Boss
Take a Memo:
I think the OP asks a really good question, one that should be turned around and asked of the 'geniuses' who are atheists. They have obviously proven the Bible is a book of contradictions and myths, so why is it so many people still believe in it? In fact, let me take this a step further, forget the question about why isn't everyone an atheist, why are only about one in ten people atheist? Why does 95% of our species hold belief in something greater than self? People can dispute that statistic all they like, only 5% identify as Nihilists (belief in nothing), which leaves 95% who believe in something, whether it can be defined as religious or whatever. Even in Sweden, the most atheistic country in the world at 33%, only 16% are willing to say they believe in no possibility of anything spiritual or greater than self. If it's all a load of crap, why so many believers?
I've heard many atheists argue that man had to create religions to "explain the unexplained" and to "console fears of mortality." However, I find these arguments to be baseless, unproven and actually contradictory to nature itself. Nothing else in nature "fears mortality" to the point of having to invent an imaginary friend to cope, and we are supposed to be the most advanced intelligence. Then there is the logic of cause and effect... Do people who "believe" gain immortality? It doesn't appear so, they live and die like everyone else, so we can safely say that our "created to cope with mortality" solution isn't working, if that was indeed what religion was about. And if religion is supposed to suffice for "explaining the unexplained" then why was science invented? Obviously we can see that science has done a very good job at explaining the unexplained, much better than religion or faith. So with the advent of a superior way to explain the unexplained, you'd think religion would have fallen out of favor through the years. But nope... still around, still predominate, still persisting in the hearts of mankind worldwide.
In fact, our history is full of wars and persecution of people over religious beliefs. Millions have died as martyrs for their religious beliefs, which seems strange if they adopted them out of fear of mortality. We roll out of the Dark Ages where half the people met the consequences of the mortality they feared in spite of their religions, with science boldly blazing the way to enlightenment and knowledge for all, but still... over thousands more years people are slaughtered in the name of religious beliefs. No closer to immortality and with all kinds of questions of the unknown answered, humans remain devoutly spiritual creatures. 95% still believe in something greater than self.
So why is this, Mr. Atheist? What's your explanation for why everyone isn't an atheist? Or for why only about one in ten are atheists? If everything you claim to believe is true, it makes no sense whatsoever. Hence, the reason and motivation for this thread. It must be frustrating to be an atheist and not be able to rationalize why everyone else doesn't see things your way. You've so clearly figured it all out, you have all the answers as well as an Internet full of sycophants and cheerleaders, but still.... those religious people just keep on coming.
Allow me to enlighten you a bit... Humans are spiritual creatures. We have an intrinsic spiritual awareness which is actually the foundational cornerstone of an attribute we define as "humanity." All the things that make us unique from the rest of living nature comes from our ability to comprehend our spiritual nature. It is mankind's ability to muster courage, resolve, imagination, ingenuity, creativity and hope, through our awareness of something greater than ourselves, which has led to the rise of our species to present glory. All of us have this ability to tap into power outside of our person, and this realization forms the basis for our spirituality.
Argument can be had over Religion. We must understand that Religion is a byproduct of our human spirituality and proves we do have this and it's real. However, religions are creations of man in an attempt to try and comprehend this mercurial power we are intrinsically aware of. Men are flawed. Therefore, the religions they create are also flawed, and there is nothing we can do about it other than to accept it.
I've heard many atheists argue that man had to create religions to "explain the unexplained" and to "console fears of mortality." However, I find these arguments to be baseless, unproven and actually contradictory to nature itself. Nothing else in nature "fears mortality" to the point of having to invent an imaginary friend to cope, and we are supposed to be the most advanced intelligence. Then there is the logic of cause and effect... Do people who "believe" gain immortality? It doesn't appear so, they live and die like everyone else, so we can safely say that our "created to cope with mortality" solution isn't working, if that was indeed what religion was about. And if religion is supposed to suffice for "explaining the unexplained" then why was science invented? Obviously we can see that science has done a very good job at explaining the unexplained, much better than religion or faith. So with the advent of a superior way to explain the unexplained, you'd think religion would have fallen out of favor through the years. But nope... still around, still predominate, still persisting in the hearts of mankind worldwide.
In fact, our history is full of wars and persecution of people over religious beliefs. Millions have died as martyrs for their religious beliefs, which seems strange if they adopted them out of fear of mortality. We roll out of the Dark Ages where half the people met the consequences of the mortality they feared in spite of their religions, with science boldly blazing the way to enlightenment and knowledge for all, but still... over thousands more years people are slaughtered in the name of religious beliefs. No closer to immortality and with all kinds of questions of the unknown answered, humans remain devoutly spiritual creatures. 95% still believe in something greater than self.
So why is this, Mr. Atheist? What's your explanation for why everyone isn't an atheist? Or for why only about one in ten are atheists? If everything you claim to believe is true, it makes no sense whatsoever. Hence, the reason and motivation for this thread. It must be frustrating to be an atheist and not be able to rationalize why everyone else doesn't see things your way. You've so clearly figured it all out, you have all the answers as well as an Internet full of sycophants and cheerleaders, but still.... those religious people just keep on coming.
Allow me to enlighten you a bit... Humans are spiritual creatures. We have an intrinsic spiritual awareness which is actually the foundational cornerstone of an attribute we define as "humanity." All the things that make us unique from the rest of living nature comes from our ability to comprehend our spiritual nature. It is mankind's ability to muster courage, resolve, imagination, ingenuity, creativity and hope, through our awareness of something greater than ourselves, which has led to the rise of our species to present glory. All of us have this ability to tap into power outside of our person, and this realization forms the basis for our spirituality.
Argument can be had over Religion. We must understand that Religion is a byproduct of our human spirituality and proves we do have this and it's real. However, religions are creations of man in an attempt to try and comprehend this mercurial power we are intrinsically aware of. Men are flawed. Therefore, the religions they create are also flawed, and there is nothing we can do about it other than to accept it.
~ Susan
