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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Religion / Why People Need To Believe In God. (2754 Views)
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Why People Need To Believe In God. by Zikdik(m): 8:19am On Feb 05, 2015 |
Someone I know said "We need to believe we have superpowers." Whether it's astrology, or the belief in psychics, or ghosts, because we are a conscious species, we understand that death is the ultimate unknown, and we learn early that death awaits us all. Our conscious nature and our culture came together such that they tried to explain death as having a purpose, and that the ultimate purpose of it is greater than the purpose of our lives. That mysticism led to religion which codified beliefs about death and created a hierarchy of political power that in turn tries to control the way people think and live and how they allocate their resources (back to the religious beuraucracy). It all stems from the need to believe that death is not the end, despite all evidence that it is the end of everything we can define and quantify in life. Human beings are not rational. We are emotional first, and death is scary. Without imagining any kind of hell, imagine simply non-existence. What does it say about the unknown (but short) number of years you will live? If it is the end, what imperatives must you try to accomplish, whether for yourself or altruistically for the universe around you (people, the planet, friends, causes you believe in)? It makes it so much more urgent to do things NOW that will make your life have value to you. The idea of a god and an afterlife makes it easier to allow yourself to be flawed, to believe that injustice 'gets taken care of' in an afterlife, that people get what they deserve at some point off in the future. It also explains away why people die of cancer at the age of 12, or why your marriage fails: it's some other entity's will (that you can't understand and can't resist). To some extent, the codifying of religion produces its share of good. The "golden rule" is a great way to live, and religions try to teach it, which is praiseworthy. But there's no reason to believe that death is bad. Non- existence will not be painful (where were we before we were born? I associate no sadness or pain with not being alive, and I have no memory or sensation from it either!). Maybe there's something beyond death, but no one can tell us, so there's no reason to follow someone else's ideas about it. Follow your own, but be not afraid. Be good to one another in this life, because human compassion is real, and is the only transcendental good we know of in the universe. Leaving a beneficial mark in THIS life should be our goal, and not the avoidance of some mythical punishment in the next life. 4 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by frank317: 8:53am On Feb 05, 2015 |
Anyone can believe in anything for all I care. John can believe there is an invisible man in the sky deciding when and when not to help him on earth. Kelvin can believe he will come back to life after death as a different person. I just get offended when u rub your believe to my face and force me to believe your believe is a fact. That's what I hate. Some people get delusional in their believes and even threaten me with it. When you do that... I get offended. 5 Likes |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by kingkaspa: 11:26am On Feb 05, 2015 |
Zikdik:Great piece. Permission to quote some of your sentences on another forum. |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by davien(m): 1:58pm On Feb 05, 2015 |
Speak for yourself, we've all seen what history taught us about religious dogma..... Nobody goes about saying why people need to believe in unicorns...so what is the drive to push your own mythology over others. |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by Zikdik(m): 3:57pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
davien:I'm known to be one of the most raw and outspoken atheists around here and that is still my stand- no to religious indoctrination. However, I'm just looking at things from the other side of the divide. Face it Davien, some people's lives would make absolutely no sense to themselves without the ''god'' factor. Let's be a bit more compassionate, don't you think? |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by johnydon22(m): 4:01pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
So now which of the gods do we need to believe in? They are more than 1million of them? 1 Like |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by Jeromejnr(m): 5:02pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
johnydon22: The one DAT showed u His love and died for u. The one DAT said we can't stand in His presence by our good works but only by accepting His free gift of grace. Unlike other religions where ur good has to be more than ur bad. Another subtle way of knowing sha. Is looking at which prophet or God is d most attacked in dis world today. That happens because d enemy tries to keep ppl from seeing d light. (I mean on an online dictionary Jesus is now a swear word. Smh) But apart from DAT sha. Its only God DAT can make u believe in Him, no one else. Just open ur heart to know Him and genuinely ask Him. And He will. Jesus is Lord mehn. |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by plaetton: 5:05pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
Zikdik: I agree with you that for most people, there lives would make no sense if they didn't believe in supernatural causation. But that itself is an existential problem, not an answer. Think about this critically. The reason that the west are far more advanced than us in Africa is due to the way they seek answers to existential questions. In Nigeria /Africa, we are not encouraged to ask and seek, but to ignore the questions by lazily invoking supernatural causation. By so doing, we are yoked to being mere passive observers, rather than being active agents in the unfolding realities. Give a typical Nigerian a deadly critical problem to solve, and watch him/her go down on their knees for spiritual /supernatural intervention. When we construct our reality with morally and philosophically ambiguous imported myths that we hardly understand, then we inevitably build a wishy washy reality that seem to confuse us the more. The European and much of the rest of the world have had thousands of years to evolve and transcend magical thinking. We should learn from them without having to reinvent the wheel. The sad irony is that I can say (as an Igbo with village experience ) that traditional African societies have solid moral and philosophical frameworks upon which to blend with modern realities to build a solid and easily graspable reality. 5 Likes |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by johnydon22(m): 5:17pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
Jeromejnr:Lolzz i understand ur passion to preach... Ok now how did you know about this God... someone told you? you read in a book? or your parents bore you into it? |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by dalaman: 5:23pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
Belief has it's role. It helps sometimes and does damage as well. |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by Jeromejnr(m): 5:28pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
johnydon22: He actually manifested Himself to me on a particular night. Because my heart sought for God constantly. I was tired of many things. Dats y I said if u seek Him u will find Him. 1 Like |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by dalaman: 5:38pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
Jeromejnr: Describe what God looked like in details and what transpired between the two of you. |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by 5minsmadness: 5:47pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
dalaman:Why do you want to know? |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by davien(m): 6:01pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
Zikdik:zikdik there's nothing special about "god/gods" that make people need them....it is indoctrination that makes one think one is useless and purposeless without "god/gods"(and that is the whole point of indoctrinating).. Take for example the accidents I've been having throughout the week,if I was a theist I'd assign that to be "more prayerful" and begin a regime of "fasting",because that is the purpose a theist would have noted it to be... They may feel happy and a sense of euphoria, but it's not different from that of a ritualist,atheist,feminist,muslim etc...it's still the same dopamine that is released,religion merely makes people high on it,believing it to be "god/gods",hence very purposeful. 1 Like |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by Jeromejnr(m): 6:02pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
dalaman: Well firstly I can't describe God for u mehn. I didn't see His clear features. I don't know how to explain DAT to u because it a spiritual reality and they are hard to explain. Its like when ur looking at someone through a transparent shower curtain, u can see the form but not really d details. And secondly me telling u d encounter will not change u at all. Its God word and His Spirit that changes ppl. Because I know u will still come up with theories of arguments. 2 Likes |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by 5minsmadness: 6:07pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
Jeromejnr: |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by dalaman: 6:07pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
Jeromejnr: Just state what you saw or what he told you. Did he speak to you? Did you speak back? You claimed you had an encounter with God, Why then are you so quick to push it off to the spirit relm where it will be outside of any meaningfull scrutiny? 3 Likes |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by Jeromejnr(m): 6:21pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
dalaman: Well dis is one of them. He stood in front of me and told me d reason why I was born. And advising me on being faithful in it. And as a result of my faithfulness I will be privileged in having some rewards in the time to come. He told me one of them sha but no use telling u. |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by lepasharon(f): 6:44pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
Christians, how prepared are you for the rapture ? 2 Likes
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Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by johnydon22(m): 8:28pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
Jeromejnr:When you see someone through a transparent shower curtain, at least you will see some of his features and shapes... Now we are very curious bro and want to learn...Tell us his shape and extension asin hands, head etc 3 Likes |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by Zikdik(m): 8:43pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
plaetton:Well, that's another way to look at it. Religion has greatly hindered the psychological, technological and moral, yes, moral advancement of most under-developed and developing countries. Faith usually requires blind acceptance without critical consideration and often poses ridiculous answers and asks that they be not questioned. That is very dangerous indeed. He who does not know and does not wish to know is an epitome of folly. Always a pleasure to have you around. Platteon. 3 Likes |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by Jeromejnr(m): 8:48pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
johnydon22: The form of a man. Hair that reaches down to His shoulders (looked brownish though). A purple or scarlet coloured kind of clothing and some other colours. Skin colour of His face like the sun. And voice as sweet as what I can't explain. Well that's it man. |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by lepasharon(f): 8:53pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
Jeromejnr: It may be so that you saw Jesus...but didn't he tel you his name isn't Jesus? Nobody called Jesus walked this earth and the name Jesus means nothing in any language. Surely he must have told you you're calling on a false name? 2 Likes |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by johnydon22(m): 8:56pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
Jeromejnr:Wooooow so he had the form of a man with long hairs with shoulders and hands all that, even wore a cloth..oooh alrigh...Hhmmmm thats nice one bro... 1 Like |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by Jeromejnr(m): 9:04pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
lepasharon: His hebrew name is Yeshua. In d English or Portuguese or Spanish it is spelt JESUS. He knows His name and He answers it well in my life. They don't speak English in heaven but when talking to you He relates to u in ur own language and understanding. He showed in d bible that we could use name equivalents. E.g. Jesus calling Peter -Cephas, or calling Elijah- Elias. Elijah is Hebrew and Elias is Greek. So He didn't tell me I'm calling on a false name but instead endorses it by answering me when I call. Yeshua- Jesus. He knows His name. |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by Jeromejnr(m): 9:07pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
johnydon22: Okay. So u thought God was like the air or an invisible mist. My guy wake up o! Big bang didn't create ur ordered body. Where do u think u got ur form from. The guardians of the galaxy. |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by johnydon22(m): 9:19pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
Jeromejnr:Hahahahahahaha now you are assuming i believe in big bang even when i have not said so... i just said "nice one bro" why do you feel the need for any further defence...lolzzz |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by malvisguy212: 9:22pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
lepasharon:you see,my lady the reading stuff in the internet has do you more harm, you search for TRUTH in the internet instead of the scripture. Matthew 28:18, “ And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying ALL POWER is GIVEN unto me in heaven and in earth .” Philippians 2:9 says, “ Wherefore God also has HIGHLY EXALTED him, (Jesus) and GIVEN him a name which is ABOVE EVERY name: That at the NAME of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and in things in the earth, and things under the earth; And every tongue should confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” So we see that it PLEASED Almighty God, the Father, to HIGHLY EXALT his Son Jesus and GIVE to him a NAME that is ABOVE EVERY name that is named, both in heaven and in the earth and also under the earth. In other words Jesus, the NAME of Jesus carries ALL authority and ALL power in heaven, in earth and under the earth, which is EVERYWHERE, so there is not anywhere where the power and authority of the NAME of Jesus does not reach.the name does not matter ,it is the POWER AND AUTHORITY that MATTER. And all this power and authority come from Almighty God himself. |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by Jeromejnr(m): 9:24pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
johnydon22: Sarcasm was In ur last comment bruv. But anyway I wasn't assuming. I expect u to believe in the big bang. I actually do believe in it. But there is no effect without a cause. #justsaying. |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by plaetton: 9:26pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
Zikdik: Thanks. The feeling is mutual. |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by johnydon22(m): 9:35pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
Jeromejnr:You expect me to...lolzzz alright..... So you believe in big bang which means you dont believe the genesis account then? |
Re: Why People Need To Believe In God. by Jeromejnr(m): 9:46pm On Feb 06, 2015 |
johnydon22: Of course I believe in the genesis account. The Genesis account is d beginning of time and not eternity (and no in case u r thinking big bang is not d beginning of eternity, as u know eternity has no beginning). There was existence before time. And if u know science very well what makes for time is a planetary orbit around star. Thats what gives d measurement. You know, dude mehn d explanation long abeg. Go and seek God for yourself. I pray u find Him. note: When God said let there be, there was. All this is a function of the power of God mehn. Peace! |
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