Why do people believe in God(s)? Page 2

Quote: Leevil @ January 6 2012, 3:48 PM GMT

I understand what you're saying but is it always the case that someone mentally prepares themselves or loved ones for death by believing in the existence of God/afterlife? Is that all that religion really boils down to?

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Not all of it of course, but could part of a reason for a belief. I guess it could also apply to bad things happening in general not just those that result in death. So believing that you are been tested by a higher being might make some people feel better about something that doesn't appear to have a reason or be the result of human mistake. Perhaps that explains why some people find God after been through a something bad.

Quote: youngian @ January 6 2012, 3:49 PM GMT

Science is the pursuit of knowledge through rigorous methodical testing and observation in order to establish a probable truth based on the evidence, that's all.

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Yes, let's not forget that it's not 'faith' so much as 'trust' when believing in science- if you are given medication then that has been rigorously tested on people in double blind randomised controlled trials. Not quite the same thing as religious faith.

Plus, putting your 'faith' into science alone is a very dodgy prospect - you'll find out when the Singularity happens and everyone on Earth is disintergraged by phaser wielding KillBots.

Quote: AJGO @ January 6 2012, 3:57 PM GMT

Yes, let's not forget that it's not 'faith' so much as 'trust' when believing in science- if you are given medication then that has been rigorously tested on people in double blind randomised controlled trials. Not quite the same thing as religious faith.

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Good point well made.

Quote: zooo @ January 6 2012, 3:47 PM GMT

Surely that pixellation thing's not a real theory?
Bloody hell.

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Fractals are real, and lovely, but whether they indicate that we live in a simulated reality is rather a different matter. Or you can believe in the simulated reality theory without thinking that fractals are evidence of it.

Quote: AJGO @ January 6 2012, 3:57 PM GMT

Yes, let's not forget that it's not 'faith' so much as 'trust' when believing in science-

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With Science, to some degree, if you really wanted to, you could check it out yourself. I mean, none of us do, but you could.

I like the idea of god. A universe with one in seems so much more interesting than one without. What's his game?

Quote: AJGO @ January 6 2012, 4:03 PM GMT

Fractals are real, and lovely, but whether they indicate that we live in a simulated reality is rather a different matter. Or you can believe in the simulated reality theory without thinking that fractals are evidence of it.

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*suddenly finds AJGO very attractive*

Hobby or student, AJGO?

Not sure if this is even relevant to the question Leevil's asking, but I saw this yesterday and it's kind of interesting. (Despite being a bit ooh look how superior us science types are)

Quote: chipolata @ January 6 2012, 4:04 PM GMT

I like the idea of god. A universe with one in seems so much more interesting than one without. What's his game?

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If God exists, then he is responsible for your creation. I don't want to believe in a divine being who would do such a thing!

Quote: AJGO @ January 6 2012, 4:03 PM GMT

Fractals are real, and lovely, but whether they indicate that we live in a simulated reality is rather a different matter. Or you can believe in the simulated reality theory without thinking that fractals are evidence of it.

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Yeah, I saw some programme a while ago showing things multiplied by a squillion and it was MIND BLOWINGLY AMAZING seeing how perfectly and mathematically arranged everything was. Possibly the most fantastic thing I've ever seen, actually.
But why on earth that would make someone decide we were a version of the Sims I don't know. Just made me marvel at how fantastic and beautiful nature is. Deciding that it is so awesome that it must be the work of a higher being feels like you're trivialising it, to me.

Quote: Leevil @ January 6 2012, 4:04 PM GMT

*suddenly finds AJGO very attractive*

Hobby or student, AJGO?

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Half a year of regular posting and only now, Lee, only now?! And neither.

It's important that people believe in God so that a lot of sanctimonious atheists have people to patronise and look down on.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ January 6 2012, 4:06 PM GMT

If God exists, then he is responsible for your creation. I don't want to believe in a divine being who would do such a thing!

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If anything, I'm proof God does exist.

Quote: zooo @ January 6 2012, 4:08 PM GMT

Yeah, I saw some programme a while ago showing things multiplied by a squillion and it was MIND BLOWINGLY AMAZING seeing how perfectly and mathematically arranged everything was. Possibly the most fantastic thing I've ever seen, actually.
But why on earth that would make someone decide we were a version of the Sims I don't know. Just made me marvel at how fantastic and beautiful nature is.

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Yeah, I don't really get how people can be dissatisfied with the wondrousness of what actually definitely exists. I suppose it's part of the argument that we must have a creator or we wouldn't live in this place that can support life, versus the fact that we wouldn't be here to recognise that had we not happened to be in a place that supports life. And so on and so forth.

Quote: AJGO @ January 6 2012, 4:08 PM GMT

Half a year of regular posting and only now, Lee, only now?! And neither.

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Well before that it was "attractive". When you do that science talk it goes up to "very".