# Why do I believe in God? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 26, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073 "2014-04-26T20:15:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/21 "2014-04-26T21:44:42Z")
So the world is built on gender stereotypes? And I was really hoping it would be turtles. Oh well, I guess all we can do is really just to randomly pick a story that sounds good to us and stick with it, maybe it’ll turn out to be right. You win some, you loose some, that’s how it goes. Of course, you could also do that whole critically examining your beliefs and seeing how they hold up against evidence thing, but hey, that sounds too much like work. And in the end, all your nice stories might turn out to be wrong! Can’t risk that. Science doesn’t have all the answers either. Not that I’ve checked—too much work and all—but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. But really, your story’s as good as mine, I’m tolerant like that. That’s what sets me apart from the sciencey folks, always with the facts and stuff. I just say hey, maybe that’s your story, but it’s not mine! Facts are just, like, your opinion. And I’ve got my own opinion. But yours is cool, too. Tolerance, see. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/22 "2014-04-26T21:58:45Z")
> [@Nederwiet420](#): > > And then there is the Divine Yin-Yang. > [@jsgoddess](#): > > I LOLed. I can’t even deny it. I’ve had many comments on my Ying-Yang, but “divine” is not among them. Pity, I think that would be a rather nice compliment. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/23 "2014-04-26T22:22:40Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > I’ve had many comments on my Ying-Yang, but “divine” is not among them. > Pity, I think that would be a rather nice compliment. Divine secrets of the yin-yang sisterhood. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/24 "2014-04-26T23:52:29Z")
> [@Nederwiet420](#): > > Because you don’t agree, because Science does not agree, am I supposed to live my life by YOUR value system simply because you think you’re right? > > Ironically, this is the same attitude held by many religious zealots – it’s our way or else! The difference is, in the case of science the “or else” is enforced by the universe, which doesn’t care in the slightest what you believe. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/25 "2014-04-27T00:55:42Z")
So what is the OP’s argument? Are we to take the position that none of that is why he believes in God? And why should we care? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/26 "2014-04-27T01:13:37Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > Divine secrets of the yin-yang sisterhood. LOL! For the record I’m a dude. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nederwiet420](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a88e4f/32.png) [@Nederwiet420](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nederwiet420)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/27 "2014-04-27T01:20:18Z")
> [@randompattern](#): > > The problem, is that it never stops there. > One of the main objectives of religion is to recruit others into your way of thinking. > Multiply that by hundreds of other religions who believe in something other than your unicorn and the fighting starts. I can agree with that but I am not trying to “recruit” anyone. And I will be the first to admit that much blood has been shed over “Religious” interpretations of the world. Maybe that makes me unique among those who believe there is Something Else to this Existence. I believe in peace and compassion and I don’t agree with anyone who uses “Religion” to justify murder, slavery or any other type of Control or Oppression. But I believe people should be allowed to arrive at their own conclusions, whether or not such conclusions fit into anyone else’s view of the Universe. People should be allowed to believe what they want, without persecution. > [@panache45](#): > > So what is the OP’s argument? Are we to take the position that none of that is why he believes in God? And why should we care? You shouldn’t care. I don’t care if you care or not. I believe in God simply because I believe there must be Something Else to this Existence. I believe in God based solely on my own personal experiences. If there really is Nothing Else and we all just “fade to dust”, then my beliefs really won’t matter anyway. But I don’t believe that. 🙂 Here’s some fuel for your fire: My handle is Nederwiet420. I got it from Cecil’s post: [Is marijuana stronger than it used to be? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3047/is-marijuana-stronger-than-it-used-to-be) I’m surprised no one has yet made the dope connection. DUUUUUUUUUUUUDE… what are you smoking?!? 🙂 Peace. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/28 "2014-04-27T01:23:01Z")
> [@Nederwiet420](#): > > Why do I believe in God? > There are basically two aspects to Creation: the Divine Masculine and the Divine Feminine. > > The Divine Masculine is what we call Science. > He analyzes. He measures. He weighs. He is only interested in Objective Reality. > Anything which cannot be objectified and measured is irrelevant (or at least unimportant). > He says God is not necessary because there are many (perhaps infinite) possible lives and living conditions. > Your own life (and even this planet) is “insignificant” because it is only one of quadrillions of possible lives (or planets or universes). > The universe and your life are basically the result of random forces – there is no “meaning” to any of it. > Therefore, Science is all you need to understand this world and this life. > > The Divine Feminine is what we call Religion. > She doesn’t measure or analyze anything. She feels. She experiences. > She says Subjective Reality is just as (or maybe more) important than Objective Reality. > She says God _IS_ necessary because even though there may be an infinite number of possible living conditions, every single one of those has an EXPERIENTIAL aspect to it. > God is necessary because everyone is where they are because of their past choices and actions, and God determines into which life you are born. > There is a huge difference between being born into the United States versus North Korea. > Ultimately, nothing is random and there _IS_ meaning to life and the universe. > Therefore, Religion is necessary to understand those aspects of life which cannot be objectified. > > And then there is the Divine Yin-Yang. > That is God (or at least a metaphor for God). > God is the ultimate integration of BOTH the Divine Masculine and the Divine Feminine. > God is Enlightenment. God is True Understanding. God is ALL. > This life, this universe and all that we know or perhaps can know is merely a speck in the mind of God. > Science and Religion each are at most only HALF the picture – integration is the key to unlock the WHOLE. > > As Einstein so eloquently put it, “Science without Religion is lame, Religion without Science is blind.” > > That is why I believe in God. You’re thinking too hard. Grow a vegetable garden. Come harvest time, you’ll know who to thank. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/29 "2014-04-27T01:35:20Z")
> [@Nederwiet420](#): > > I can agree with that but I am not trying to “recruit” anyone. Good for you, but you still expressed your opinion in a public forum, inviting commentary and risking ridicule and mockery. ---
**Author:** ![Nederwiet420](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a88e4f/32.png) [@Nederwiet420](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nederwiet420)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/30 "2014-04-27T01:37:10Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Good for you, but you still expressed your opinion in a public forum, inviting commentary and risking ridicule and mockery. Yeah, I know. It comes with the territory. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/31 "2014-04-27T01:41:45Z")
> [@Nederwiet420](#): > > Mostly Buddhism because it respects most religious practices as long as they’re based in peace and compassion. You’re a Buddhist who believes there’s a God running the universe according to a plan? ---
**Author:** ![Hector\_St\_Clare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@Hector\_St\_Clare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hector_St_Clare)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/32 "2014-04-27T01:45:09Z")
> [@Nederwiet420](#): > > Mostly Buddhism because it respects most religious practices as long as they’re based in peace and compassion. However, I have studied Hinduism and Christianity and find great insights in those as well. The Sinhalese death squads beg to disagree with you. The histories of Tibet, Japan, Thailand and modern-day Burma aren’t notably peaceful either. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/33 "2014-04-27T01:53:09Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > You’re a Buddhist who believes there’s a God running the universe according to a plan? 😃 Hey, my sister is a “Catholic” who believes in reincarnation. ---
**Author:** ![Nederwiet420](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a88e4f/32.png) [@Nederwiet420](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nederwiet420)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/34 "2014-04-27T01:58:11Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > You’re a Buddhist who believes there’s a God running the universe according to a plan? Yes, actually I do, no matter how “anti-Buddhist” that might sound. Everyone has Free Will and everyone has to answer for their actions. It is not “hate”, it is not “vengeance”, it is not “retribution”. It is simply that everyone will be held accountable for their actions. You decide where you will end up – based on your actions. > [@Hector\_St\_Clare](#): > > The Sinhalese death squads beg to disagree with you. > > The histories of Tibet, Japan, Thailand and modern-day Burma aren’t notably peaceful either. I can’t help that. I don’t condone such activities. I don’t agree with violence. But it doesn’t make me think there is some Angry God who only wants to “punish” everyone. God is LOVE but, like a caring parent, if you make a mistake, you might just be “grounded” for awhile so you can learn from your mistake. It’s all about taking RESPONSIBILITY for your own life and your own actions. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/35 "2014-04-27T02:04:31Z")
> [@Nederwiet420](#): > > Why do I believe in God? > There are basically two aspects to Creation: the Divine Masculine and the Divine Feminine. > > The Divine Masculine is what we call Science. > He analyzes. He measures. He weighs. He is only interested in Objective Reality. > Anything which cannot be objectified and measured is irrelevant (or at least unimportant). > He says God is not necessary because there are many (perhaps infinite) possible lives and living conditions. > Your own life (and even this planet) is “insignificant” because it is only one of quadrillions of possible lives (or planets or universes). > The universe and your life are basically the result of random forces – there is no “meaning” to any of it. > Therefore, Science is all you need to understand this world and this life. Well, here’s a key mistake you’ve made. Science doesn’t deal in matters of significance or meaning. Those are subjective values. There’s no scientific test for whether your life is significant, or has meaning. The scientific method can demonstrate _objective_, material claims, such as the number of other galaxies. If what you draw from that is that your life is meaningless, that’s a subjective choice you’ve made, it’s got nothing to do with the scientific method. ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/36 "2014-04-27T02:21:06Z")
> [@Nederwiet420](#): > > Everyone has Free Will and everyone has to answer for their actions. > It is not “hate”, it is not “vengeance”, it is not “retribution”. > It is simply that everyone will be held accountable for their actions. > You decide where you will end up – based on your actions. I have decided I won’t be punished or rewarded after I die. > [@Nederwiet420](#): > > But it doesn’t make me think there is some Angry God who only wants to “punish” everyone. > God is LOVE but, like a caring parent, if you make a mistake, you might just be “grounded” for awhile so you can learn from your mistake. > > It’s all about taking RESPONSIBILITY for your own life and your own actions. By taking responsibility for my own life and my own actions there is no need for an imaginary deity to judge me, reward me, or punish me. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/37 "2014-04-27T02:29:11Z")
> [@Nederwiet420](#): > > Yes, actually I do, no matter how “anti-Buddhist” that might sound. > Everyone has Free Will and everyone has to answer for their actions. > It is not “hate”, it is not “vengeance”, it is not “retribution”. > It is simply that everyone will be held accountable for their actions. > You decide where you will end up – based on your actions. Are you aware that one of the central tenets of Buddhism is to try to get out of the system you’ve described? Buddhists don’t regard the cycle of Samsara as a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/38 "2014-04-27T02:34:54Z")
Death: Humans need fantasy to _be_ human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape. Susan: With tooth fairies? Hogfathers? Death: Yes. As practice, you have to start out learning to believe the little lies. Susan: So we can believe the big ones? Death: Yes. Justice, mercy, duty. That sort of thing. Susan: They’re not the same at all. Death: You think so? Then take the universe and grind it down to the finest powder, and sieve it through the finest sieve, and then show me one atom of justice, one molecule of mercy. And yet, you try to act as if there is some ideal order in the world. As if there is some, some rightness in the universe, by which it may be judged. Susan: But people have got to believe that, or what’s the point? Death: You need to believe in things that aren’t true. How else can they become? Marcus Cole: I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, ‘wouldn’t it be much worse if life _were_ fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them?’ So now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/39 "2014-04-27T02:35:58Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > You’re thinking too hard. Grow a vegetable garden. Come harvest time, you’ll know who to thank. The virgin sacrifice whose blood was shed to ensure a good harvest, _obviously._ ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073/40 "2014-04-27T02:51:38Z")
**Nederwiet420** - you’ve told us “why” you believe - you have yet to tell me why it’s important to you to announde that you believe OR why I should care that you believe - or why I should care at all. Bully for you that you believe - enjoy the cookies . [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-believe-in-god/687073.md?page=3)