# Why do so many people still believe in God?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [April 17, 2022, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965 "2022-04-17T20:24:15Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 30
### Author:  [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/581 "2024-02-02T13:52:05Z")
> [@kanicbird](#):
>
> Curious of what is your take on a person having an experience like Paul (of the Bible) had? That the Lord came to him directly.
Why’s _that_ dude get the special treatment?
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### Author:  [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/582 "2024-02-02T13:57:43Z")
And why do we have so many examples of the dude that got the special treatment being the founder of a religion?
It’s almost as if there’s a scam involved here, mostly involving long walks on hot roads, trips to the Moon on flying horses, golden plates, and E meters.
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### Author:  [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/583 "2024-02-02T14:05:28Z")
> [@kanicbird](#):
>
> Curious of what is your take on a person having an experience like Paul (of the Bible) had? That the Lord came to him directly
> **[Schizophrenia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia)**
>
> Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by reoccurring episodes of psychosis that are correlated with a general misperception of reality. Other common signs include hallucinations (typically hearing voices), delusions (i.e., paranoia), disorganized thinking, social withdrawal, and flat affect. Symptoms develop gradually and typically begin during young adulthood and are never resolved. There is no objective diagnostic test; diagnosis is based on observed behavior, a ps About 0.3% to 0...
> **[Psilocybin mushroom](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybin_mushroom)**
>
> Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain psilocybin, which turns into psilocin upon ingestion. Biological genera containing psilocybin mushrooms include Psilocybe, Panaeolus (including Copelandia), Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina.
> Amongst other cultural applications, psilocybin mushrooms are used as recreational drugs. They may be depicted in Stone Age rock art in Africa and Europe, but are more cer...
> **[Ergot](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergot)**
>
> About 50, including:
> Claviceps africana
> Claviceps fusiformis
> Claviceps paspali
> Claviceps purpurea
> Claviceps sorghi
> Claviceps zizaniae
> Claviceps lutea
> Ergot (/ˈɜːrɡət/ UR-gət) or ergot fungi refers to a group of fungi of the genus Claviceps.
> The most prominent member of this group is Claviceps purpurea ("rye ergot fungus"). This fungus grows on rye and related plants, and produces alkaloids that can cause ergotism in humans and other mammals who consume grains contaminated with its fruiting st...
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### Author:  [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/584 "2024-02-02T14:09:12Z")
PTSD,
> **[Dissociation, trauma and the experience of visual hallucinations in...](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9885325/)**
>
> Dissociative behaviours and hallucinations are often reported in trauma-exposed people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Auditory hallucinations are the most commonly reported type of hallucination, but...
If we believe Paul’s stories about his pre-conversion activities.
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### Author:  [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/585 "2024-02-02T14:12:17Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#):
>
> It’s almost as if there’s a scam involved here, mostly involving long walks on hot roads, trips to the Moon on flying horses, golden plates, and E meters.
Or, counterpoint, God does not what to provide hard evidence but have people find God personally.
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### Author:  [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/586 "2024-02-02T14:18:47Z")
Umm, the god of Christianity made a number of personal appearances in the Old Testament . . . sadly, a time before cameras were invented, funny that.
Also, I’ve been assured many, many, times that God does provide hard evidence . . . ‘Look at the trees!’
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/587 "2024-02-02T17:28:14Z")
Generational childhood indoctrination is the biggest factor IMHO.
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### Author:  [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/588 "2024-02-02T17:34:46Z")
I love that thingy, If all of science and religion were wiped from human knowledge only one would be recreated and be what we currently have.
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/589 "2024-02-02T17:41:21Z")
I believe that as well. We’d eventually come back to Newton’s laws and relativity and quantum physics, but the religious would be worshiping albino wombat gods of some such thing we cannot even imagine.
But, one exception is I bet they’d start worshipping the sun again, for a time. That big yellow bastard will still be there!
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### Author:  [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/590 "2024-02-02T17:44:50Z")
> [@kayaker](#):
>
> Hallucinations, drug use, mental illness all are things I’d consider before OMG, Hallelujah!
This would seem to indicate you would not rule out OMG all-together. What would be that point where the OMG part starts to compete as a top answer?
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/591 "2024-02-02T18:03:45Z")
> [@kanicbird](#):
>
> What would be that point where the OMG part starts to compete as a top answer?
Mental illness just seems so much more likely an explanation. I don’t shave, but if I did I’d use Occam’s razor.
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### Author:  [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/592 "2024-02-02T18:18:29Z")
> [@kayaker](#):
>
> I don’t shave, but if I did I’d use Occam’s razor.
I hope there is understanding on the razor’s limits and intended usage. Use the razor in other ways may result in undesirable operation and could void warrantee.
You made your case for the first pass with the razor above, whcih I can understand that, but that does not answer my question unless you are going beyond manufacture’s recommendations which sort of void’s it’s use.
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/593 "2024-02-02T20:11:35Z")
> [@Jay\_Z](#):
>
> If you are outside space and time you aren’t necessarily going to be observing time elapse in any earthly sense.
No time? So, no harp playing then. I never could keep time anyway. And how do you keep an eye on the earth and your loved ones? Plus, appropriately given the day, with no time it must be Groundhog Day forever.
Sounds even worse.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/594 "2024-02-02T20:18:01Z")
“Outside space and time”.
Like Candyland, Narnia, Oz etc.? This term is merely a placeholder for an actual explanation, an alternate way of saying “I don’t know”.
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### Author:  [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/595 "2024-02-02T20:32:53Z")
An alternate way of saying nonexistent.
Pretty much all descriptions of god(s) require the describer to have knowledge of things outside of the known Universe (outside of the galaxy really) a place that we have no evidence even exists. Curiously, exactly like Candyland, Narnia, Oz etc. One can only speculate as to what all these places have in common.
Clearly, they can’t all _just_ be the product of human imagination.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/596 "2024-02-02T20:35:42Z")
Tell me again how a type of salt that nobody has seen and nobody can find influences the flavor of my soup?
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### Author:  [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/597 "2024-02-02T20:39:48Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#):
>
> self-congratulatory atheism love-fest which sheds no light at all upon the subject
And, as written by the prophet @Ulfreida, it has come to pass as foretold.
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### Author:  [@Jay\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jay_Z)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/598 "2024-02-02T21:12:27Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> Outside space and time”.
> Like Candyland, Narnia, Oz etc.? This term is merely a placeholder for an actual explanation, an alternate way of saying “I don’t know”.
If a god can invent a universe, then the time that passes is passing in that universe. Not outside the universe. So if someone dies and their soul goes to wherever, outside the physical universe, they aren’t going to be sitting watching that universe in real time necessarily. Maybe someone else would die 30 years later and it would be as if no time at all had passed in the heaven place.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/599 "2024-02-02T21:15:39Z")
Outside the universe? You can use that term 'till the cows come home, but it just does not explain itself.
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### Author:  [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-still-believe-in-god/962965/600 "2024-02-02T21:18:05Z")
Are you saying cows are from outside the universe? Because I’ve eaten ice cream from a non euclidean carton and I have some thoughts on the matter.
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