Believing in God, But Not Literally

GreyOwl writes: ...even though most people claim to believe in God, deep down they really do not. ...they don't act the way someone should (or would have to) act if they truly believed in the existence of an all-powerful, supernatural being. If the belief was true deep-down to their core, then their lives should be much more focused on fulfilling the wishes of God and trying to live their lives in accordance...people say they believe because they enjoy the practical benefits of doing so (comfort, emotional support, etc.).the question is whether everyone that claims to believe in God truly believes!. I'm sure a small percentage of (believers) actually do, with everything that encompasses. But perhaps others only believe symbolically, while others may believe in an actual God but one that differs from the traditional view. Analyze why this phenomenon occurs in the first place.(edit by PB)

owl writes:I'm interested more in the psychology of the human mind as to why someone thinks they believe something that they really don't, or thinks they believe it more than they actually do. This phenomenon has nothing to do with whether a person is good or bad, nor is it even a purely Christian phenomenon. I just think that if a purely symbolic belief still helps someone get through life, what is the harm in them admitting that their belief is symbolic rather than actual?

jar writes:Anyone remember the name of that Program?