Why are people religious? (need advice)

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teksla
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23 Aug 2015, 1:23 pm

Hello.
All of my friends are officially religious (they belong the church) but they dont believe in god (or heaven/hell)?
What is the point of being christian if you dont believe in god?
Last time i brought it up she said that she is now mad at me and i am not allowed to bring it up again (to which i replied that then she is not allowed to talk about it if she does not want me answering).
I understand people being religious but officially being religious but not believing in god? That i do not understand.
Help me try to understand


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babybird
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23 Aug 2015, 1:29 pm

There are a lot of reasons why people might be religious. For some people it's simply a need to feel part of something, because they fit in and are accepted.

Some people like the energy they get from the congregation or crowd.

You can be religious about many things. It's not just about God. It can be the rituals that come along with the religion.

However, in your friends case it does seem unusual for them to be Christians without believing in a god.

But I'm no expert about these things. Maybe it might be a good idea to ask the PPR people.


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teksla
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23 Aug 2015, 1:33 pm

babybird wrote:
There are a lot of reasons why people might be religious. For some people it's simply a need to feel part of something, because they fit in and are accepted.

Some people like the energy they get from the congregation or crowd.

You can be religious about many things. It's not just about God. It can be the rituals that come along with the religion.

However, in your friends case it does seem unusual for them to be Christians without believing in a god.

But I'm no expert about these things. Maybe it might be a good idea to ask the PPR people.

PPR? (and they dont go to church or something, i think its just weird)


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ImAnAspie
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23 Aug 2015, 4:12 pm

teksla wrote:
Hello.
All of my friends are officially religious (they belong the church) but they dont believe in god (or heaven/hell)?
What is the point of being christian if you dont believe in god?
Last time i brought it up she said that she is now mad at me and i am not allowed to bring it up again (to which i replied that then she is not allowed to talk about it if she does not want me answering).
I understand people being religious but officially being religious but not believing in god? That i do not understand.
Help me try to understand


There are many many religions and they all served/serve a purpose.

They give people who are willing to believe in phantasm a chance to believe there's something out there that will save them but no-one knows what's out there.
THAT'S THE TRUTH - N O O N E K N O W S

Some feel sure they know but they're just humans and they have NO IDEA what happens to us after we rot, burn, whatever.


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ImAnAspie
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23 Aug 2015, 4:20 pm

ImAnAspie wrote:
teksla wrote:
Hello.
All of my friends are officially religious (they belong the church) but they dont believe in god (or heaven/hell)?
What is the point of being christian if you dont believe in god?
Last time i brought it up she said that she is now mad at me and i am not allowed to bring it up again (to which i replied that then she is not allowed to talk about it if she does not want me answering).
I understand people being religious but officially being religious but not believing in god? That i do not understand.
Help me try to understand


There are many many religions and they all served/serve a purpose.

They give people who are willing to believe in phantasm a chance to believe there's something out there that will save them but no-one knows what's out there.
THAT'S THE TRUTH - N O O N E K N O W S

Some feel sure they know but they're just humans and they have NO IDEA what happens to us after we rot, burn, whatever.


Also, in the olden days, the church used to have a HUGE sway over people. They were the power. It was a good way to keep the peasants inline. Put the fear of god in them - and if they don't conform - heretic!


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ImAnAspie
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23 Aug 2015, 4:21 pm

ImAnAspie wrote:
ImAnAspie wrote:
teksla wrote:
Hello.
All of my friends are officially religious (they belong the church) but they dont believe in god (or heaven/hell)?
What is the point of being christian if you dont believe in god?
Last time i brought it up she said that she is now mad at me and i am not allowed to bring it up again (to which i replied that then she is not allowed to talk about it if she does not want me answering).
I understand people being religious but officially being religious but not believing in god? That i do not understand.
Help me try to understand


There are many many religions and they all served/serve a purpose.

They give people who are willing to believe in phantasm a chance to believe there's something out there that will save them but no-one knows what's out there.
THAT'S THE TRUTH - N O O N E K N O W S

Some feel sure they know but they're just humans and they have NO IDEA what happens to us after we rot, burn, whatever.


Also, in the olden days, the church used to have a HUGE sway over people. They were the power. It was a good way to keep the peasants inline. Put the fear of god in them - and if they don't conform - heretic!


EVERYONE was afraid of that!


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DailyPoutine1
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23 Aug 2015, 4:33 pm

Religious people are weird and you shouldn't mind them.



Spiderpig
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23 Aug 2015, 5:00 pm

Because they can.


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lostonearth35
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23 Aug 2015, 7:34 pm

A lot of people are religious because they were either brought up that way or because they want an explanation for things that can't easily be explained. Like is there an afterlife, why do bad things happen to people for no obvious reason, why is there life on Earth. The thought that this life is the only one we get is pretty disturbing even if it's true.

And a lot of these people would rather go on believing in something there is no proof of existing than things that have been proven, like the microbes that are seen under a microscope. "Germs? No, everyone knows it's speaking ill of the church that makes people sick, and anyone who says otherwise is a raving lunatic! I will gladly walk through a room filled with Ebola sufferers without a mask nor gloves because I have faith in God." :roll:

Apparently there's some society of people who believe the world is really flat and no scientific evidence will convince them otherwise.
I would like to suggest that they go to the edge of the planet and jump off. :twisted:



ToughDiamond
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23 Aug 2015, 9:59 pm

It doesn't surprise me that some of the people who belong to a church don't actually believe in the existence of a god. They may go to church because they want the benefits of a ready-made community (company, resources, protection, perhaps even power), or because they feel they have to live a lie in order to get along with the people around them, or for the sake of show, or because they get a personal sense of well-being from taking part in rituals, or they might just enjoy singing or hearing the hymns or seeing the inside of a nice looking church. And people sometimes change their beliefs when they grow into adults, observe the wider world, and use independent critical thinking, but inertia might make them stick to their old habits.

I've been to a very small number of church services, and kept quiet about my atheism, purely for the sake of not offending others. I haven't found it easy, and I've been very tempted to be myself and stay away. Going to a church and hiding my real beliefs made me feel cheap because it's ultimately hypocritical of me. But to completely "come out" to everybody about what I think would probably do more harm than good. I absolutely insist on being honest with the people I'm really close to, so in a sense I will always be distant to those I am fooling, which I regard as a great pity.

I can imagine why your friend got annoyed with your questions. Many people would rather not accept (even to themselves) that what they are doing isn't quite right. They prefer not to think too much about it, because it unleashes a conflict in their minds, and it can lower their self-esteem to dwell on their imperfections, even though none of us are perfect.



cyberdad
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23 Aug 2015, 10:28 pm

People become religious because they want to better fit into a particular society. It's a form of social identity. Religions help the reinforcement process of indoctrination by providing all sorts of rules starting with "Thou must...



glebel
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24 Aug 2015, 11:05 am

Some people acquire faith through a traumatic experience in their life ( like me ), and attend church. Others go to church because " This what we do on Sunday mornings ". These people are known as pew-warmers, and yes, I have a hard time getting into that concept myself. The most alarming thing I saw in your blog, though, was the fact that she's not willing to talk to you about religion if she might hear something that doesn't support her 'faith'. Any sect, cult, whatever that can't stand the light of day is highly suspect


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Caelum
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24 Aug 2015, 11:29 am

Why does anyone do anything? Why am I wearing a grey shirt today, instead of the purple one?
There are a variety of reasons to be religious, and many of them don't involve belief in a higher power. So if your friends have some of those reasons, and there aren't any compelling reasons to change, why would they?
When you confront someone with, why are you religious, you don't believe in God! it might sound like, why are you wearing the grey shirt, you had waffles for breakfast!
The two statements don't necessarily relate. They might never have believed in God, and yet they've been religious for however long.



Malaise
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24 Aug 2015, 5:46 pm

I think some people were also raised in a religious family, so the values and lifestyle is what's normal to them. Even if they don't believe in the spiritual aspect, it's familiar.



marcb0t
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25 Aug 2015, 7:17 am

DailyPoutine1 wrote:
Religious people are weird and you shouldn't mind them.


I was far more weird before ever becoming "religious", or rather a Christian. I think all humans are weird for that matter. :P


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marcb0t
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25 Aug 2015, 7:21 am

Religion basically means order. So this could apply to many things and not just Christianity or other belief systems. Some people watch football religiously.

I am a Christian, and I strongly believe and God and even have conversations with Him and pray to Jesus. He is as real to me as my human father. I definitely believe in what is written in Scripture.

I actually might not be considered religious on outside appearances, aside from dressing nicely, and not cussing, what not. What matters to me is loving God, and doing His, and following Jesus. That is the point in Christianity.

Will have more later! :)


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