Help No offense, but am i the only one who doesn't understand how some people can still believe in a 'God' ?

[Leider]

I don't get it either. I've been an atheist since childhood even though I was raised catholic because none of it made sense to me. Sometimes I want to believe, but it's impossible no matter how much I try to convince myself.

 

[isthisit?]

I think the question that made me religious was that everything needs a cause and a beginning. But the universe cant cause itself so the only possibility is that there must be someone outside this plain of existance who made this universe. That being is god.
This got me into religion but getting to christianity was a whole different thing.

 

[PianoWaves]

I think the main reason I found myself in Christian fundamentalism was a lack of information. I was only subjected to books, videos, and other peoples' experiences that lined up with those specific religious beliefs. I personally don't think of myself as someone who is rebellious for its own sake, which meant that if my worldview was going to change it had to come from an outside influence.

After enough time building my "apologetics" repertoire I felt confident enough to read some books from the opposing side. I think the first book I read was "How the Bible Actually Works" by Peter Enns which is where the dominoes started to fall. After a lot of reading and pondering I ended up in the place I am now, labeling myself as an atheist agnostic.

I think one of the most eye opening realizations I had was concerning the whole God vs Satan story. It creates this "us vs them" mindset, which works as a great way to dehumanize whoever you don't agree with. Your opponents are no longer human because their whole being is possessed by Satan, the father of lies. You are no longer reasoning with someone of the same human race but fighting the cosmic forces of evil. You are the enlightened one, they are the deceived one. You get to look toward the future where the ultimate victory over evil is guaranteed. This creates the potential for a whole lot self-righteousness and arrogance.

 

[Scythe]

Religion-wise I don't know, like having faith that something good out there is watching humans.

I do think there can be an agrument made for *something* out there, since we do have paranormal activity or other un-explained happenings. Although I wouldn't believe anything would help humans.

Some people joke about humans being god's simulation game and they're just watching the shit burn. Not sure if anyone genuinely deeply believes in it more than a joke / one liner.

 

[angel164]

you know when they say "the more you know, the more you go insane." I have experienced this phenomena so much
And religion in a way shuts off or numbs out the desire to know and understand our existence, by already providing us with a structured fixed ideas.
So we don't get confronted with the disturbing reality that we exist and the fact that even if we try to convince ourselves, that we know why we exist, NO ONE can provide a 100% accurate answer of why we exist and what even are we.

its terrifying to not know anything, and its disturbing to realize that no matter how much you try, you cant fully actually know what you want to know.
religion numbs all that horror very easily, humans avoid discomfort at all costs, so it makes perfect sense why people still believe in gods.
Religion gives meaning to a horrifying meaningless existence.
a survival thing for humans to keep reproducing? a coping mechanism?

 

[noname223]

I think on SaSu it is actually more offensive to fully believe and trust in God..

 

[Crematoryy]

you know when they say "the more you know, the more you go insane." I have experienced this phenomena so much
And religion in a way shuts off or numbs out the desire to know and understand our existence, by already providing us with a structured fixed ideas.
So we don't get confronted with the disturbing reality that we exist and the fact that even if we try to convince ourselves, that we know why we exist, NO ONE can provide a 100% accurate answer of why we exist and what even are we.

its terrifying to not know anything, and its disturbing to realize that no matter how much you try, you cant fully actually know what you want to know.
religion numbs all that horror very easily, humans avoid discomfort at all costs, so it makes perfect sense why people still believe in gods.
Religion gives meaning to a horrifying meaningless existence.
a survival thing for humans to keep reproducing? a coping mechanism?

No one has loved more than I have. I have loved people who were capable of destroying me. I have loved to the point of overcoming any limit, of surpassing any obstacle, just to be with my beloved. I would transform myself into anyone necessary, change any behavior, and improve any flaw, solely for the approval of the one I love. I am capable of placing another being at the center of my own life, and loving even when I am not loved. I am capable of accepting those who abandon me, of welcoming those who leave me helpless, of desiring those who condemn me to silence. I am capable of anything driven by my own love. And yet, despite all this, I have no one to love. I am alone and lost in the world, but content to be able to love people within my own mind, even if they do not exist or prefer to be absent. I can die, just as I can kill, in the name of my love. I can live amidst meaninglessness, be happy amidst depression, through the illusion of my love, even if the person is no longer present. My feeling is unwavering. If I were stabbed, I would be worried about not getting my hands dirty with the blood of my murderer. I love more than reality can bear or allow. I am the person, in the entire vast universe, who has loved the most even without possessing anyone to love; the person who has given the most even without having anyone to receive. I loved for two: I am the object of my love and the lover.