the advantages of modern technology, yet they maintain that the origin of life was by accident and without the help of any intelligent input.
Well that's a start.

[naomi24]

Well, where is he now? When was the last time he surfaced? Two thousand years might not be much to him, but it's a mightly long time in human terms.

Got to go to bed. Night night, sleep tight. x

[figure]

Hi Naomi, How are you? Lately I don't see you around much, hope you are well.. xx

[Theland1]

Where is He now? Same as always, sustaining His creation, interacting with His people, drawing together the many fine threads that ultimately weave the tapestry of Life itself, and the ultimate conclusion of history.

[WaldoMcFroog]

XTC - nice!

[Theland1]

There must be a word in the English language that typifies the notion that the God who is not believed in because He does not exist, is still somehow responsible for all of the wrongs and ills of this world, and humankinds suffering in it, and it is therefore legitimate to get angry or sarcastic with an entity that one does not believe in.
Well, I don't know that word either.
Makes for a pseudo thoughtful bit of writing though.

[naomi24]

Hi figure, I'm fine thanks. I've just been away a lot recently. How are you?

[jake-the-peg]

I'm not religious either ( I know it's a shock to you all )

But I don't think religious people have rational reasons for believing.

I know Theland cites the creation of life, but if we're found seperate from us he'd claim that was God's too and if we created life he'd point out that our original spark was created by God and so God was creating that life by proxy.

In short there's no way to prove it wrong.

But why bother, I can hardly think of an example where someone has gained or lost faith by a rational argument, it's based on emotion.

To ask why someone believes in God is like asking why they love their children - they can list all their good points but that's not why they love them

[Octavius]

I agree with jake.

I could ask why you Naomi believe in ghosts since I have seen no evidence of them, ever, let alone in the last 2,000 years. If you say it is because you have seen them with your own eyes, then I would conclude, as you do me, that you are irrational and deluded with a tendency for hallucination.

No answer would ever suffice.

[naomi24]

Octavius, I don't believe I've ever concluded that you have a tendancy for hallucination.

Jake, There cannot be a correlation between love for one's children and love for God. There's no doubt that children exist.

[Octavius]

Oh that�s ok then Naomi, so long as its only irrational and deluded!

[keyplus90]

We have gone over this same question but with different words so many times. It is itself a proof that God does exist. Few people, well they are going round and round in circles and that is exactly what someone said that if you want to find God with sincerity then he is never far from you but if you want to find him because you have no faith and are trying your arrogance then he would make you go round and round in the circles and will never find him. Because God�s existence does not depend on if few people believe in him or not.

People can not see queen without appointment and appointment is usually consent or permission to let you see her. Imagine 200 years ago when you have to be there physically to see queen only then you would accept that she exists, she may not give your feelings that importance unless you have faith in her existence. And she still is a human being, and few people here are warranting God or otherwise they do not believe in him.

Naomi � Just tell me one thing, if you have everything so clear then you would have no reason to deny, then what is the reason behind faith any way. Your argument has always been that you can not see God, and I will always ask you about the same thing I asked before. When exactly do you realize that what you saw when you were asleep was a dream and not real. Did you not believe in what you saw until you woke up?

[naomi24]

The question was not "Does God exist?". The question was "Why do you believe in God?"

[jake-the-peg]

I wasn't equating the love of God with the love of ones children.

I was simply using it to illustrate an emotional rather than a logical position.

Whether something demonstrably exists doesn't really come into emotional decisions.

Some people might decide where to go on holiday by getting lots of books and brochures and working out budgets etc and weigh up the options and reach a decision.

I'd guess that more people look at pictures or programs and picture themselves there being happy and having a good time and it is this emotional experience and the desire to experience the imagined happiness that makes them make a decision.

In the same way I'd guess that people picture heaven and eternal life and justice or picture non-existance, oblivion or hell or whatever and it is the emotional responses to these ideas that underpins why they believe.

It's why I think people say things like "It's such a comfort having a religion, wouldn't you feel so much better to believe"

That always confused the life out of me but now I begin to see that it's a product of emotional decision making.