Why people believe in supernatural?

[Tony]

I think the answer is pretty simple.

Ancient people didn’t have enough scientific knowledge about nature, so they HAD TO get answers from somewhere else because otherwise they couldn’t function properly as people and society.

They created whole bunch of religions over time. As time passed and science developed, more and more people become more educated.

Eventually, some people got educated enough to realize, that they have enough scientific knowledge about nature and they don’t need supernatural theories anymore.

(One “small” difference between scientific and supernatural theories is that first one can be checked and proved.)

Of course, religious organizations didn’t want to lose their money and/or power, so they tried everything from lies to brutal force to continue to profit from supernatural theories.

Unfortunately for religious organizations, even more people become educated enough to become non-religious. Religious organizations couldn’t kill them all anymore.

(If you check statistics, you’ll see that proportionally more non-religious people among more educated.)

Of course, besides education person has to be honest and brave enough to admit that scientific proof makes more sense than religious belief.

This combination of education, honesty and bravery is unique for every person. Some people will never become honest and brave enough, no matter how educated they are.

Eventually, though, with further development of scientific knowledge the need in supernatural explanation will diminish to zero.

That’s all folks.
J

 

[Ciscokid]

Your first post in this messageboard is used to insult those who believe in the supernatural? The board rules state that you must wait until your post count hits 50 until you can be insulting.

 

[Mike182]

hopefully one day the brave, honest, and educated atheist will realise that blanket statements make his oppinion flawwed, and fails to advance his cause........ (this is not aimed at the majority of atheists who i know and love)

 

[Sunstone]

Welcome to the Forum, Tony!

I think the answer is pretty simple.

Simple, or simplistic?

Ancient people didn’t have enough scientific knowledge about nature, so they HAD TO get answers from somewhere else because otherwise they couldn’t function properly as people and society.

Simplistic, then.

 

[Yerda]

hopefully one day the brave, honest, and educated atheist will realise that blanket statements make his oppinion flawwed, and fails to advance his cause........ (this is not aimed at the majority of atheists who i know and love)

They aren't brave, honest, or educated though?

 

[c0da]

This combination of education, honesty and bravery is unique for every person. Some people will never become honest and brave enough, no matter how educated they are

Well call me uneducated, dishonest and a coward for having my beliefs!

Oh and welcome to the forum.

 

[Tony]

Your first post in this messageboard is used to insult those who believe in the supernatural? The board rules state that you must wait until your post count hits 50 until you can be insulting.

I'm sorry if I insulted somebody.

OK, I'll wait for another 49 points...

 

[Tony]

Thanks everyone who welcomed me!

 

[Ciscokid]

I'm sorry if I insulted somebody.

OK, I'll wait for another 49 points...

Nah, I just made up the rule this AM.

 

[Tony]

Nah, I just made up the rule this AM.

Thanks for the explanation.
I got your joke from the first try.

 

[nightwolf]

(One “small” difference between scientific and supernatural theories is that first one can be checked and proved.)

I don't agree with this statement. Theories change as sience advances. Like for instance, the gasoline engine was invented over 100 years ago, I am sure physics and science in general had alot to do with the invent of the engine. When the engine was invented the technology that was prestine for the day, you look at a 100 year old engine now it seems quite primitive, even though the people of the day thought it was at its tops and could only slightly be improved.

Science evolves as new discoveries are found. Science can not be carved in stone because it would then never evolve. A theory is most times adopted as truth, not proven.

As far as supernatural, I have seen things move with only using my mind, I have talked 100's of miles away only using the mind, I have seen spirits, I have worked with my own energy to make something happen, etc.... These things to me have been proven (and to many other people). Have you seen an ape turn into a human? Well no, but you might have adopted the scientific theory of evolution. No one can give a positive answer as to where life came from, because we will never know, yet that theory is adopted by millions of people because it is the best science can do. My supernatural experiences will not evolve to anything else. I might become more in touch with my own energy and have more experiences, but on the whole they will remain the same.

 

[Feathers in Hair]

Hello and welcome to the forums, Tony. I apologize if you've already done so, but feel free to introduce yourself in our 'newer members' area, so that we can give you a proper greeting!

While I understand the wish to treat those who believe in things that can't be explained as coming down to a lack of education, please realize that there are many people who think this an unkind statement. We have a great amount of posters from all sorts of backgrounds, both theist and non theist (and polytheist, which seems to land somewhere in between, hehee) who do not demand that others refuse their own beliefs to follow those of anothers'.

 

[Bishka]

Welcome.

 

[Scarlett Wampus]

Tony, welcome.

I have to agree with Sunstone in that your argument is too simplistic. That's not to say I don't feel it has some truth to it, because I certainly do, but the way you've put things divides people up into the good and bad guys like a dumbed down & hyped up work of fiction. If you want to liberate people and feel that demythologising religion is part of that you'll need to try harder!

Incidentally, on the subject of presuming virtue I read something by Richard Dawkins from his book, 'Unweaving the Rainbow' that made me giggle this morning: "In a previous book I gave away the number of the combination lock on my bicycle. I felt safe in doing so because obviously my books would never be read by the kind of person who would steal a bicycle. Unfortunately someone did steal it, and I now have a new lock with a new number," he states the new number at that point. If you want it you'll have to read the book

 

[michel]

I think the answer is pretty simple.

Ancient people didn’t have enough scientific knowledge about nature, so they HAD TO get answers from somewhere else because otherwise they couldn’t function properly as people and society.

They created whole bunch of religions over time. As time passed and science developed, more and more people become more educated.

Eventually, some people got educated enough to realize, that they have enough scientific knowledge about nature and they don’t need supernatural theories anymore.

(One “small” difference between scientific and supernatural theories is that first one can be checked and proved.)

Of course, religious organizations didn’t want to lose their money and/or power, so they tried everything from lies to brutal force to continue to profit from supernatural theories.

Unfortunately for religious organizations, even more people become educated enough to become non-religious. Religious organizations couldn’t kill them all anymore.

(If you check statistics, you’ll see that proportionally more non-religious people among more educated.)

Of course, besides education person has to be honest and brave enough to admit that scientific proof makes more sense than religious belief.

This combination of education, honesty and bravery is unique for every person. Some people will never become honest and brave enough, no matter how educated they are.

Eventually, though, with further development of scientific knowledge the need in supernatural explanation will diminish to zero.

That’s all folks.
J

Hi Tony,

Welcome to Religious Forums!

I agree with a lot of what you say, actually. I am not sure that I believe in any 'supernatural'......simply because all that is supernatural is, in fact, natural. Even the science, the knowledge that we now have has no answers for a myriad of things.

Human life may get to the stage that all that is natural is understood, but, somehow, I doubt it.

 

[ΩRôghênΩ]

I think the answer is pretty simple.

Ancient people didn’t have enough scientific knowledge about nature, so they HAD TO get answers from somewhere else because otherwise they couldn’t function properly as people and society.

They created whole bunch of religions over time. As time passed and science developed, more and more people become more educated.

Eventually, some people got educated enough to realize, that they have enough scientific knowledge about nature and they don’t need supernatural theories anymore.

(One “small” difference between scientific and supernatural theories is that first one can be checked and proved.)

Of course, religious organizations didn’t want to lose their money and/or power, so they tried everything from lies to brutal force to continue to profit from supernatural theories.

Unfortunately for religious organizations, even more people become educated enough to become non-religious. Religious organizations couldn’t kill them all anymore.

(If you check statistics, you’ll see that proportionally more non-religious people among more educated.)

Of course, besides education person has to be honest and brave enough to admit that scientific proof makes more sense than religious belief.

This combination of education, honesty and bravery is unique for every person. Some people will never become honest and brave enough, no matter how educated they are.

Eventually, though, with further development of scientific knowledge the need in supernatural explanation will diminish to zero.

That’s all folks.
J

Or, over time religions developed spiritually to realize a higher being of their god as not jst something used to explain things which we cannot understand, but as a being which cannot be comprehended and fits perfectly into the laws of science.

 

[CaptainXeroid]

...(If you check statistics, you’ll see that proportionally more non-religious people among more educated.)...

Since you claim this to be true, you need to provide a credible proof source to back it up. Since there are many religiously affiliated universities and no atheist schools, you are more than likely incorrect with your assumption, but please feel free to try.

...This combination of education, honesty and bravery is unique for every person. Some people will never become honest and brave enough, no matter how educated they are...

Very true. Most educated people are brave and honest and mature enough to understand that science cannot explain everything in the world.

Before God, we are all equally wise - and equally foolish.

Science with out religion is lame, and religion without science is blind.

I think we can both agree that Albert Einstein is one of the more intelligent men to have inhabited planet earth. Since he referred to God in many of his writings and understood that science was the beginning of knowledge and that religion was not the end of it, and more importantly that the two were intertwined, perhaps you can honest and brave enough to reconsider your rejection of that which you currently do not understand. I wish you luck with your education.

 

[Yerda]

I think we can both agree that Albert Einstein....perhaps you can honest and brave enough to reconsider your rejection of that which you currently do not understand. I wish you luck with your education.

Didn't Albert Einstein completely reject the supernatural?

 

[CaptainXeroid]

Didn't Albert Einstein completely reject the supernatural?

No...and that seems to chap some atheists' hides.:biglaugh:

 

[Tony]

When person has a burning question without answer, he/she becomes distracted by it and can’t focus on everyday tasks. You can find more about it in neurophysiology.

If person is provided with a proof that contradicts person’s belief, person will have to be honest to follow the scientific logic and to admit that his/her beliefs are wrong.

Sometimes, losing of person’s beliefs is very scary. For example, losing belief in afterlife for religious person is equal to death and losing imaginary connection and reunion with all passed relatives and friends.
Person has to be very brave to accept the reality.

It’s very difficult for religious person to become non-religious.

It might take years of education in science, psychology, and philosophy.

By the way, by “science” I mean real science like physics, psychology and other that deal with natural events, not supernatural.