A question for Athiests/Evolutionists. (re: How can one not belive in something greater than himself? et all)

I do not intend on sounding airy or mad, but I do have a question regarding faith. How can one not belive in something greater than himself? How can one go through life's difficulties and be unable to always know that at least one person loves you? At times, it is my only comfort knowing that God loves me, and I cannot understand how one can go through life without belief in something. Can anyone give me a good reason on why they do not belive in any omnipotent being or diety?

---

Better to be silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and prove it.

Thread moved here from the Proposed New Topics forum.

Hi Clash,I think the better question for me would be, "Can anyone give me a good reason on why they DO believe in any omnipotent being or diety?"I agree, it would be great to be able to believe there was something greater than myself, especially in times of trouble or sorrow. I don't think there are many atheists or agnostics that don't wish they could believe in something like that.Over the years, as my original faith diminished, I have found that I am stronger than I ever thought I was. I feel like I am happier and better adjusted now than I ever was when I used the crutch of belief to get me through the bad times.You are young, and who knows how you will feel about things when you grow up. Life can be overwhelming at your age. One thing though, if your faith makes you happy then more power to you. I don't believe there are many here that would begrudge you your faith. Our biggest beef around here are those that claim some scientific basis for their belief or those that would force others to follow their particular faith. That you would be expected to defend.

---

Asgara
"Embrace the pain, spank your inner moppet, whatever....but get over it"http://asgarasworld.bravepages.com
http://perditionsgate.bravepages.com

TheClashFan Well I have never found it necessary to believe in something greater than myself since I personally have been quite capable of dealing with life.What exactly about life is so difficult that you are unable to face it alone? Is it being alone that you fear or is it being lonely that is a problem?

---

"Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color."
--Don Hirschberg

First of all, thank you both. Secondly, I can face my problems alone, but...let's say that I might have made even more problems without God. Aren't either of you worried about OTHER things messing with your lives? Things that you may not be able to see or notice? I shudder at thinking that many people do not know that they are still at risk of OTHER evil. I do not fear being alone, socially, I am anyways, and at home I'm...well, lets not go there. Twice I have gone through a problem that I couldn't face alone, yet no one on earth was aware that I was facing it so I guess that does affect my faith. Again, thank you.

---

Better to be silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and prove it.

P.S, I love your sig. I may not be an athiest, but that is very cool.

I'm seconding what Asgara had to say.There have been difficult times when it would have been nice to be able to believe in a big helper. From those I think I can understand the inclination to want to believe.However, that just isn't the way I think. I require some better reason than my own desires. I am much too aware of the history of such ideas throughout the world. There simply isn't any reason to believe in such an idea and there are many to not believe.Some of the believers here demonstrate that they simply have no clue about what goes on inside my mind. They see themselves has having some special insight into the nature of a god and can't understand why I wouldn't see the same way even though they are just as uninterested in the idea of Jupitor or Thor as being a ruler of the universe or Apollo pulling the sun chriot across the skies. They distinguish, in some way between them. I do not.If you want something of an insight into how I think then try to consider your view of the idea of Apollo being the sun or Bachus being responsible for your wine. They are simply interesting anthropological ideas.

I agree with the part on being forced into something. It embarasses me greatly that men of my faith(Christianity) once slaughter innocent people because they would not convert. Many religions, if you look close enough, are derived from the same place. My family has a theory that several religions throughout the world are kind of like Christianity. Buddism, for example. Many worship Buddah himself, but there are others who call him a prophet of one god, whom I think is the God. Anyways....back to the subject... I must also admit that many of the Christian faith who just talk to random people about God may be pushing it.

What other evil? I have believed in a palpable evil for a much shorter time than I believed in a diety. I have never seen any evidence for any kind of "evil".

---

Asgara
"Embrace the pain, spank your inner moppet, whatever....but get over it"http://asgarasworld.bravepages.com
http://perditionsgate.bravepages.com

TheClashFan In the 47 years I have been alive I have never had any notice of an "evil" that was not simply the obvious work of people's personal decisions and I do not fear that such things as unseen forces because I have never known there to be such things.Perhaps you have something specific in your life that is troubling you?This message has been edited by sidelined, 11-19-2004 10:50 PM

---

"Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color."
--Don Hirschberg

OTHER evil is demons. I just don't like the word. Demons mess with people who are of other religions, and those who embrace no religion. That is why I choose to be a Christian, I must add. By being on God's side of the fence, they can mess with me, but I can counter them and protect myself.

I really don't want to say the exact problem I faced because mum looks over my shoulder sometimes, and I don't want to bother her with it.

How do you know that demons mess with those of other religions? How do you know that you are not being messed with? How do you know that there is any such thing as a demon?

---

Asgara
"Embrace the pain, spank your inner moppet, whatever....but get over it"http://asgarasworld.bravepages.com
http://perditionsgate.bravepages.com

You said that so much better than I did. I have often been impressed with your writings. Your stories are generally eloquent and expressive. Do you do a lot of writing?

---

Asgara
"Embrace the pain, spank your inner moppet, whatever....but get over it"http://asgarasworld.bravepages.com
http://perditionsgate.bravepages.com

I think asking Clash about his beliefs is getting a bit OT.However, it is his topic so I guess I'll ask him about that.