Why do you believe what you do? And how did you get to that belief?

[Pygoscelis]

So, are you an atheist because you were raised this way?

Actually I wasn't raised as an atheist. My mother was somewhat religious and wanted me to be too. If I'd followed in the footseps of my parents I'd be an Anglican.

But yes, many atheists are atheists because their parents were atheists and so they were not taught religious beliefs as children (when we are most impressionable).

I'm curious how you would explain the fact that most people adopt the religion of their parents? Need it be a threat to the truth of your religion? Or is there another way to explain it?

 

[Grace Seeker]

Actually I wasn't raised as an atheist. My mother was somewhat religious and wanted me to be too. If I'd followed in the footseps of my parents I'd be an Anglican.

So then, are you claiming to have logically and rationally arrived at the views that you have?

 

[Keltoi]

Actually I wasn't raised as an atheist. My mother was somewhat religious and wanted me to be too. If I'd followed in the footseps of my parents I'd be an Anglican.

But yes, many atheists are atheists because their parents were atheists and so they were not taught religious beliefs as children (when we are most impressionable).

I'm curious how you would explain the fact that most people adopt the religion of their parents? Need it be a threat to the truth of your religion? Or is there another way to explain it?

Finding one's personal relationship with God is obviously important. People who are Christians, Muslims, Jews, etc that have children will obviously want their children to be of the same faith. It is up to the individual in the end to find their own relationship with God, regardless of their upbringing.

 

[YEh]

Finding one's personal relationship with God is obviously important. People who are Christians, Muslims, Jews, etc that have children will obviously want their children to be of the same faith. It is up to the individual in the end to find their own relationship with God, regardless of their upbringing.

I agree with that. :statisfie

I would also like to add that in the poll there should have been other option's like:

- The teachings were the same as my personal beliefs.

- The teachings have no negative consequences as a result of me or anyone else following them. So I was drawn to the teachings and message more so than other belief systems, which teach things that lead to social inequity and discrimination of other beliefs as a result of the belief.

YEh

 

[snakelegs]

I'm curious how you would explain the fact that most people adopt the religion of their parents? Need it be a threat to the truth of your religion? Or is there another way to explain it?

i think often a person goes far away from the religion of their parents but later feels an emptiness so they turn to god again. they will usually go with what is familiar to them from family and culture. to me that makes sense. it does not automatically mean they are brainwashed.
(of course, as an agnostic, i believe god can be worshiped in any religion or even without a religion at all, but that's neither here nor there).

 

[vpb]

i think often a person goes far away from the religion of their parents but later feels an emptiness so they turn to god again. they will usually go with what is familiar to them from family and culture. to me that makes sense. it does not automatically mean they are brainwashed.
(of course, as an agnostic, i believe god can be worshiped in any religion or even without a religion at all, but that's neither here nor there).

you're such a snake leg

 

[England]

Go to a Spirtualist Church and get a personal reading with an open mind and you too would believe. I've explained why I believe what I believe many of times.

 

[Philosopher]

Go to a Spirtualist Church and get a personal reading with an open mind and you too would believe. I've explained why I believe what I believe many of times.

First try to prove your God first.

 

[Pygoscelis]

So then, are you claiming to have logically and rationally arrived at the views that you have?

I wasn't claiming anything.

But since you asked, yes I do beleive that I arrived at my view re religion logically and rationally.

 

[England]

First try to prove your God first.

What I believe isn't all about God. I strongly believe God exists but my belief is spiritualism. It's a belief that the dead communicate with the living, as through a medium. It's all the spirit world and everything.

I believe in the same God as you do only he isn't as evil as the Quran portrays Him to be.

 

[Philosopher]

What I believe isn't all about God. I strongly believe God exists but my belief is spiritualism. It's a belief that the dead communicate with the living, as through a medium. It's all the spirit world and everything.

I believe in the same God as you do only he isn't as evil as the Quran portrays Him to be.

God isnt evil, it's your ignorance that makes you delusional.

 

[ranma1/2]

I chose the "same belief as family" option, simply because my family is Christian and so am I. Realistically it would be a combination of several.

Then choose all that apply.

 

[- Qatada -]

What I believe isn't all about God. I strongly believe God exists but my belief is spiritualism. It's a belief that the dead communicate with the living, as through a medium. It's all the spirit world and everything.

I believe in the same God as you do only he isn't as evil as the Quran portrays Him to be.

God isn't evil, man is punished for his/her own wrongdoings. I don't think any religion believes that the evildoers will get away from their crimes - if that is the case, then they're portraying God as unjust, when we know He's not.

By the way - you havn't even read the Qur'an so please don't make false claims. And if you have - then you wouldn't be making this statement.



Regards.

 

[InToTheRain]

I believe in the same God as you do only he isn't as evil as the Quran portrays Him to be.

Where are you beeing spoon fed this from? stop driveling such codswallop

 

[FatimaAsSideqah]

What I believe isn't all about God. I strongly believe God exists but my belief is spiritualism. It's a belief that the dead communicate with the living, as through a medium. It's all the spirit world and everything.

I believe in the same God as you do only he isn't as evil as the Quran portrays Him to be.

Greetings England,

Don't be ignorance..God isn't evil because He made this world and us as well! Who do you think you can make this stupid statement??

Peace!

 

[Grace Seeker]

I wasn't claiming anything.

But since you asked, yes I do beleive that I arrived at my view re religion logically and rationally.

Then, as your parents were not atheists, either you are a unique individual that does not fit the norms or your hypothesis is faulty.

 

[England]

God isn't evil, man is punished for his/her own wrongdoings. I don't think any religion believes that the evildoers will get away from their crimes - if that is the case, then they're portraying God as unjust, when we know He's not.

By the way - you havn't even read the Qur'an so please don't make false claims. And if you have - then you wouldn't be making this statement.



Regards.

I too believe people will be punished for their wrongdoings and I hope they do but what the Quran says that God will do to non-muslims is pure evil. The God I believe in won't punish anyone for their beliefs. Even you muslims will be ok. I believe in God, I'm thankful to God, I live my life peacefully, I get on with people and in my opinion God is happy. By saying that despite me being a peaceful, innocent human being I will be punished is portraying God as evil without a doubt. That's not God. As you say, God is Great.

 

[- Qatada -]

I too believe people will be punished for their wrongdoings and I hope they do but what the Quran says that God will do to non-muslims is pure evil. The God I believe in won't punish anyone for their beliefs. Even you muslims will be ok. I believe in God, I'm thankful to God, I live my life peacefully, I get on with people and in my opinion God is happy. By saying that despite me being a peaceful, innocent human being I will be punished is portraying God as evil without a doubt. That's not God. As you say, God is Great.

Yeah, its kool you understand the idea that God rewards people for their good. So if we're to say that God will reward someone for the good that they do to please Him, thats fair right? And the people who don't do good to please Him, then why should they be rewarded by Him? That's perfectly logical right?


Now for us to understand what is good and bad in the sight of God, He needs to send us Messengers' to clear this out for us. He could have shown Himself clearly - but then there wouldn't really be a point of the test since the answers would already be clearly given to us. These Messengers are humans like us, and they convey the message clearly and don't ask their reward off the people, they expect their reward from God. They tell people the clear cut way to differentiate between the good and evil.


The problem lies here; If someone doesn't accept God's Messenger, then their rejecting God's Message. What does that mean? It means that their saying that God's lying right? Do you think that God will be pleased with that?

Especially when the message makes pure sense, i'm not talking about the secondary issues here [in regard to the practises of dressing, eating and all that] but more in regard to the beliefs i.e. The Creator & Sustainer who is to be obeyed, the messengers, the concept of this life being a test and being rewarded or punished for our own deeds and actions.



We've also explained the concept of being punished in the hellfire. Even christians themselves believe that those who dont' "accept Jesus son of Mary as their saviour" will be in the hellfire forever. We know that Jesus son of Mary was a servant and honorable Messenger of God, we know that no soul bears the burden of another, and we are responsible for our own deeds and actions. We also said that the reason why the disbelievers may be in hellfire for eternity is due to the fact that once the message is given clearly to them - if they reject it, they do so out of arrogance. And if they were given a life of eternity - they would remain in that state of disbelief forever.

What was the main message the Prophets called to? To the worship of our Creator and Sustainer Alone, to be dutiful to ones parents, to enjoin the ties of kinship, to establish the prayer, to help the needy, to enjoin the good and forbid the evil, to perfect ones manners etc. There is nothing evil about that, infact this is what people really want in life.

"How can you deny God, when you were dead and God gave you life? Then God will cause you to die, and then revive you, and then you will be returned to God." (Quran 2:28)


And among His Signs (in this), that you see the earth barren, but when We send down water (rain) to it, it is stirred to life and growth (of vegetations).

Verily, He Who gives it life, surely, (He) is Able to give life to the dead (on the Day of Resurrection). Indeed! He is Able to do all things.

[Qur'an 41:39]

​

 

[England]

Yeah, its kool you understand the idea that God rewards people for their good. So if we're to say that God will reward someone for the good that they do to please Him, thats fair right? And the people who don't do good to please Him, then why should they be rewarded by Him? That's perfectly logical right?


Now for us to understand what is good and bad in the sight of God, He needs to send us Messengers' to clear this out for us. He could have shown Himself clearly - but then there wouldn't really be a point of the test since the answers would already be clearly given to us. These Messengers are humans like us, and they convey the message clearly and don't ask their reward off the people, they expect their reward from God. They tell people the clear cut way to differentiate between the good and evil.


The problem lies here; If someone doesn't accept God's Messenger, then their rejecting God's Message. What does that mean? It means that their saying that God's lying right? Do you think that God will be pleased with that?

Especially when the message makes pure sense, i'm not talking about the secondary issues here [in regard to the practises of dressing, eating and all that] but more in regard to the beliefs i.e. The Creator & Sustainer who is to be obeyed, the messengers, the concept of this life being a test and being rewarded or punished for our own deeds and actions.



We've also explained the concept of being punished in the hellfire. Even christians themselves believe that those who dont' "accept Jesus son of Mary as their saviour" will be in the hellfire forever. We know that Jesus son of Mary was a servant and honorable Messenger of God, we know that no soul bears the burden of another, and we are responsible for our own deeds and actions. We also said that the reason why the disbelievers may be in hellfire for eternity is due to the fact that once the message is given clearly to them - if they reject it, they do so out of arrogance. And if they were given a life of eternity - they would remain in that state of disbelief forever.

What was the main message the Prophets called to? To the worship of our Creator and Sustainer Alone, to be dutiful to ones parents, to enjoin the ties of kinship, to establish the prayer, to help the needy, to enjoin the good and forbid the evil, to perfect ones manners etc. There is nothing evil about that, infact this is what people really want in life.

"How can you deny God, when you were dead and God gave you life? Then God will cause you to die, and then revive you, and then you will be returned to God." (Quran 2:28)


And among His Signs (in this), that you see the earth barren, but when We send down water (rain) to it, it is stirred to life and growth (of vegetations).

Verily, He Who gives it life, surely, (He) is Able to give life to the dead (on the Day of Resurrection). Indeed! He is Able to do all things.

[Qur'an 41:39]

​

If you do good to please then yeah of course God will be happy but I don't believe you'll get any more than what decent human beings that don't worship will get. Pleasing God is all good and it will make God happy as long as it doesn't cause any problems with his world and his creatures. But even if you don't worship God but you have been a decent human being then that will make God just as happy. You will go to a better place, the EXACT same place where PEACEFUL, DECENT human being muslims will go to. I, nor anyone else will not be punished for not getting down on my knees and praying or for drinking alcohol.

I am not religious. I'm spiritual. I believe without a doubt that the afterlife is all about spirituality. My passed relatives are always visit. They guide me, they are looking after me and if I was to go to a spiritualist they would try to contact me as they have done.

 

[- Qatada -]

If you do good to please then yeah of course God will be happy but I don't believe you'll get any more than what decent human beings that don't worship will get. Pleasing God is all good and it will make God happy as long as it doesn't cause any problems with his world and his creatures. But even if you don't worship God but you have been a decent human being then that will make God just as happy. You will go to a better place, the EXACT same place where PEACEFUL, DECENT human being muslims will go to. I, nor anyone else will not be punished for not getting down on my knees and praying or for drinking alcohol.

Ask yourself these questions:



1) If you keep your duty to the creation, why shouldn't you keep your duty to the One who Created you and Sustains you throughout your whole life? Since that day you were that little sperm drop - till your death, and even after that?

Since you know that Jesus son of Mary was an honorable man - if he bowed to God, and he is more pious than any of us alive today - why shouldn't we actually do the same to show our gratitude to God?

If we are sincerely thankful and submit by obeying the Messenger - we are rewarded in this life and the next, but if we're ungrateful for all the good God has given us, why should He reward us with more in the hereafter if we were ungrateful and proved our ungratefulness [by disobeying Him] in this life?



2) The Message is clear and apparent, yet rejecting it would mean that you are taking God's message in jest, almost like a joke. Would God really be pleased with that? I don't think He would.



3) Who decides what is good or bad? you? your culture? Or God Himself?

Decent is How God percieves it, i can say i'm a decent person yet someone might disagree with me. That's because all cultures differ; this is the reason why God sends revelation to His Messengers' - on issues where mankind differed - so they could unite upon something together and therefore be at peace with one another.




Regards.