Zone1 One significant reason why many do not believe in religion, it is just too damn hard

[frigidweirdo]

Now, there are of course many reasons so I simplify for the purpose of this discussion but the difficulties of being a good human being is a significant contributor to peoples lack of faith.

It is difficult to commit oneself to being noble, principled, objective, shining light onto the world, helping the needy etc. This becomes more daunting when surrounded by scores of selfish, diabolical individuals who are not.

Another key contributor to Atheism is almost certainly the time and discipline required. This is true whether it is reading our faiths book, the pageantry of the process or going to church, a synagogue, a mosque or temple.

Further restrictive and a barrier to some is the commitments to holidays and rituals, foods etc. I do not begrudge those who find it difficult to observe this way, at the very least though, one must maintain the core tenets of principle, morality and character. Even this appears to be extremely difficult for so many, being evil is much essier for some, perhaps more natural for them (even for the "good guys")

There is a well known George Carlin comedic bit called "religion is bullsh*t". He is extremely critical of G-d, basically mocks the idea of the "invisible man in the sky". As I am an extremely comfortable person listening to opposing views, most evident in my openness to watching media from all sides even as I may disagree with some speakers 99% of the time; I watch his skit and laugh. I understand his position, there is a reason I rejected false believers of faith also and I read with a critical eye some of the stories within the bible. It is after all, written by man, not infallible.

Yes, some stories within the bible are far-fetched, one does not have to be too literal with everything in the bible in my estimation, at least I am not. I believe one should at least appreciate the message or general premise, that which G-d demands of us is more meaningful. It is difficult but that is the task, it is supposed to be difficult.

Those who warp religion for their own ends is the problem with religion today. That is what makes faith that much more difficult, especially if one is Jewish and is demanded to be stalwart models of faith, an obligation that requires significant moral leadership.

I suppose I am fortunate enough to at least be honest in the face of diverting representations. Objective enough to distinguish between true representatives of faith vs the many, MANY false chsracters we see in mass media today. This criticism of plastic people of faith is not relegated to any one religion for the record, no one faith has a monopoly on false practitioners, though I was discouraged enough to confront my own.

We as followers of G-d must acknowledge that it is not easy to be a person of faith, but consider the alternative. The "fake" people of faith should serve to remind us of just how dark the world will be if the true believers, the good men and women who act by G-ds instructions, not just talk a good game become the dominant ideology. Our species and the universe as a whole canmot survive the darkness some repeatedly emit.

Even those who do not believe in G-d can be good, moral human beings. I applaud all who are regardless of faith or no faith. Look around. See the social media clips and chatter. Are the good, honourable and righteous winning the day?

Yeah, it's pointless too.

 

[ding]

More like rational thought

Atheism offers no functional advantage.; Belief in a higher power does.

 

[markef]

But then you accept that a magical creature created matter

Secularist believe the universe just somehow magically appeared in all its fullness with no satisfactory scientific explanation.

 

[jacksonlamb]

Worship of the divine is not difficult at all.

Investing in organized religion can be very difficult at times from what I have seen over the years.

 

[rightwinger]

Secularist believe the universe just somehow magically appeared in all its fullness with no satisfactory scientific explanation.

Could have always been here

 

[markef]

Could have always been here

Such speculations are similar in ways to beliefs in God for being unable to prove.

 

[JoeB131]

Etymology is fun. The root of gullible came from 'gull', to cheat or impose upon (1600s). In that same time period, 'pragmatic' was used to describe a meddlesome, impertinent person, too involved in business affairs.

Gay used to mean happy. What's your point?

God does not cheat or impose Himself on anyone.

God doesn't exist. The guys pushing the religion lie, on the other hand, are happy to impose themselves on the rest of us. Crusades, Inquisitions, Witch-burnings.

Atheists are pragmatic? Meaning they are meddlesome and impertinent when involving themselves in matters of religion?

The real question is, why do you guys get so upset when someone questions your fairy stories?

Sure did. Why do you suppose there was only one guy he said that to?

Oh, wait, you believe in Republican Jesus, don't you?

 

[markef]

Gay used to mean happy. What's your point?



God doesn't exist. The guys pushing the religion lie, on the other hand, are happy to impose themselves on the rest of us. Crusades, Inquisitions, Witch-burnings.



The real question is, why do you guys get so upset when someone questions your fairy stories?




Oh, wait, you believe in Republican Jesus, don't you?

View attachment 1255551

Those who declare that God does not exist seem unaware of the fact that such baseless opinions are contradicted by facts and reality.

 

[Hafar1014]

Those who declare that God does not exist seem unaware of the fact that such baseless opinions are contradicted by facts and reality.

There are no facts that god does or does not exist. Its all based on beliefs chosen to fill an emotional need. State the facts

 

[midcan5]

Believe whatever you want, lots of choices, I find reincarnation interesting but of course I'd like to know what step I am on and where I am headed.... Life is natural, enjoy it, you ain't gonna know you are dead.

"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried." G.K. Chesterton

 

[markef]

There are no facts that god does or does not exist. Its all based on beliefs chosen to fill an emotional need. State the facts

There are no facts that the universe was created without God.

 

[Hafar1014]

Believe whatever you want, lots of choices, I find reincarnation interesting but of course I'd like to know what step I am on and where I am headed.... Life is natural, enjoy it, you ain't gonna know you are dead.

"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried." G.K. Chesterton

There s an afterlife and we dont end when the body dies. Memory and emotions continue.

 

[JoeB131]

Those who declare that God does not exist seem unaware of the fact that such baseless opinions are contradicted by facts and reality.

What reality?

What is your objective proof that God exists? And I mean your God, which is only worshipped by about a quarter of the Humans on Earth.

 

[Meriweather]

Deciding what is real and what is made up is what adults do.
Children openly accept what they are told by authority figures. That is how religions survive

For many, deciding what is real and what is made up is what children have always done.
Perhaps you have missed numerous posts here from atheists who noted they didn't believe in God even in their childhood. My husband was eight when he decided he had no belief. When I was eight, I was still seeking/investigating. I was ten, on a November 3, when the "find" of seek and you shall find came about.

 

[Hafar1014]

There are no facts that the universe was created without God.

A meaningless statement. The absence of a fact is nothing which proves nothing. You need to produce evidence to the contrary to call it a fact.

 

[Meriweather]

The real question is, why do you guys get so upset when someone questions your fairy stories?

Why do you imagine we are upset when we are not? You interpret/mistake eagerness for being upset--and because it is you who are too fragile to seek the presence of God and the ways of God. That takes endurance. Because you cannot face the fact/reality of God, you childishly call it a fairy tale. You fear the truth/lessons in Biblical accounts and ask nonsensical questions and will not tolerate the serious response.

You went to Catholic school, and must have at least heard of St. Augustine. If so, remember (when he was a grown man) his mom begged a well-known bishop to talk to her son. The bishop's response was, "Augustine is not ready to hear." Today, the same is true of you. You are not ready to hear. More, you have fiercely determined you never intend to hear.

Last question: If you truly believe we get upset you calling scripture "fairy stories" why are you insistent about using that description? Why are you, at least tirelessly trying, to deliberately upset those who believe? We are merely trying to explain to you the solid foundation of our belief.

 

[JoeB131]

Why do you imagine we are upset when we are not? You interpret/mistake eagerness for being upset--and because it is you who are too fragile to seek the presence of God and the ways of God. That takes endurance. Because you cannot face the fact/reality of God, you childishly call it a fairy tale. You fear the truth/lessons in Biblical accounts and ask nonsensical questions and will not tolerate the serious response.

I figured out at an early age that there are no fairies in the sky.

You went to Catholic school, and must have at least heard of St. Augustine. If so, remember (when he was a grown man) his mom begged a well-known bishop to talk to her son. The bishop's response was, "Augustine is not ready to hear." Today, the same is true of you. You are not ready to hear. More, you have fiercely determined you never intend to hear.

Auggie sounds like he as a fun guy before he found religion.

I got hit by a big wooden ruler too many times to take anything the Catholic Church says seriously. I'm just glad I didn't get molested when I was there.

Last question: If you truly believe we get upset you calling scripture "fairy stories" why are you insistent about using that description? Why are you, at least tirelessly trying, to deliberately upset those who believe? We are merely trying to explain to you the solid foundation of our belief.

I doubt more than 10% of what I post is about religion. In fact, I'm going to make a check.

 

[markef]

What reality?

What is your objective proof that God exists? And I mean your God, which is only worshipped by about a quarter of the Humans on Earth.

The reality is that there is no explanation for the origin of matter and energy apart from God.

 

[Meriweather]

Oh, wait, you believe in Republican Jesus, don't you?

Let's look at your complaints.

Medical costs: What caused medical costs to rise so dramatically? Insurance. Medicare. Pharmaceuticals. Limiting the number of students wanting to enter the medical profession.

Here legally: The question is: Did you come to contribute or come to take? What have you given, what have you taken? Many come here legally and are warmly welcome by the majority. Why not you?

Jesus also said: You now only come to me because you ate the loaves and were filled.

Jesus taught: Blessed are the poor...

Jesus always went straight to the heart of the matter. You tap dance around the edges.

 

[Hafar1014]

The reality is that there is no explanation for the origin of matter and energy apart from God.

Thats not proof no explanation means nothing exists as an explanation. Absence of evidence is not evidence. Your need to pretend there is proof defines your faith as weak.