Atheist here: I may be wrong, but I have always thought that religion was paramount to the early development of human societies. Religions were the earliest forms of government and where the religions were more complex the populations grew and this allowed for technological and scientific advancements. I think religion (even though I don't believe in any) is the main reason the American Indians were living like savages while Europe was going through the Renaissance.
I may be way off base but it's an idea I had a while ago.
You're not wrong. Religion was a big stepping stone to allow societies to "evolve" so to speak.
I use to think the same thing about religion being used as a tool to control the masses for governments. This is the case when you have kingdoms and empires. They need religion to keep people in check. However, what was different about Christianity is that somehow got away from that type of government involvement. Sure, you can argue that this nation was built on Christian beliefs, much like our laws, however the only difference is that Christianity is not used as a tool to dictate legislation and control the federal government. Otherwise, you would have religious leaders in office creating legislation based off scripture. You can see this in other countries around the world, except the United States.
Now as i got older, I've learned that all religions in their respective natures can be wrong and they can be right. It really depends on what YOU believe and what YOU have faith in. As I've been through more and more heartache, I've learned to find faith and actually discover what it really is. I don't have to see a god to know that something is there. That's what I believe through my faith. I'm not going to tell you that you are wrong either for not believing in a god. That's your choice. I'm not here to judge you either way.
Religion now-a-days is not really used as it once was. People are more likely to believe in science than actually have faith, which is why you are seeing less and less people attend church. That, and the church itself being involved in scandal after scandal, I can sympathize to those who refuse to go based on that principal.
What I can say, is that I've seen evil. Pure evil. Evil in our government, evil in our schools, evil with our children. Where there is evil, there is Satan, or what we can only describe as Satan. If there is a "Satan" then there must be an opposite. This is where God comes into play. Satan = Evil, God = Good.
Now I'm not going to be the type of person who will read scripture to you and try to convince you to believe in anything you aren't willing to believe in, that's for you to decide and you alone. I've found God, and I wasn't looking. I saw god every day when I witnessed people like Trump fight these evil people. When people stood up for what was right, even though they were being chased and beaten by ANTIFA or BLM. I see god when I interact with my daughter every day.
I see god because I choose to see god; god is many things to me. I have to know that when I die, it wont just be darkness. I need to be in a state of consciousness that will allow me to enter a realm that is my version of heaven. Its the only way I can accept this crazy life.
I didn't want to live thinking that after I die, I would be in a void. Absolute nothingness. I refuse to believe that because it makes life pointless for me.
Anyway, I hope this helps you understand why people choose to believe in a religion when there is a choice.
Thank you for your respectful response, I honestly don't see a lot of that here when I mention being atheist.
While I think it can be a choice for some people, I think it's more of a feeling for others. For me I grew up loosely catholic, never really went to church but my dad taught me to believe the things he believed and he was raised Roman catholic. Then about ten years ago I just didn't feel it any more. It wasn't a conscious choice so much as a realization, and a crushing one.
What I can say, is that I've seen evil. Pure evil. Evil in our government, evil in our schools, evil with our children. Where there is evil,
I don't think there needs to be a God to believe there is "evil" and the capacity for some to be truly monsterus. I definitely believe there are and have been people who are evil personified, like Hitler, but for me these examples go more against the possibility of a God than prove one exists. But I'm not here to change your mind so I'll leave it at that.
I didn't want to live thinking that after I die, I would be in a void.
Honestly, I don't either. But it's not something I can control. And that's why I am not offended by people who do have a faith, I understand what the bottom line they are hoping for is. I am almost jealous of that peace of mind.
I would like to clarify something that I see a lot of people stating.
There is no "you in a void." There would be no you. You will, most likely, simply stop, just like when you go unconscious when you sleep but before you dream. That gap in your memory, that time-skip, that nothing.
You can't "experience" nothing, or a void, because you aren't there.
My best answer to the question "what do you believe happens when you die" is "you are dead." If there is anything else, we will find out, for sure, then, if there's even an "us" afterward.
Atheist here: I may be wrong, but I have always thought that religion was paramount to the early development of human societies. Religions were the earliest forms of government and where the religions were more complex the populations grew and this allowed for technological and scientific advancements. I think religion (even though I don't believe in any) is the main reason the American Indians were living like savages while Europe was going through the Renaissance.
I may be way off base but it's an idea I had a while ago.
You're not wrong. Religion was a big stepping stone to allow societies to "evolve" so to speak.
I use to think the same thing about religion being used as a tool to control the masses for governments. This is the case when you have kingdoms and empires. They need religion to keep people in check. However, what was different about Christianity is that somehow got away from that type of government involvement. Sure, you can argue that this nation was built on Christian beliefs, much like our laws, however the only difference is that Christianity is not used as a tool to dictate legislation and control the federal government. Otherwise, you would have religious leaders in office creating legislation based off scripture. You can see this in other countries around the world, except the United States.
Now as i got older, I've learned that all religions in their respective natures can be wrong and they can be right. It really depends on what YOU believe and what YOU have faith in. As I've been through more and more heartache, I've learned to find faith and actually discover what it really is. I don't have to see a god to know that something is there. That's what I believe through my faith. I'm not going to tell you that you are wrong either for not believing in a god. That's your choice. I'm not here to judge you either way.
Religion now-a-days is not really used as it once was. People are more likely to believe in science than actually have faith, which is why you are seeing less and less people attend church. That, and the church itself being involved in scandal after scandal, I can sympathize to those who refuse to go based on that principal.
What I can say, is that I've seen evil. Pure evil. Evil in our government, evil in our schools, evil with our children. Where there is evil, there is Satan, or what we can only describe as Satan. If there is a "Satan" then there must be an opposite. This is where God comes into play. Satan = Evil, God = Good.
Now I'm not going to be the type of person who will read scripture to you and try to convince you to believe in anything you aren't willing to believe in, that's for you to decide and you alone. I've found God, and I wasn't looking. I saw god every day when I witnessed people like Trump fight these evil people. When people stood up for what was right, even though they were being chased and beaten by ANTIFA or BLM. I see god when I interact with my daughter every day.
I see god because I choose to see god; god is many things to me. I have to know that when I die, it wont just be darkness. I need to be in a state of consciousness that will allow me to enter a realm that is my version of heaven. Its the only way I can accept this crazy life.
I didn't want to live thinking that after I die, I would be in a void. Absolute nothingness. I refuse to believe that because it makes life pointless for me.
Anyway, I hope this helps you understand why people choose to believe in a religion when there is a choice.
Thank you for your respectful response, I honestly don't see a lot of that here when I mention being atheist.
While I think it can be a choice for some people, I think it's more of a feeling for others. For me I grew up loosely catholic, never really went to church but my dad taught me to believe the things he believed and he was raised Roman catholic. Then about ten years ago I just didn't feel it any more. It wasn't a conscious choice so much as a realization, and a crushing one.
I don't think there needs to be a God to believe there is "evil" and the capacity for some to be truly monsterus. I definitely believe there are and have been people who are evil personified, like Hitler, but for me these examples go more against the possibility of a God than prove one exists. But I'm not here to change your mind so I'll leave it at that.
Honestly, I don't either. But it's not something I can control. And that's why I am not offended by people who do have a faith, I understand what the bottom line they are hoping for is. I am almost jealous of that peace of mind.
I would like to clarify something that I see a lot of people stating.
There is no "you in a void." There would be no you. You will, most likely, simply stop, just like when you go unconscious when you sleep but before you dream. That gap in your memory, that time-skip, that nothing.
You can't "experience" nothing, or a void, because you aren't there.
My best answer to the question "what do you believe happens when you die" is "you are dead." If there is anything else, we will find out, for sure, then, if there's even an "us" afterward.
That is true, I would have said that, but I didn't want to seem like I was trying to preach atheisum.