Why is it that many religious people believe?
143735
I will begin by adressing the fact that I am a believer in the bible of the christians.\n\nWe have a right to "do Gods work" because He tells us to. He has given us his Word, and told us what to do. \n\nGod raised up many judges for the people in the OT. Just see Samuel for that matter. When the bible talks about passing judgement it doesnt mean that we are to sit idly by while we watch people murder innocent children, or poison our descendents with their applause of sin. It means that we are not to hold others accountable to our own standards. None of us are perfect. Think of it as we are all siblings and God is our father. I cannot condemn you to hell like the Father can. But it is my duty to warn you that what you are doing is going to get you in trouble. Also if you are hurting my other siblings I must intervene. I cannot send you to hell that judgement is for the Holy One alone. This also answers why everyone cant just leave people alone and let them "live their own lives". For one thing its not just their life. Your sin is contagious and will infect others. \n\nSay for a moment you have white carpet. You have a room mate. Your roomate pays half of the rent and bills. Your room mate comes home from work with muddy shoes and refuses to take off his shoes. Furthermore he will not help you clean up after himself. Now is his problem his alone? Of course not, now you live in a house with white carpet that has mud stains all over it. Your room mate is capable of poisoning every aspect of your life and those whom you meet.  \n\nWe are all room mates here on Earth. Wipe your feet!\n\n**************ADDITIONAL:\n**********************************************************\nI never said you were the owner of the house. You are a joint owner. To clarify further, the house symbolizes our world, earth, society, and so on. Neither the roommate or yourself have a right to entire ownership. We are all roommates here. Here lies the problem. Everyone assumes they are the owners of the house and that they can track their mud anywhere they wish without rebuke. And also, the society which my children live in, they  ARE being DIRECTLY affected by the mud on everyones shoes. My family and I have every right to go to the grocery store without seeing half nude women on magazines toddler eye level next to the candy. Or people telling our children through their actions that sex is okay as long as you have money for an abortion. Every person on this earth is a walking billboard for their lifestyle. Anything you do is an invite for someone to act like you. So when you smoke, drink to excess, make out with your gay or heterosexual lover in indiscreet manor, promote any kind of ill behavior, you are encouraging others to do as you are.\n\nThank you for your consideration of my comment. Even if you dont agree with me I appreciate your ability to consider my stance. May your search be fruitful and your wisdom enlightened.
699359
one answer is people were not brought up with religon in their life so they have no clue. the other one is there are a lot of antheist's out there trying to destroy our beliefs. and it is hard for some people to believe in something that they can not see. just need to pray for those people. and have God open their hearts up to him. Sometimes they need a miracle to start believing. and you really have to approach them very carefully.
1112161
FYI I'm a Christian...if you read any history at all, religion has been around since humans became in existence.  Every culture discovered by archeologist's has had some form of a God.  From the ancient Aztecs, ancient Egyptians, and the Mesopotamians. The Majority of humans on this earth (87%) believe in one God or another...their "religion".  It is only the Atheist who do not believe in any power greater than themselves.  Pretty weird.
987313
People get comfort from believing there is a reason for existence, that it's not all accidental or the product of a statistical probability. \n\nLook at it this way: if you are a believer and you die and there is no God, what difference does it make.  If you are not a believer and you die and there is a God, BIG SURPRISE!
660299
You cant see God therefore not many people believe in him. It is hard to believe a supernatural being made all of us.
629070
Because it is one of the largest and most publicized religions.
322987
People harden their hearts to God...they choose not to believe because if He exists they have to make a decision. It is much easier to call Christians crazy.
428248
It is not that people are divided into two camps, "those who believe, and those who don't".  In fact this is a belief structure on its own.  Many atheist have strong beliefs, they are just different from your own.  So maybe the better question to ask would be, "why do you believe something other than what I believe?"\n\nMost people who question Christianity do so because it is very easy not to believe in it.  Remember that the foundation of Christian beliefs is FAITH.  \n\nFaith is not easy for people who believe in science and reason.  Many of the beliefs of the Christian faith are total unreasonable.  For example, "The world was made in seven days".  This is not reasonable at all, but one needs faith to believe it.\n\nFor myself, I don't believe that Jesus was any more the son of god than you are.  Why? Because it is totally unreasonable.  But I do believe in God.  Although the God I believe in is likely nothing like the one you imagine.  My God is universal, and impossible to understand, we are too small and simple to understand a truth that grand.  My God is totally unreasonable also, but I don't attribute Human characteristics to him like many Christians do.  My God is everything, and everywhere.  And my God is inseparable from us.  We are, and it is us, and everything else.\n\nThe sad thing is that most Christians hope that Jesus will figure it all out for them.  All you have to do is believe in him, and that's it.  So is it really faith, or is it desperate hope for lost people?  I find Christians simplifying life so often it makes me wonder if they really KNOW Christ like they say they do.
346508
Religious people have certain notions that have been drilled into their heads by family, peers and close-minded beliefs. Even though not "all" are the same the vast majority are in fact like that. As an example the other day I had this lady come up to me and start to ask me about having bible 'discussion' at home, when I told her I'm not interested she began making several insinuations to include saying people that don't believe as they do are hypocrites... hahaha! boy did she have it backwards.
814056
Many do not believe that,because they don't believe in God. Many of them also say they know the Bible better than the believers,and thus they will also be held accountable for all the knowledge they have gotten from God's Word and still remained unbelievers.
318613
RELIGION                      POPULATION IN MILLIONS WORLDWIDE\nChristian                       1758.8\nMoslum                           935\nNon-Religious                    866\nHindu                            705\nBuddhist                         303\nAtheist                          233\nOther                            219.3\nChinese (Folk Religion)          180\nTribal                            92\nJewish                            17.4\n\nTotal Population                5292.20\n\nAlthough Christianity is the largest, they only comprise just under 1/3 of the total population. 67% of the population do not believe in Jesus. Is it true? These other people in other religions wonder why people don't believe the way they do because they believe their Religion to be true. When you read out of a Holy Book, Pray with all of your heart for the Almighty Creator to show you the truth. He just might.
1116052
Because when we were young our parents infused some false and true things into our brain that made us believe. We want to fit in with a group, so we pick whatever religion we like. And we know when we are young that if we don't like the religion, than we are in trouble.\nAlso, people WANT to believe in an afterlife, and a good one or they know they will be scared as heck. Then they get used to the fear, and are overcome by the "evidence" that the religion is completely true. Like i've said before, religions are completely man-made, and those men/ women have also done bad things in their lives. The bad things just aren't officially in documents to make them look good.\n\nThis is my opinion...
276714
Probably something to do with religion, christ etc. There are an awful lot of religious wackos out there.
608615
Religions don't have to struggle that much. They find it easy enough to share their stories, and with every group you speak to probably about half of them will listen to the stories, and half of that half will probably believe the stories.\n\nIts not difficult to share the stories, its just that most people simply want everyone to believe what they believe because they think its true so everyone else should!!
801944
Because deep down they realize that religion has no real basis in fact.  Therefore, they fear reasoned arguments by anybody else, especially non-believers.
598806
I believe. People don't believe because they are caught up in skeptical evidence. They want a solid answer right now instead of the patient assurance that faith brings. Eventually, all of God's plan will be revealed to man, but it must come line upon line, precept upon precept.
415339
Good question... people believe what they\nwant to believe, not necessarily what is\nright.  Belief in God requires faith...\nbelief in the media requires mental\nacceptance, which is much easier.\nThere is a way in life that seems right, \nbut will end in destruction.