Why not believe in something besides yourself?
131071
i think some people actually refuse to believe in God because they feel it makes them look less intelligent or weak, i know that believing in God doesnt mean you are dumb, but some feel that way. Some just cant get over the suffering and things on earth today, and believe that no God would allow that to happen. This is perfectly understandable,but if they only looked to the Bible to find the truth they would see the very real reasons for everything mankind is struggling with right now. When you dont have God, life is shallow, vain and shortlived,the world is a cold place, and God has put in place provisions for all of us to get out. If only people would give God a chance instead of following the crowd, imagine the difference it would make?\n\nOh and by the way "Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld" so you dont have to SEE something to have faith in it.
393746
Makes sense to me.\n\nActually...under that definition, I might be the only person here who ISN'T an atheist.\n\nWow. That's a strange thought...
658702
I have to agree with you. I have argued with my mother in law on countless occasions about this. Everyone believes in something. I do believe there is a superior existence , I do not, however follow any specific religion. In any religion there is always some kind higher existence. There is no TRUE fact proven (in any religion) on what and or who is right. I find people tend to quote things from the bible but don't actually know what they're talking about. And to those who believe that everyone should have a faith, I do. I believe there is something, or someone who will show us our true religion, everyone, as a whole. I apologize if I have offended anyone. That was not my intention.
571622
Philosophers have wrangled with this question for centuries and I comes down to this:  You simply cannot prove that you exist.  You can't even prove that the outside world exists.  After all, 'you' could just be a brain in a vat somewhere being stimulated by electrodes that make you 'see', 'feel', and 'touch'.  What philosophers have come up with is the concept of a "Properly Basic Belief".  It means that if there is no evidence whatsoever to the contrary, then you can probably safely assume that it's true.  However, that doesn't mean you can prove it.  And of course you have to be open to the possibility that evidence may turn up at some time.  So until there is evidence that I don't exist, I'll stick with the philosophers and say it's a "Properly Basic Belief" that I exist.  And of course, there's the old standby of "I think, therefore I am."
393335
Because I know him, and I tend to believe in beings I know. I mean, I believe that you are there because there is evidence of you--hence, I know you. I believe in God because there is evidence of him in my life--hence, I know him. Moreover, my relationship with God grows. Evidence of a living God.
628915
People have something to believe in... something to give them inner strength.  You can't diss them for that.
174493
You can believe--or not believe--in anything you choose. It's nobody's business but your own. However, there are some people in the world who are profoundly insecure in their faith, and are simultaneously laboring under the delusion that they have all the answers. How lucky for them; it must make one's life easy to have all the answers all the time. And since they feel they have the answers, they feel threatened by questions that challenge their pre-fabricated worldview. These types of people are unable to see shades of grey, so their world is a very two-dimensional black-and-white place. Arguing with them is an exercise in futility, so the best that you can do is wish them peace and carry on with your life.
175567
If you're going to believe in God it has to come about from your own experiences. It has to be based in your own faith and trust. Im at the point where I think there is a spirit world but not necassarily a higher power, but sometimes I go back to thinking there is a higher power but not necessarily the conventional god. I think hes probably a sarcastic bastard if hes up there.
525175
Good to know I am not the only gullible, trusting, honest person out here.  I wouldn't want to change to be more like them as I sleep better at night knowing I did not try to screw someone out of their self worth.  Also, it will catch up with them in the end, as they will want happiness, but it will not come.  Being like WE are also makes me strong in my convictions, which people like THEM are not.  We can stand for what we want, love, believe in, hate, etc.  They live a lie all the time, they are what everyone wants them to be.  It would suck to be that way to me, as being myself makes me so much more independent.
280498
It's possible to believe in anything.  The question is whether you make decisions on the basis of what you believe (i.e., on mere feelings) or on what you know.\n\nAs for free will, I suspect it's an illusion.  We are driven by our hormones and our fears and our desires; we are conditioned by our education and our environment; so when we make any decision we actually have less "freedom" than we imagine.\n\nHaving said that, we are nevertheless responsible for the consequences of whatever choices we make.  It's cowardly and dishonest to blame "fate" or "god" or "the movements of the planets" for what we've done or failed to do.
669249
If they are more intelligent than us,then why would they believe in something they have NEVER seen.Why would they believe something that as been written by human beings.Why does anybody believe in something that can't be proven.They would think that religious people,who believe in this Great God that is supposed to be so powerful he can do anything,are completely bonkers because,If this God is so powerful why does he let so many  people on this Earth suffer in so many ways ????
95522
I don't know what this is all about, but believe what you want. It's your right! As long as you don't push your beliefs on someone else then by all means think as you wish. It's really not anyone else's business!
497235
Believing is one thing.  Knowing is another.  As most people have said in here, yes you can believe in whatever you want.  That doesn't make it the truth.  And NO, not everyone has to believe in something.  What everyone should have is the knowledge of the truth and the openmindedness to receive the truth.  Not mumbo jumbo from books that you just accept as your truth.
28730
Consider yourself blessed that you are able to perceive such signs and find compassion for those who have yet to learn to do so. If you could prove something scientifically it would be a state of fact or otherwise it would be an opinion. The definition of a belief is that it cannot be proven. I propose you let those know about your religious experiances who want to listen to you about them. The others are not ready to do so and thus just let them be.
572498
When you are absolutly sure in what your personal beliefs are , you can find happiness . \nReligion is a "tool" that some opt to use.\nOthers do not need it as they are able to find inner peace.
505533
I guess we ask questions to ensure that our point of view is validated.\n\nMaybe we don't really care what other people think?  Maybe we already know that our belief is the perfect belief for ourselves and we are only here (on this yahoo site), to prove our point.\n\nObviously....I don't think that...but I don't think that other people think that either.    Some people just insist on forgetting that God made everyone equally.
230981
"Think about it, you have to acknowledge that there is a god (higher power) for you not to believe in, right? In that case, wouldn't you be agnostic?"\nTHAT MAKES NO SENSE, SHOULD I SAY: I DON'T BELIEVE THAT GOD EXISTS, IS THAT BETTER?