Why Do People Feel The Need To Believe In A Supreme Being?

[Willamena]

...is it simply because of the fear of dying and they want the comfort of "eternal life" in heaven after their mortal one ends?

I personally take great comfort from "hoping" that I return to that state of nothingness I experienced...(or did'nt experience!) from the year dot up until the moment of my conception. That's my idea of paradise.

I believe in bits I call "me", and I understand there to be more bits. If "being" is me then being more is "supreme" to me.

I have found that there are many philosophical ways of understanding being "more than me" (and "being more than me").

 

[Magic Man]

Enough about atheism, what about theism? Stick to the OP.

Now maybe you can tell us how each of them pertain to atheism. Insecurity...definitely not, lack of independence...not a chance, they know no different...nope, someone told them to...maybe, it gets them through each day...uh uh, it makes them happy...that can be sai about anyone who has found a philosophy that fits them but not in the way he means it.

These are, as he pointed out, not the only reasons for people to be theists, but they are some of them, and they are decidedly not reasons people are atheists. That doesn't take anything away from theism in anyone's mind but yours.

 

[robtex]

You don't believe in the sun? Despite the evidence?

I accept the suns existence based on the evidence to support it. Belief is an idea held in the absence of evidence.

 

[robtex]

Zephyr, my cat, revealed herself to me and my daughter at the humane society a little over a year ago. Jehovah, my God, revealed himself to me at Hume Hall at the University of Florida back in 1975. Why do you feel a NEED to believe in this? Can you prove this to be true?

Take your word "revealed and conjugate the steps from start to finish that led to your conviction for each and than qualify the differences.

For instance I have a dog named Buddha that I know exists. I know he exists because I can see touch, smell and hear him. I use 4 of my 5 senses to ascertain his existence.

I am not saying your if the models are different that one is true or the other is not but in relations to the OP I am trying to examine the differences in the model to ascertain the existence to each and if the products of the God model might be tied to your emotional need for him to exist.

In regards to the "arguement from need" evidence for validity in it are in that thread including the OP where Christian openly explained that as her motive for her Christianity.

 

[Willamena]

I accept the suns existence based on the evidence to support it. Belief is an idea held in the absence of evidence.

That "acceptance" is belief. To believe is to accept things on evidence.

There are no ideas without evidence.

 

[Scuba Pete]

Now maybe you can tell us how each of them pertain to atheism.

You missed my point, but your pride in your atheism is obvious. However, I can't commend you for buying into this fallacy.

Indeed, atheists are NOT superior to theists and the converse is also true. Thinking otherwise is indicative of your bias towards one or the other. Ask yourself this question: Are atheists IMMUNE from falling prey to any of these? Insecurity, lack of independence, they know no different, someone told them to, it gets them through each day, it makes them happy. If you can't say yes (and provide evidence to that effect) then you have fallen prey to your own vanity. Vanity and arrogance always try to show the "other belief" as being somehow inferior due to logic/truth/whatever. Go figure.

 

[robtex]

To believe is to accept things on evidence.

There are no ideas without evidence.

If that is your definition of belief than I believe in the sun .

 

[Fluffy]

I accept the suns existence based on the evidence to support it. Belief is an idea held in the absence of evidence.

What evidence do you have to support acceptance of reality? If none then this merely dodges the issue.

 

[Willamena]

If that is your definition of belief than I believe in the sun .

I would hope so. I think you would get a lot of strange looks going around tell people you don't believe in the sun.

All perception is evidence. The philosopher David Hume identified two types of perception: that that we think of as having "come to us" through the senses, and that which we compose or "realize" in abstract form. For instance, if you were to suddenly realize the truth of sun revolving around the earth, rather than the earth around the sun, that realization (truth) is your evidential basis for belief, despite having never actually witnessed the sun revolving around the earth (or vice versa) from afar.

The same realization of the earth revolving around the sun is identical "belief", although there is more information available about that, hence more people have realized it.

 

[Scuba Pete]

I am not saying your if the models are different that one is true or the other is not

Thanks. I feel rather relieved now. That was a close one!

but in relations to the OP I am trying to examine the differences in the model to ascertain the existence to each and if the products of the God model might be tied to your emotional need for him to exist.

Why do you NEED to do this? Are you searching for comfort? Do you need some validation that somehow my belief is unreasonable? Why do you even care that I believe that even Zephry exists? You have not used ANY of your senses to validate her existence, and yet I am confident that you believe that she does indeed exist and that I am not lying about it. I would suggest that your belief in the existence of Zephyr is not founded in your need to believe in her. Such is my belief in God.

 

[Magic Man]

You missed my point, but your pride in your atheism is obvious. However, I can't commend you for buying into this fallacy.

Indeed, atheists are NOT superior to theists and the converse is also true. Thinking otherwise is indicative of your bias towards one or the other. Ask yourself this question: Are atheists IMMUNE from falling prey to any of these? Insecurity, lack of independence, they know no different, someone told them to, it gets them through each day, it makes them happy. If you can't say yes (and provide evidence to that effect) then you have fallen prey to your own vanity. Vanity and arrogance always try to show the "other belief" as being somehow inferior due to logic/truth/whatever. Go figure.

You're right, I guess I did miss the point. I assumed you were trying to say that atheism was no better than theism because people go to atheism for these same reasons. I was merely pointing out that that is not true, although that does not mean that atheism is better (even though it is j/k).

Sure, anyone can be dependent or insecure or any of those things, but those things don't lead one to become an atheist, while they do lead some people to become theists.

 

[Scuba Pete]

Sure, anyone can be dependent or insecure or any of those things, but those things don't lead one to become an atheist, while they do lead some people to become theists.

On this we completely disagree. Any fallacy that can be used to believe in God can also be used to embrace atheism. You'll have to get past your vanity to accept that, and I am afraid that i can't help you with that sort of self realization.

 

[Magic Man]

On this we completely disagree. Any fallacy that can be used to believe in God can also be used to embrace atheism. You'll have to get past your vanity to accept that, and I am afraid that i can't help you with that sort of self realization.

That's the problem. You see it as me being vain, because of your bias. I will gladly admit my mistake, if you can show me how those things lead to atheism. All I'm saying is that those particular things don't logically lead to atheism. You take it as me saying that atheism is superior because of that fact, which, of course, is clearly not the case.

The thing I think you are missing is that I'm not saying atheism, or the lack of theism, doesn't have its faults. I'm merely saying that, whatever they are, they are different from theism's faults.

 

[Charity]

I believe in God because of personal experience also.....Before I ever read the Bible or attended Church. You can't deny what you know is real to you.

 

[Azakel]

...is it simply because of the fear of dying and they want the comfort of "eternal life" in heaven after their mortal one ends.

Nope, what a good why to group everyone that believes in some type of God into the same box. I believe in Gods because of personal experience, not because of same fear of dying.

What if you lived in some obscure, remote part of this planet that had not yet been reached by the God or gods of any organized religion. What would you attribute your personal experience to then?

Okay, they won't have God(s) of any of they organized religions, but they still have Gods. They have there own personal experience with there own God or Gods.

 

[Scuba Pete]

That's the problem. You see it as me being vain, because of your bias. I will gladly admit my mistake, if you can show me how those things lead to atheism. All I'm saying is that those particular things don't logically lead to atheism. You take it as me saying that atheism is superior because of that fact, which, of course, is clearly not the case.

The thing I think you are missing is that I'm not saying atheism, or the lack of theism, doesn't have its faults. I'm merely saying that, whatever they are, they are different from theism's faults.

One of the MOST insecure people I know IS an atheist. I believe she IS an atheist to overcompensate for this insecurity. Wonderful woman, and she and I go WAY back, but the one thing you get from being around her is that she is insecure. I need no further proof, though you mileage may vary.

BTW, do you claim to be free from vanity?

 

[Magic Man]

One of the MOST insecure people I know IS an atheist. I believe she IS an atheist to overcompensate for this insecurity. Wonderful woman, and she and I go WAY back, but the one thing you get from being around her is that she is insecure. I need no further proof, though you mileage may vary.

Actually you do need further proof. Why do you think that this insecurity makes her turn to atheism? Generally, I would think it would turn her towards, let's say, Christianity because that gives her a better sense of security and community. I'm trying to understand what about atheism would possibly help her insecurity.

BTW, do you claim to be free from vanity?

You mean when I claimed that I am probably vain about some things, but at least I can see it, and deal with it? Does that sound like me claiming to be free from vanity to you?

 

[Scuba Pete]

Actually you do need further proof. Why do you think that this insecurity makes her turn to atheism? Generally, I would think it would turn her towards, let's say, Christianity because that gives her a better sense of security and community. I'm trying to understand what about atheism would possibly help her insecurity.

Because MANY of her friends are atheists. Atheists can provide community too.

You mean when I claimed that I am probably vain about some things, but at least I can see it, and deal with it? Does that sound like me claiming to be free from vanity to you?

I never, ever made that claim about YOU, now did I? Sounds like you might be trying to cover up some insecurities. (Just poking at you with that).

 

[Magic Man]

Because MANY of her friends are atheists. Atheists can provide community too.

Yes, they can. So you're saying that she is an atheist because many, but not all, of her friends are, and this is due to her insecurity? Let's assume that's the case for a minute. Now, what is it about atheism that would help with her insecurity? What particular thing about atheism would make her more secure? For instance, the idea of having a loving God on your side to watch over you and help you through life, that would help people with insecurity to feel more secure. Now, please point out something inherent in atheism that would help insecure people feel more secure.

I never, ever made that claim about YOU, now did I? Sounds like you might be trying to cover up some insecurities. (Just poking at you with that).

I'm glad you're just joking, because you did indeed claim that I was covering up my vanity.

 

[Scuba Pete]

Yes, they can. So you're saying that

I am SAYING that whether you are an atheist or a theist, you are still a HUMAN and that any aspect of humanity can drive you equally towards atheism or theism. Hate, bigotry, insecurity, ignorance or even stupidity... yeah the WHOLE lot of negative human attributes can cause you to be EITHER. There is no distinction except your community you happen to also belong to.

For that matter, the very same can be said about our altruistic attributes as well.

At the end of the day we are ALL human and we are ALL subject to our humanity.