Thread: So who bases their beliefs on anything other than facts, and why?

well, i am defiantly not as qualified to talk about philosophy as others......so i wont.

the only thing that i really have wrong with your post is the "absolutely no proof or evidence or anything whatsoever to support it" i think that statement is wrong because you probably dont have all the facts. unless you have a PHD in religious forum debating. and if you admit you dont have all the facts but your still coming to an absolute certainty.............

There is a good quote I picked up a while ago:

"You must never believe in a credulous way anything that you are told. You must not disbelieve it either, for that would be foolish. The only method to adopt is to accept as a possibility the things that you are told, then to set about finding out the way to prove these things for yourself."

As wise as this quote is, it doesn't support the original post. I once asked some Christians about the same thing as in the original topic and the answer was that they have proof - through prayer. That is, God speaking to them through prayer.

Apparently, the church requires belief before proof. That is, you first have to belief, then you get proof through praying and such.

So, in the original post, you're making a hasty deduction. Just because you don't have proof of the existence of a deity, doesn't mean no one else does.

And most importantly: the world isn't bent on the mass media concept.

What that means is that truly meaningful things are often left to the people that value them. Someone who speaks with a god through prayer has no reason to go "proving" it to anyone. Just like someone that has, say, the power to blast away enemies with bolts of lightning won't go around doing so for no reason.

Anyone that has the wisdom and knowledge to achieve something great (contact with a god, magic, etc.) will hardly have a reason to make it public to the world.

^^^

God because banana.

Originally Posted by Mark75

God because banana.

I don't, because pineapple.

Originally Posted by Carôusoul

had visions or whatever[although some of you may claim you have[In which case I understand to an extent]]

see. this refers to whatever feeling you may get in prayer, however I don't think that is true to all christians anyway.

I know christians who, and back when I was a devout christian, didn't feel anything special during prayer other than awe at the scale of what you were doing.

I'm saying that many christians do NOT get this, and as I did, have no actual evidence other than what they have been told. Some christians, granted will have religious experiences[prayerpower,visions], and I can fully understand their belief, as I said above.

But this is addressed mainly to those who have not, and are simply going upon what others have told them.

Well, it's the same as the master-apprentice idea. People learn things from teachers. If they have reasons to take on a religion from the teachings of those that "told them", then why not?

But don't get me wrong, I'm also curious as to the answer to this question. Just as long as it's indeed not an "imposing" but a curious question.

Originally Posted by Merlock

Well, it's the same as the master-apprentice idea. People learn things from teachers. If they have reasons to take on a religion from the teachings of those that "told them", then why not?

But don't get me wrong, I'm also curious as to the answer to this question. Just as long as it's indeed not an "imposing" but a curious question.

I'm not trying to be imposing, I am genuinely interested why.

I figure it is because people are different. Where I would Find it absurd to follow what someone tells me without seeing evidence for myself [in the case of something on the SCALE of religion, I would believe someone who told me that coke was half price, because it is so trivial and they have no reason to lie, even if they were lying, what does it matter. Religion is very different] others may well follow happily as they believe it to be right

This is similar with tradition. I have massive disputes with my family because I see no pratical point[comparable to evidence] in some traditions we have, but they insist upon doing it anyway[as it has been told to them and passed down, similarly].

From what ive seen it nearly always starts from a religious upbringing. Aswell as this I think some people simply want to believe it, so much so that they don't allow themselves to truly question their beliefs. I can see how it would be a comforting thing to think you have it all worked out, and it must feel good to think you've found THE reason for life and the goal of this existence (and thats without touching on the whole afterlife thing).

Whats easier for someone in this situation, to pass over evidence with the phrase "god works in mysterious ways, its all part of his plan" etc, and keep the fluffy thoughts and beliefs, or give all that up?

If you didn't believe things just because someone told you, you wouldn't really have a great concept of what the physical reality was either. The only real fact here is that your beliefs are an amalgamation of things you have been told, whether you think so or not. Without being told, you would have no concept of astronomical bodies, space, gravity, even time. Everything you take for granted as self evident has actually been ingrained in you by other people.

Xaqaria.

I know.

Originally Posted by Carôusoul

So, I believe in myself, this is certainly the only thing I am truly certain of.

I base my beliefs on something other than facts because that's a retarded, over-used word that people don't even understand. One of the most basic truths of the universe is that there is no truth, and taken through the correct philosophical argument you could be completely convinced of this. Our brains choose what's fact and what isn't through logical understanding, if something can appear completely logical we accept it as fact and fit it into our networks of understanding.

We could have a forum where people shared and respected each others ideas and simply discussed and argued in order to further their own understanding but instead people come up with these arguments that are rock solid in their minds then come here thinking, "Watch as I shatter their minds," or something. The bottom line is they're treating life like they know everything, it's completely sophomoric.

So how can I base my religion purely on evidence when I don[t even have .00001% of all the evidence? It has to be faith, it's important to strive for the best understanding possible and collect as many facts as you possibly can and weigh them all into account, but after that you really have to just choose.

i actually agree doomedone. people accept evidence that supports their views. i dont know if they do it consciously. but people want to always be right, its natural. we are naturally Egotistical life forms (im already patting myself on the back for using such a big word )

in the end i think we all choose what to believe.

I'm not sure what to think. I don't really believe in God. There are so many bibles out now, which one tells the truth? My dad is very in to his Christian Religion and tries to push it on me and my siblings.
I agree with pretty much everything you said. Sometimes in Chorus, instead of singing, we talk about lots of different things. One thing we talked about is that we could be all in one mind. Like a game board. We could be imaging each other, and all of this. Everything we do and say may because someone is imaging it all. We don't know what we can't see. All we know is what we believe.

Um...

sometimes i lean toward a kind of universal religion. such as there is a god. but you are only judged on the content of your character and not by what name you call him.

Originally Posted by Mark75

God because banana.

Originally Posted by Mark75

God because banana.

So much love!

Absolute truths don't exist.

Everything I think, is basically an estimate of chance. I see the chance 1% there is a god. And 0.0001% chance there is a Christian God. Actually, those numbers are just made up. It's just to relative to give numbers to such things.

Still.

Christians need to stfu, and stop being absolutists, basically.

Originally Posted by Neruo

Actually, those numbers are just made up. It's just to relative to give numbers to such things.

Who was it who said like 73% of all statistics are made up on the spot? lol.

Absolute truths do exist...

A=A

I rest my case.

Originally Posted by Neruo

Christians need to stfu, and stop being absolutists, basically.

So do atheists.

Grr, shut up, everyone is retarded, yes everyone, so shut up, like it matters anyway. Your all going to live your lives and then your going to die. It doesn't really matter what people believe, because we are all going to rot in the ground anyway, after mortician comes in, sucks out your blood, replaces it, and stitches your lips shut! I don't even know why I bother anymore trying to help people see the truth...I guess i'm more worried about the people of the future being forced into believing the bullshit people believe today, but then what? They are just gonna die too...no one stays here forever, so wtf does it matter...if someones wrong, or someones right, they just get replaced anyway.

Originally Posted by Sandform

Grr, shut up, everyone is retarded, yes everyone, so shut up, like it matters anyway. Your all going to live your lives and then your going to die. It doesn't really matter what people believe, because we are all going to rot in the ground anyway, after mortician comes in, sucks out your blood, replaces it, and stitches your lips shut! I don't even know why I bother anymore trying to help people see the truth...I guess i'm more worried about the people of the future being forced into believing the bullshit people believe today, but then what? They are just gonna die too...no one stays here forever, so wtf does it matter...if someones wrong, or someones right, they just get replaced anyway.

Well aren't you the drop calling the bucket wet.

Originally Posted by Neruo

I see the chance 1% there is a god.

in all honesty i think you have made up your mind that there is no god (as is your right) and youre only giving a 1% chance just so you can say your not an absolutist.

even if i were to just make up numbers I dont know what percent to give what. As in the grand scheme of things I know very little its not like I can say 43% chance god exists 57% he doesn’t