Do We Need To Believe In Something ?

[modeller]

A believer recently told me he believes in God, despite lack of proof because he has an inner need to.

[Khandro]

mikey; The link doesn't work, but no matter, I used to like Dave Allen, but a comedian with a serious drink problem might not be the best source of spiritual enlightenment.

[woofgang]

"But I don't think I can add anything more to what I have already said, on this thread and many, many others.”

well in that case....you could errm...you know......shut up about it?

[mikey4444]

Sorry woofy...I watched it myself but I don't know why it won't work here....perhaps one our pointy heads can help ?

[mikey4444]

Sorry...last post was meant for Khandro !

Woofy....keen on stifling debate are we ?

[wildwood]

OP. No, we do not need to believe in a god. If anyone does then that is their choice. We all grow up and in our teens decide whether to follow a religion or not.

I could spend all day offering examples of ridiculous claims that made me see the light. The most stupid one to me is when it is proclaimed that a baby is a gift from god, but if that child is born with any sort of abnormality or even if the infant dies, it is believed that god has special plans for that child. How unbelievable is that? If you think that is a good and kind god than I feel sorry for you.

[mikey4444]

wildwood......that will be one of those "God moves in mysterious ways" occasions I expect.

[jomifl]

Why does he have to test our faith in such cruel ways? It isn't as if once we have maintained our faith after some horrible occurrance he (god) then puts it all right ....he never does ...possibly because he doesn't exist?

[mikey4444]

Jom...if this God does exist, he must be an extraordinarily cruel and vengeful God.

[mikey4444]

Stephen Fry has it just right here !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-d4otHE-YI

[bhg481]

I must say I used the Stephen Fry argument to a Jehovah's Witness who came to our door, using the case of a person close to me who had sufferred from dementia in his last days after living a life doing a lot of unpaid public service; there is no disease more cruel than dementia. A god which will do that is cruel and heartless, not to mention stupid; it seems you can behave how you like all your life and then repent at the last minute and be forgivenáccording to the clerics. OK.

[Khandro]

mikey; You have some very strange religious rôle models!

[mikey4444]

Khandro....then counter Fry's argument !

[Khandro]

First a comedian then a pederast; no thanks

[jomifl]

The advantage of faith is that not only is logic not necessary the more irrational your faith the stronger your faith is. This is either a very clever philosophical trick or the last resort of the intellectually challenged. Any argument can be countered by simply by saying 'you don't have faith'.

[Khandro]

"Stephen Fry: the high-priest of juvenile atheism"

[Khandro]

jomifl; OK buster, you asked for it! - 'you don't have faith'.

[vulcan42]

How can atheism have a priest, high or any other level?

[Zacs-Master]

At last! Someone has defined why arguing in this section is pointless. I shal refer to it as the book of Jom chapter 10:37.