I think the 'average' person say they believe in god to fit in......

Like lets take my mom for example-- she says she believes in god and occasionally goes to church, but she has never touched a bible or done anything to solidify her beliefs. Not saying that you have to read the bible or go to church to believe, but she makes me feel...I dont know how to describe it other than awkward. She knows I'm a frequent reader of this website and she knows what this website is about and knows that I may question religion and all that good stuff, so when the question of god or something comes up she throws little jabs at me showing her displeasure with me in questioning god.


But I believe that she doesnt know why she believes , to me it just seems like she is saying it to fit in and be in the normal, instead of the oddball like most atheist and 'conspiracy believers'.


To make things short I'm just saying that the average person you know who doesnt have a lot of time to do relaxing things or even have time to think about things, say they believe in something (god) just because it's normal and no one will question you. But when I say I dont necessarily believe in organized religion I get I dunno just like looked down upon.

I have a lot of time to just ponder on things, (still in high school and chemistry is freakin boring!!!!) I just go over so many scenarios over and over..... Like who created god? Stuff like that it just boggles my mind so crazy!!!


What I'm trying to get to is I think there are a lot of people who say they believe with no purpose, and I think more people should just open up and get a reason to believe, or NOT be afraid to not believe--AND people shouldn't be questioned for it, or made uncomfortable.


Questions, comments, anything appreciated!

I think you are correct. I also think that there is a large (seems to be getting larger daily) group of people that don't believe in God, just to fit in. Athiesm seems to be pretty trendy these days.

Well it certainly isn't wrong to question your belief in God, you are young and well quite honestly it is perfectly normal. Do alot of people fit with what you are saying? probably. But also a great many people have their belief through personal experiences and what not. In fact one of the best ways for someone in your position to find their own path is to talk to people about why they believe or not. Mind you that should you choose to do that, to be respectful of others beliefs because when it comes to religous/spiritual beliefs you are dealing with a very personal aspect of thier life.

When I was young and didn't believe in anything, I simply said that there was something, end of story. I didn't do it to fit in, I just used simple logic to understand that there is a never ending pattern of bigger (Planets, systems, galaxies, Universes) and smaller(cells, molecules, quartz) so there had to be something.

Today, after seeing dead relatives and talking to God or some upper life form, I believe in God and everything. i don't think Christians have it 100% right, but there as close to anything I guess. Being a universalist, I think we all are going somewhere.

I am no one to question anyones beliefs or anything like that but I'm just saying that I think there are a bunch of people who are uptight to picking one side because they are afraid of being criticized from the other side, and that makes me sad People just need to relax and open up and not care what others think you know? Just frustrating.

Oh I agree. I'm under the belief that if your a good person, then God will love you all then same. Universalism is the perfect system.

In the end, most people are good and that enough said. I personally just hate the people who spend their entire lives trying to disprove or prove something in someones belief system, purposely trying to bring on a flame war. These kinds of people only make my faith in humanity decrease more and more.

To this way of thinking, some members on this site are no different then Osama's purposely trying to offend us and kill us.

It'd be a perfect would if we all loved each other despite our way of thinking and sat down to care for each other. But I think we both know that certain people in this would make such impossible.

I was raised to believe in God and all that jazz, but as I grew older, I realized how silly religious beliefs really are. Seriously, it's just a crutch for people who can't accept that there might not be any point to our existence.

So, I'm a happy atheist, and don't have any problem with that. However, it's not always easy to work with people who have beliefs in stark opposition to your own beliefs (or lack thereof), so I often simply don't talk about my feelings on religious matters. I have no problem with other people believing what they want to believe, as long as they don't attempt to force their "morals" or beliefs upon me.

You know what, I think belief in God would be a lot less if there weren't so many vehement atheists. The fact that people feel they need to stand up for their belief system against someone else helps to reinforce that belief system.

Originally posted by Jim_Kraken
You know what, I think belief in God would be a lot less if there weren't so many vehement atheists. The fact that people feel they need to stand up for their belief system against someone else helps to reinforce that belief system.

If the believers weren't constantly attempting to force their beliefs on those of us who don't subscribe to their mythology, perhaps we wouldn't care. Intelligent design, trying to refuse a woman's right to control her body, abstinence only education, refusal to fill prescriptions for contraception, trying to use public property and public tax dollars to fund their religious displays, etc. Perhaps once all of that stopped, those of us who don't agree with their beliefs wouldn't get so pissed about it.

reply to post by shoran


Well, as long as we have the worst-case scenarios of Communist Russia and Maoist China we will fight you tooth-and-nail (figuratively)...don't expect a "cease-fire" anytime soon.

Originally posted by shoran
If the believers weren't constantly attempting to force their beliefs on those of us who don't subscribe to their mythology, perhaps we wouldn't care. Intelligent design, trying to refuse a woman's right to control her body, abstinence only education, refusal to fill prescriptions for contraception, trying to use public property and public tax dollars to fund their religious displays, etc. Perhaps once all of that stopped, those of us who don't agree with their beliefs wouldn't get so pissed about it.

I understand your point, and I also see the same from atheists, but the truth is the atheists have the game beat. Even the word states Jesus declared that his battle was not of or for "this world". I am beginning to "evolve" (sorry the pun) into my belief to the point where I see the ideal Christianity is to not fight for anything in this world. Think of it as a higher calling.

Originally posted by Jim_Kraken
Well, as long as we have the worst-case scenarios of Communist Russia and Maoist China we will fight you tooth-and-nail (figuratively)...don't expect a "cease-fire" anytime soon.

I'm sorry, at which point did not having a religion become synonymous with communist dictatorships? The fact that those tyrannical states outlawed religion has nothing to do with my not sharing your beliefs. I don't care what you believe in, what rituals you which to practice, etc., as long as you can't tell me to do what you believe in.

Originally posted by ben91069
I understand your point, and I also see the same from atheists, but the truth is the atheists have the game beat. Even the word states Jesus declared that his battle was not of or for "this world". I am beginning to "evolve" (sorry the pun) into my belief to the point where I see the ideal Christianity is to not fight for anything in this world. Think of it as a higher calling.

If that's what you think is important, more power to you. Just don't try to make me give up the things I feel are important in my life for the things you feel are important in the next.

Are most people just following the crowd? Yes, at first, but the belief in God is a natural state of mind for human beings. This is why each and every human culture that has ever existed has had some form of religion and God icon or belief system.

What is unnatural to human nature is to deny the natural impulse to gravitate towards the belief in a supreme being and to say, “God doesn’t exist.”

Many people go to church because that’s what they were raised to do, however the belief in God is a separate issue. There are logical arguments for the existence of God, but for most people it is a realization during certain events in their life that things could not have happened the way that they did without the intervention of a higher power.

What is unnatural to the normal state of being is to absolutely and categorically deny the existence of God. For this line of thinking must include a denial standpoint that one must refuse to accept any scenario of events as being planned, no matter how detailed or timely they are. For instance, the true life story of the man who was lost at sea for days and finally prayed to God for help by saying, “Please God, just send any ship”. Not too soon afterward the man was spotted by a ship and saved. The name of the ship was the “eny”.

There are countless true stories like this one, however the atheist, like in the manner of a child, flatly and categorically refuses to admit that any higher being could have been involved in such cases. St. Thomas Aquinas states that these people are in denial of the existence of God because they vehemently demand to behave according to their own desires and not the will of God. Like spoiled children, they never seek out God, but instead only deny that there is any proof of his existence. What they are choosing to avoid is the truth that if there is a higher power, then they will have to subject themselves to the will of the higher power and not their own will. For religion requires obedience, and that is what they are really refusing, being obedient to God.

Atheism is popular in America because America is full of spoiled rotten adults who choose to behave like children. These are often the same people who claim that homosexuality is natural (which it is not) and that it is wrong to be intolerant of others, no matter what they do.

However, the older one gets, the more the fear of the truth of their denial weights on their mind. In forums such as these you often find youthful people who are proud atheists. Yet, go to any large church, and you find these same archetypal people now filling the seats, fully converted, and apologetic of their former ways. It’s almost like going in a time machine to visit this forum and then listen to those seeming same people only 10-15 years later admitted their former beliefs with tearful regret.

Sooner or later, you must make the choice to grow up and accept the natural, logical, historical, truth of God’s existence.

If you really want to know if God exists then read the Bible firstly, secondly read the works of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Originally posted by Hot_Wings
This is why each and every human culture that has ever existed has had some form of religion and God icon or belief system.

Isn't it more logical to assume that humanity has a natural state of mind to understand things, rather than invent fictitious beings? I don't agree for one moment that humans create religion because they're naturally driven to be beholden to someone, but rather they create religion to provide explanations for things they don't understand.

What is unnatural to human nature is to deny the natural impulse to gravitate towards the belief in a supreme being and to say, “God doesn’t exist.”

I strongly disagree.

Many people go to church because that’s what they were raised to do, however the belief in God is a separate issue. There are logical arguments for the existence of God, but for most people it is a realization during certain events in their life that things could not have happened the way that they did without the intervention of a higher power.

I've never in my life seen a logical argument for the existence of God. There are all sorts of philosophical discussions, of course, but they always hinge on ignorance as justification of a "higher power".

What is unnatural to the normal state of being is to absolutely and categorically deny the existence of God. For this line of thinking must include a denial standpoint that one must refuse to accept any scenario of events as being planned, no matter how detailed or timely they are. For instance, the true life story of the man who was lost at sea for days and finally prayed to God for help by saying, “Please God, just send any ship”. Not too soon afterward the man was spotted by a ship and saved. The name of the ship was the “eny”.

This is what we reasonable people would call a coincidence. Interesting? Sure. Proof? Hardly.

Atheism is popular in America because America is full of spoiled rotten adults who choose to behave like children. These are often the same people who claim that homosexuality is natural (which it is not) and that it is wrong to be intolerant of others, no matter what they do.

Typical religious propaganda. Funny that someone can proclaim a "natural" need to believe in God, but disclaim a natural explanation for homosexuality.

Sooner or later, you must make the choice to grow up and accept the natural, logical, historical, truth of God’s existence.

If you really want to know if God exists then read the Bible firstly, secondly read the works of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Again, I strongly disagree. I'm not a "proud atheist", but I do take pride in not needing to have some all powerful deity looking over me to ensure that I'm a good person. I help people when I can, I endeavor to learn more about the world, and I do my part to be a productive member of society. I don't need God or anyone but myself to drive me to do these things, because it's in my best interest and the best interest of society for me to do so. It's not rocket science.

You're entitled to your own opinions. I disagree with them, but support your right to worship anything you want. But when you tell me that I have to agree to abide by your rules because your God says so, that's when you can kiss my ass.

While I'd be happy if fewer people followed religions and, instead, lived in *this* world, I don't care if somebody is an atheist or not. I'm not going to force you to not believe in your God or to believe in a different God, but why must religious people always try to force their ridiculous ideals on those of us who don't adhere to their religion? What's next, calling for the death of a teacher who names a stuffed animal after your chosen prophet?

I think some of you misunderstood my post and it's my fault for not wording it correctly. I have no beef with anybodies religious beliefs but what I am trying to say is I think a lot of people make others uncomfortable about their religion when in reality they are just saying it to 'fit in'. Maybe you can argue that's what I'm trying to do by posting this thread but I am just seeing if anyone else agrees with me.......


You know what I mean? I just think a lot of people I'm going to say dont study???? doesnt sound right but thats what I will use. I know religion has no sure definition but I think more people should be educated in what they believe in instead of just saying it to fit in.



You back Ron Paul, really?
Yup
What's your selling point on him?
Oh, I dont know?


Kinda like that

Originally posted by racerzeke
You know what I mean? I just think a lot of people I'm going to say dont study???? doesnt sound right but thats what I will use. I know religion has no sure definition but I think more people should be educated in what they believe in instead of just saying it to fit in.

You back Ron Paul, really?
Yup
What's your selling point on him?
Oh, I dont know?

I agree that there are a lot of people who just do things to fit in. I don't think religion is any exception to that rule.

reply to post by racerzeke

Abso-dang-lutely. Your subject line hits the nail on the head. Many people are afraid to tell the religious truth about themselves due to the stigma attached to those who question or disbelieve altogether.

In this day and age, it's just plain silly, but people still prefer the safety of the programmed religious existence to the free, but oppressed state in which most blatant disbelievers must live their lives.

i've always known there was a controller. i've been to many types of religious gatherings and read many books. then one day i asked my
parents why they were methodists. both of their answers were "because
thats what our parents were". hmm, interesting. there is no doubt to me
there is an all powerful loving entity. there is no doubt to me that he/she/
it listens as intently as you beg for it's attention. there is no doubt to me
that he/she/it will arrange things to happen which will affect you positively
as you previously requested in your talk. knowing god is not as complicated as many would have you believe. you don't have to do this,
and that, and that. i'm not religious. i haven't been to church in years.
i do however, talk to god every day and get answers every day. it's not
about any certain manmade religion. it's simply about you and your god.
so easy.....................so simple..

I would say the poster of this thread maybe right to a certain extent. Maybe your mother had a personal experience that she has not told you which would make her faith stronger. Each person is different I believe when it comes to this. Some people who hang around racists might say things only to fit in when in fact their morals may take them into the opposite direction when it comes right down to it. People want to fit in and feel they belong, which makes it all to human.