Why do some people have religous beliefs?

Because those people need it. Plain and simple. Whether because they were raised to need it or because they have grown to need it doesn't matter. It's just a need. 

HackettFan wrote: I think the reason we have religious beliefs primarily cultural. To me it is only secondarily to satisfy an internal need or inspiration. This is not to say that it's not a very real inspiration for those who have become thoroughly enculturated (you mean enslaved, right??)  by it. I'm just saying that it's the end result of a lifetime of influences.

dr wu23 wrote: After some thought perhaps the better question would be, why do some people not have religious beliefs lice & tiques since the majority on earth probably do.

Edited by Sean Trane - October 26 2015 at 04:15

dr wu23 wrote: After some thought perhaps the better question would be, why do some people not have religious beliefs since the majority on earth probably do.

What if the 'answer' is not so great?   Or just dull?   What if there's an afterlife which is no different than normal tangible life?   What if we are more-or-less who we always will be?




Edited by Atavachron - October 25 2015 at 18:01

 I think the answer to the question is the same as to why people have beliefs at all (not just Judeo-Christian beliefs).

There are many answers because there are many reasons for different people. It can be a cultural thing, or a traditional thing. Or a psychological need, which may enable some kind of self therapy for people.

There can philosophical reasons. I think we can agree that humans only have a very small bit of knowledge compared to what is unknown. And the unknown is reality. How do you acknowledge the unknown(reality) - by ignoring it - since it is unknown , or by forming beliefs or ideas around it? It is human nature to be able to have a concept of the unknown. Kind of similar to have an idea of the future or the past.

No matter what extent of knowledge we have, we do exist. So if we believe in ourselves we have to believe in the unknown.

But it's not just a belief in an unknown reality, it is related to ideas on what is meaningful, good and bad etc. I I don't think these things should be called "needs".

The alternative is to believe that there is no such thing as meaningfulness. That is a radical materialistic way of thinking, where there is no substance to empathy or compassion and such things. I think western culture today is pretty nihilistic. Personal success and money is what counts. There is no real worth to things, so everything becomes light entertainment in a system of consumerism and money making. There is no room for inspiration and creativity that isn't adapted to satisfy the expectations of the consumers. The only thing going forward is technology. I believe there is a lot of anxiety behind peoples motivations, because of norms and ideals that influence them.

We live in a reality, we have a self conscious intellect, that's why we can have beliefs around everything, both of what seems self-evident and what seems less obvious.

After some thought perhaps the better question would be, why do some people not have religious beliefs since the majority on earth probably do.

I think the reason we have religious beliefs primarily cultural. To me it is only secondarily to satisfy an internal need or inspiration. This is not to say that it's not a very real inspiration for those who have become thoroughly enculturated by it. I'm just saying that it's the end result of a lifetime of influences.

Edited by HackettFan - October 25 2015 at 15:59

why not

A broad question perhaps, but why do some of us believe or have the need to believe in a God, an afterlife, redemption and all that goes along with Judeo-Christian beliefs?