We have people who are baffled and have lost the inclination to accept any of the amazingly multifarious concepts of God that is taught in religions. Each religion paints a different picture of God and incredibly, each wants its own concept to be accepted by others and when this does not happen, they brand those who refuse to accept their theories as condemned and subdue the mind of their believers with the ultimate theoretical fear of an eternally burning hell.

It has been scientifically proven that all humans are susceptible to the illusion of the truth effect. The more you hear something without even seeing, the more you believe it’s true no matter how staggering, ridiculous and illogical it sounds. Its frightening how often people believe in what they least know.

What is most interesting about all these is that each religion and denomination tries to monopolise the Almighty, that they alone have access to him and that only the way they have prescribed can lead to him and no other way. Thus, they force their opinion upon the world. Strong willed people who still have within them their humanity could not accept any longer the reason for the various versions held out today of the concept of the almighty.

Unfortunately, the commercialism that religion has become today makes it imperative that each religion and denomination have to device means and strategies ways to capture a chunk of the 'market'.  They do this by besmirching those who do not share their views or who refuse to be drawn into their web; and tag as possessed by the devil those that totally denounce religion altogether. That is so prevalent today.

In addition, “there is so much about life, existence and the Almighty that no religion has been able to explain” and so the word 'faith' was coined to get people to believe the unbelievable (Faith cometh by hearing) Lolz.  They have not been able to give a logical reason to so many things that are in existenctoday, for example why some people are born into particular circumstances, why from the very beginning some are exposed to the very hard side of life while others are born with silver spoons.  Why natural disasters happen and why there is so much wickedness in the world today. All they tell you is that it’s for a purpose because they are equally clueless.

Given the number of religious people in Nigeria, the country ought to be the best country in the world to live in.  But the reality today should tell you that what is done in the religions cannot be the way because it has not brought us progress. Clear and deep thinking people usually reject religion and that is what is often mistaken to be atheism. Fela, Soyinka, Einstein, Galileo, Bill Gates etc. Thus beloved as a free thinker, I might have Agnostic views about God but I strongly believe that every faith by notion is actually a mirage!
Think about it for a moment.

QUESTIONS
1. What faith were you born into (religion)?

1. Despite your conviction, how do you know of a surety that your faith is the right path to God?

Does your faith not teach you that goodness, salvation, paradise-like life, making heaven, etc. is only 100% achievable via its own tenets, doctrines, and methodologies alone?

Does your faith not castigate other faiths as erroneous, wrong, demonic and misleading?Does your faith not claim that it isn’t a religion? That it’s a way of life cum personal relationship with a deity? (very rampant nowadays)

Do the leaders in your faith not immediately brush aside, religiously criticize, and even tag as devil inspired; staggering milestones, inventions, and findings attained by mankind that “ultimately disproved” initial claims, myths, Beliefs, sentiments and fables they illogically sermonize to their followers/disciples? E.g. (Space exploration, Dinosaur fossils, Extinction, Cloning, GMO, DNA fusion, Gene elucidation, E=MC2, Rainbow, Lightning etc.)

If not for the men (born to this world like every other) who centuries ago cascaded to your own end of the world the very faith you now practice religiously, what would have your belief system looked like?

If there's one true God, how come 7 billion people on earth's surface are divided on the concept of him and his ways? Even within a particular faith there are divisions. Christianity for example has about 30,000 sects. All this cannot be the will of any supreme being.

ANSWERS
Every man born into this world was born with a mind as clear and blank as a plain sheet of paper with no belief. In other words, every man was born an atheist. Growing up, our immediate environment has instilled in us what we now know or believe about God

The wonders of the universe and our complex reality create the idea of a supernatural being in man. Religions attempt to identify and describe the being the best possible way they can.

If God exist then we don’t need belief, belief is necessary because of lack of evidence. Religion is needed so people can believe; if God shows up today, religion will end.


We humans are born empirical beings. That is; we apply logic in every aspect of our existence. Our faith is the only branch of that existence that is at cross-road with this empirical behaviour

If you are still reading this, there is a 93% chance that your belief in a faith system isn’t because you converted into it but simply because you were born into a family, community or society that practices that faith of your belief! If you were born elsewhere under different circumstances, far greater chances are you would be a believer of a different faith.

With or without religion, good people can still behave well and bad people can as well do evil; but for good people to do evil, that takes religion.

The 2 major religions in Nigeria: Islam (50%) which came in through the ancient northern caliphate cities in the 17th century via Arabian/Saharan trade believes Christianity is wrong. Christianity (48%) which came in through the southern sea shores of Calabar and Lagos via the Portuguese missionaries and British colonial masters believes Islam is wrong. I strongly believe they are both right.

Believe it or not beloved, your faith is irrelevant; because all theists (people of belief in God) in the human race have a different concept of it.

So how is one more legit than the rest?
Is it by the hearsays consistently wired into your mental faculty from birth?
Is it by who came first?
Is it by their scriptures, doctrines, dogmas and religious mantras?
Actually, they “all” teach some form of goodness, divinity, supplication, ethics, morals, and life after death. So which one is the correct one? If none cum all of them are right, does that not mean that none of them really matter?
ü  Dinosaurism was founded 5000BC ( lolz just kidding)
ü  Judaism was founded 1300BC
ü  Taoism was founded in 550BC
ü  Buddhism was founded in 520BC in India
ü  Confucianism was founded in 471BC in China
ü  Christianity was founded in 30AD in Israel (Protestant, Roman catholic, Orthodoxy, Mormon)
ü  Islam was founded in 622AD in Saudi Arabia
ü  Sikhism was founded in 1500AD
ü  Jainism was founded in eastern India
ü  Grail, Jehovah’s Witness, eckankar, Ifa etc.
N.B this aren’t idol worshipping religions

Religion creates rifts and divisions in the world; it causes backward thinking, thereby halting medical, scientific, marital, societal and humanistic progress. Religion locks young people in right from birth and ensure they never ever have the opportunity to look in any other direction. It encourages people to be content rather than try to better themselves, and to trust in an invisible friend rather than strive to succeed. It takes away the joy that we might have in our own successes and instead throws them at the feet of this invisible being that might have had something or nothing to do with it.  It makes people sit idly by and pray rather than stand up immediately and do something about it.

Born into a Christian family, I was made to shove down my being the very idea that somebody (I never saw, nobody I know ever saw, nobody knows anybody who ever saw) died on a cross for me 2014 years ago; and this martyr has significant relevance to my ultimate happiness in this life and hereafter.

In summary, I must confess faith has its positives for the society. It gives people modest perspective, things to strive towards and helps keep human behaviour in check and under control to a very great degree. It prevents chaos, freewill, and maintains a global equilibrium. If we did not have faith systems, the world would be a jungle, Wild West (anything goes), and an extremely dangerous place to live in as people would have no fear of karma and repercussions.The problem I just have with faith is that it’s very foundation is a paradox and it should never be used as a premise to justify or manipulate human actions. Faith is a construct of the human mind by men with far greater intellect than their peers. It is reason and not faith that has brought advances to mankind and every field of human endeavour. In the end, only your clear thought (conscience) and not faith is the ultimate arbiter of truth!!!  But faith as a whole is good to have around as mankind don’t all possess equal footing.

Even after objectively reading this article, it’s only natural that you’ll most likely choose to discard this truth because you lack the guts to review the religious status quo of your birth mind for fear of the unknown, family persecution and societal discrimination….

         
          SEEK KNOWLEDGE TODAY!!!

.

@RaphaellaDD. Do share with us that science defying miracle if you don't mind.

As you rightly pointed out "with greater intellect ".
Religious people are usually irrational.
They keep telling you they have proofs but can't actually prove.
Meanwhile, I schooled in France
MODIFIED
Religious people also avoid this kinda thread religously. When you see them here they'll bash,insult,and vamoose

.

RaphaellaDD:
As for me, I have personal proof that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit exist. It's one thing to see other people's miracles and it's another altogether to experience your own science-defying miracle.

You do know that Hindus, Muslims and goat worshipers also honestly testify to science-defying miracles too right?

P.S

It's all in your mind, the brain is a powerful thing.

Dolemite:


You do know that Hindus, Muslims and goat worshipers also honestly testify to science-defying miracles too right?

P.S

It's all in your mind, the brain is a powerful thing.

.

RaphaellaDD:



Lol. I'll leave you to your own opinions. That's why everyone has choices. Have a great night hon.

Right, goodnight and God bless.

zeemahn:
As you rightly pointed out "with greater intellect ".
Religious people are usually irrational.

As if you and some Atheist folks on Nairaland can withstand some Religious fellow here in times of intelligence.

They keep telling you they have proofs but can't actually prove.

Yet you call yourself a greater intellect, how can you prove miracle?
If miracles can be proved then it's no more a miracle.
That's why miracle is an event that occurs when HUMAN KNOWLEDGE AND POWER fail.

I'm praying in my room suddenly God descend and fellowship with me, how do you want me to prove this a faithless person like you?

Meanwhile, I schooled in France

So it means only people who school in France that are intelligent or what are you insinuating?

MODIFIED
Religious people also avoid this kinda thread religously.

Maybe you just join Nairaland if not you'd have seen that this type of thread has been created time upon time here.

When you see them here they'll bash,insult,and vamoose

Bash insult on you because you're the first Atheist or greater intellect


@OP
I believe you copy this from someone's work which makes you a believer in this ARTICLE anyway this is not where I'm going.

I only want to answer this your two questions

QUESTIONS
1. What faith were you born into (religion)?

Does it matter which religion someone was born into?
A born Atheist has become a Christian and a born Christian has become an Atheist or Muslim.

2. Despite your conviction, how do you know
of a surety that your faith is the right path to
God?

One thing is very constant and stand sure in Christianity that THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH reveals and fellowship with His creatures that He created in His image.

This runs through Genesis to Revelation, though Bible says without FAITH we can not please God Heb 11:6 BUT many people have misinterpreted this statement in THINKING that Bible is talking about BLIND FAITH which is totally FALSE because God doesn't just want us to be following BLIND FAITH that's why He makes it clear severally in the Bible that if He will reveal Himself to those who love and do His will.

So the true God still fellowship with those who ready to do His will.


My Question:
We have seen a born Christian turned Atheist and a born Atheist turned Christian, why is it so?


**If you've never had supernatural encountered you won't believe supernatural exist**


I am a fallible and shallow-minded man trying to discern the mind of an infallible God.


Come Lord Jesus!

*Sighs* as for the irrationalists as i sometimes like to call theist, there is no point arguing with u lots. It's a futile cycle without conclusion. The premise of your arguements always infuriate me. ur points hold no water except from a scripture that has manifested the illusion of the truth effect in ur faculties. For the miracles? Have you ever heard about ""The Secret by rhonda bryne".. Miracles do happen no doubt; but they aren't exclusive to Yahweh.... Mind over matter is what was in manifestation to you, Not spiritual controls the physical has ur faith wants you to believe. If you have been there in the mind; you body would conquer anything. It is called the law of attraction.

Pls ignore my punctuations...

OP, pls differentiate between religions when you want to make such claims. I do not find points pertinent to Islam in your write-up. Your post should purport to "prove" that Christianity is a sham, not all religions.

zeemahn:
As you rightly pointed out "with greater intellect ".
Religious people are usually irrational.
They keep telling you they have proofs but can't actually prove.
Meanwhile, I schooled in France
MODIFIED
Religious people also avoid this kinda thread religously. When you see them here they'll bash,insult,and vamoose

Dude, I am ready to discuss or debate with you.

To begin with, can you proof, by explaining, what you mean when you say the religious are irrational? I think, before you engage anybody in an effective conversation you must first come to terms, to an understanding, of his openness to reason or reasoning.

Let's make it happen.

Reyginus:
Dude, I am ready to discuss or debate with you.

To begin with, can you proof, by explaining, what you mean when you say the religious are irrational? I think, before you engage anybody in an effective conversation you must first come to terms, to an understanding, of his openness to reason or reasoning.

Let's make it happen.

Oga mi........

musKeeto:

Oga mi........

Nwannem Nwoke! Kedu? I see that you have been de-reincarnated.

How has it been, bro?

Very apt article OP.
I salute your courage and insight. We shall continue to talk till they listen and take their lives in their hands.

Reyginus:
Dude, I am ready to discuss or debate with you.

To begin with, can you proof, by explaining, what you mean when you say the religious are irrational? I think, before you engage anybody in an effective conversation you must first come to terms, to an understanding, of his openness to reason or reasoning.

Let's make it happen.

Some are actually rational. Note my use of the word "most" and "usually". Unfortunately, your arguments(religious fellows ) are not logical because of several contradictions, bogus claims, contradictory interpretations and numerous irregularities (in the bible) and many others.
AS your request, regarding proofs, you can checkout threads in religious section.
Thanks.

It's strange how atheists claim that religous people tend to foist their beliefs on others but don't realise that they are also doing same by insisting that religious people are wrong and they are right. Doesn't this also prove that Atheism is also a religion. Atheists claim to be logical but don't yet realise the potential for violent intolerance they possess as if we all have forgotten about the evils of communism (I recommend Richard Wurmbrand's book Tortured for Christ). The Atheism you support today will still gain ground according to biblical prophecies (irony) and then you will see it for the demon-inspired ideology it is. Only that it might not occur in our generation.

RaphaellaDD:


Of course, you'll want to know. Well i was diagnosed with astigmatism and myopia in 2010 but I didn't have the cash to get the treatment and glasses that I needed. I also didn't fancy the idea of wearing glasses. The condition was really bad cause I had acute eye aches, and my eyes were constantly sore and irritated. I had problems in school because of this. Anyways, I was born into a spiritual ,Christian family and I know who i am,so I sowed a seed on it in church and just put the issue behind me. I went back for an eye checkup in 2011 and the doctor told me that my eyes are , in short, brand new. I haven't had any issues with my eyes since then.

I too suffer from myopia. If it suddenly went away, I wouldn't need a doctor to tell me that. You do know what myopia is, right?

Your story suggests that you didn't learn that your symptoms had disappeared until the doctor told you.

On the way to the doctor's office, were you able to SEE clearly or not? At what point exactly did you begin to SEE clearly?

Nobody has proved here that God doesn't exist as a spirit...

That he didn't create the world...

That Jesus, who is God did not come in human flesh, born by Mary...

That Jesus didn't die and resurrect...

That he will not come again to judge the living and the dead...

That The Catholic Church is not the mystical body of Christ, inspired by the Holy Spirit...

That there is no life after death in this world...

Going by the topic of the OP, I expect the most intelligent Atheist here to prove these to me.

italo:
Nobody has proved here that God doesn't exist as a spirit...

That he didn't create the world...

That Jesus, who is God did not come in human flesh, born by Mary...

That Jesus didn't die and resurrect...

That he will not come again to judge the living and the dead...

That The Catholic Church is not the mystical body of Christ, inspired by the Holy Spirit...

That there is no life after death in this world...

Going by the topic of the OP, I expect the most intelligent Atheist here to prove these to me.

I have proven that Jesus is only imaginary. See the last page in this thread:

https://www.nairaland.com/1984598/reyginus-explain-genesis-creation-story/3

italo:
Nobody has proved here that God doesn't exist as a spirit...

That he didn't create the world...

That Jesus, who is God did not come in human flesh, born by Mary...

That Jesus didn't die and resurrect...

That he will not come again to judge the living and the dead...

That The Catholic Church is not the mystical body of Christ, inspired by the Holy Spirit...

That there is no life after death in this world...

Going by the topic of the OP, I expect the most intelligent Atheist here to prove these to me.

The burden of proof lies with those that make the claims. Can you proof that there is a microscopic teapot orbiting the earth?

zeemahn:

The burden of proof lies with those that make the claims. Can you proof that there is a microscopic teapot orbiting the earth?

See the title of the thread and tell me who is making a claim.

italo:


See the title of the thread and tell me who is making a claim.

I'm referring to your post. Meanwhile, the topic talks about religion, while your talking about God,Catholic, etc

zeemahn:

I'm referring to your post. Meanwhile, the topic talks about religion, while your talking about God,Catholic, etc

And religion excludes "God" "Catholic?"

I never made a claim in my post.

The one who made a claim is the OP...

And neither he nor you can prove the claim. Yes or no?

italo:


And religion excludes "God" "Catholic?"

I never made a claim in my post.

The one who made a claim is the OP...

And neither he nor you can prove the claim. Yes or no?

Stop lieing joor. Can you define religion without God?
You cannot disprove ops claims yes or no?
Your religion makes a claim and its your burden to prove it not mine or the op's.
Invincible teapots orbit the earth yes or no?

zeemahn:

Stop lieing joor. Can you define religion without God?
You cannot disprove ops claims yes or no?
Your religion makes a claim and its your burden to prove it not mine or the op's.
Invincible teapots orbit the earth yes or no?

I thought you said burden of proof lies with the one , making a claim.

Who is making a claim on this thread?

Me, my religion or the OP?

You already admitted it's the OP, so shouldn't he prove his claims?

italo:


I thought you said burden of proof lies with the one , making a claim.

Who is making a claim on this thread?

Me, my religion or the OP?

You already admitted it's the OP, so shouldn't he prove his claims?
Soon we'll approach the viscous cycle

You also made claims bruh

I didnt.

Quote me

zeemahn:

You also made claims bruh

italo:
Nobody has proved here that God doesn't exist as a spirit...

That he didn't create the world...

That Jesus, who is God did not come in human flesh, born by Mary...

That Jesus didn't die and resurrect...

That he will not come again to judge the living and the dead...

That The Catholic Church is not the mystical body of Christ, inspired by the Holy Spirit...

That there is no life after death in this world...

Going by the topic of the OP, I expect the most intelligent Atheist here to prove these to me.

No one has also disproven

There is a spaghetti monster flying in our universe

That a pink unicorn is not a celestial being in our universe.

=====================================================

If disproving unprovable and unverifiable claims is your basis for a religion to be true, then you are not as intelligent as you think you are!

At least you admit that my religion has not been proven to be a sham.

So you cant fault me for believing what i know to be true.

By the way, i dont think i'm intelligent. It is you who thinks i am...and i think thats because you are a dullard

JackBizzle:




No one has also disproven

There is a spaghetti monster flying in our universe

That a pink unicorn is not a celestial being in our universe.

=====================================================

If disproving unprovable and unverifiable claims is your basis for a religion to be true, then you are not as intelligent as you think you are!