One for the believers out there…. And I
want you to really think about it before you answer. Don’t just come out with your normal ‘knee-jerk’
response to an atheist asking this question.
There is no hidden agenda here, I’m not trying to trap you in anyway,
your response will not be used against you.
In fact, you don’t even have to say it out loud or write it in the
comments. Answer it for yourself, to
yourself, but! Be honest, think about
it, ponder it then and only then answer the question.
This question goes out to all religions and beliefs, if
you’re a Jew, Muslim, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Mormon, C of E, Protestant
- you guys all basically believe the same thing in different ways anyway and spend
so much time arguing or fighting over it. Also Hindu’s, Sheik’s and Buddhists (well,
sort of Buddhists – no real ‘god’ belief there). Whoever you are, and who or whatever you
believe in this question is for you.
I think it’s an important question, one that bothers atheists
a lot although maybe they don’t think about it as much as you should.
Most western civilizations have some fairy story or
another that we are told as children, a story or character that it is important
for us to believe in. As a child our
parents and other adults wish us to believe whole heartedly in these things,
these stories, these people. As we grow
older the reality comes to light either slowly or as a shock. Maybe another child has worked it out or maybe
your parents think it’s time they let you in on the secret. These are beliefs that we are allowed or even
expected to drop or lose as we get older.
It seems to become ridiculous as an adult to believe in these things,
things that we once wholeheartedly loved and cherished.
I don’t know if there are equivalent stories or characters
that fall into this category in other parts of the world but I suspect there
are. Whether or not there is, it still
makes this question valid.
Now please bear in mind as you are thinking about the
answer to this question that ‘because I do’ is not a valid answer to any
question outside of the nursery school playground – I ask this of adults,
adults with free will, even if their bodies or opinions are not allowed to be
free.
It seems that there are more and more ‘non-believers’ in
the world whether they refer to themselves as atheist or agnostic or some other
name. Some even face abuse or even death
by coming out publicly. Some disowned by
family and friend’s others threatened by their religion or state. This is a worrying state of affairs for a society
that should be by this time in its existence be far more enlightened or
educated.
And so to the question, it’s quite a simple question but
the answer is probably quite complicated (or is it?)
Why do you believe in whatever
you believe in?
