Should I pretend

[gh78]

I do not believe in God and can't understand why people do apart from wishful thinking. Believing in God creates a sense of purpose and meaning so rather than trying to dissuade people from this view should try to persuade them?

[Fallibleone]

You said you don't understand why people believe in God and then go on to give a reason why people believe in God. I'm not quite sure what you are asking. Should you pretend to believe in God? No. Should you try and dissuade people from belief in God? I dunno. If they're not trying to push their views on others, probably not. You could always find a debating forum and exchange your views with theirs, so at least they are aware of one alternative out of many...hey wait a minute, this is a debating forum!!

[McCulloch]

I'll interpret the subject, "Should I pretend" as one question for debate.

No, you should not pretend. You have but one life and to pretend that is it something that it is not removes any possibility that you might find in it.

I do not believe in God and can't understand why people do apart from wishful thinking.

When you cut through all of the crap, that is what you end up with, isn't it?

Believing in God creates a sense of purpose and meaning so rather than trying to dissuade people from this view should try to persuade them?

No, because it gives them a false sense of purpose and prevents them from creating their own purpose.

[Goat]

Believing in God creates a sense of purpose and meaning so rather than trying to dissuade people from this view should try to persuade them?

No, because it gives them a false sense of purpose and prevents them from creating their own purpose.

How is believing in god any more of a 'false' sense of purpose than any purpose of someone who 'creates their own'?

[McCulloch]

Believing in God creates a sense of purpose and meaning so rather than trying to dissuade people from this view should try to persuade them?

No, because it gives them a false sense of purpose and prevents them from creating their own purpose.

How is believing in god any more of a 'false' sense of purpose than any purpose of someone who 'creates their own'?

The humanist idea about one's sense of purpose must be based on what we can know about the universe. God is at best an hypothesis and more likely a false one. Basing one's purpose in life on such a shaky foundation is not a recipe for achieving one's purpose. Purpose is not something that is out there to be found or to be discovered. The universe is completely indifferent to our existence. At the end of it all, it will all end. So the only legitimate purpose you can have for your life is the one you create for yourself.

[Goat]

Believing in God creates a sense of purpose and meaning so rather than trying to dissuade people from this view should try to persuade them?

No, because it gives them a false sense of purpose and prevents them from creating their own purpose.

How is believing in god any more of a 'false' sense of purpose than any purpose of someone who 'creates their own'?

The humanist idea about one's sense of purpose must be based on what we can know about the universe. God is at best an hypothesis and more likely a false one. Basing one's purpose in life on such a shaky foundation is not a recipe for achieving one's purpose. Purpose is not something that is out there to be found or to be discovered. The universe is completely indifferent to our existence. At the end of it all, it will all end. So the only legitimate purpose you can have for your life is the one you create for yourself.

That is a statement of opinion. But, why? If someone finds a purpose, does it matter if it is based on one illusion or another. Every person's purpose is based on their own personal beliefs anyway, and all personal beliefs are subjective, why should it matter if a purpose is based on one illusion held, or another illusion?

[McCulloch]

That is a statement of opinion. But, why? If someone finds a purpose, does it matter if it is based on one illusion or another. Every person's purpose is based on their own personal beliefs anyway, and all personal beliefs are subjective, why should it matter if a purpose is based on one illusion held, or another illusion?

But the purpose of life should not be based on any illusion. Base it only on what can be known.

[Goat]

That is a statement of opinion. But, why? If someone finds a purpose, does it matter if it is based on one illusion or another. Every person's purpose is based on their own personal beliefs anyway, and all personal beliefs are subjective, why should it matter if a purpose is based on one illusion held, or another illusion?

But the purpose of life should not be based on any illusion. Base it only on what can be known.

That is your statement of belief. That is the illusion you hold. And, it works for you.

But, why should others subscribe to it?

[Flail]

I think we too often confuse God and Religion....I have noticed on many occasion that when I indicate to someone that I am not a Christian they respond by saying something like "How can you not believe in God?"....to which I reply...." How did the issue of whether I believe in God get into this conversation?"

It seems that Christianity has become so accepted in the common culture as "good'...that many people adopt it or profess it for reasons of acceptance and popularity...and if you ignore the teachings of Jesus and just adopt the Christianity of Paul and the Church, it is a pretty easy sell....you will be saved, chosen and blessed....just say you believe....

It is much easier to be 'Christian' and thought of as a good person than to actually 'Be" a good person.

Jesus is not a Christian

Turn the churches into soup kitchens

[Flail]

I think that the most important thing we can be is authentic to our thoughts...and avoid conformity and adopting someone else's belief system because it is popular or so that you will look good and be accepted or thought of as a good person.

"To thine own self be true and then as surely as night follows day, thou canst not be false to any man."

William Shakespeare