Certainly, to believe in God is not in fashion. Further, believing can even be seen as something questionable. Why don't people believe in God? I am trying to point out some of the main reasons in this article. Is believing worth the pain? I am trying to include some of the advantages of having Someone Holy to cling to, as well. You will have to do the rest, as it has always been hard to talk about God.
One of the most powerful reasons to reject the existence of a supreme being is the fact that, since the dawn of time, man has invented magical or religious reasons to explain what his primitive mind could not explain; gods that, obviously, disappeared as science began to solve the pertaining mysteries. Need an example? Man has already discovered that the Earth is round and that rotation is what brings us night and day. It would be silly to believe that the sun is still carried in and out by a god in a carriage.
People reject both religion and the existence of God based on this, even though the strong religions are not based in man's imagination but in a given form of direct revelation (like Abraham's and Muhammad's ones).
The second most powerful reason to reject the existence of god is the ironic fact that, though God is supposed to be a good being, there is a lot of evil in the world, including diseases, injustice, people suffering, cruelty, abuse and a very large etcetera. People seem to agree on the fact that churches and religious communities should spend more time and resources in solving the world's problems as a way to prove that God really exists. To this, believers reply stating that every person is responsible for helping the world become a better place and not only them. The truth is that, while they continue discussing, millions of people continue suffering.
The third point is more delicate. Non-believers think that religions have very castrating moral codes. They state that, in the 21st century, it is silly to think that sex should wait until marriage or that one has to stop doing what they have to do to attend religious services or pray, just to mention two examples of how religion cuts the freedom of the people and their right to make their own mistakes and learn from them. Believers' reply to the above-mentioned points stating that sex should wait until marriage because that way any baby procreated would properly be born within a family that will be able to care of him or her; stating that the frequent attendance of religious services keeps believers close to good moral standards against an insane world; and stating that, though it is correct that people have the right to choose, it is not very intelligent to feel the need to make the same mistakes other people have made to be able to learn from them. Apart from these points, both believers and non-believers seem to agree that things such as lying or murdering are definitely wrong. Ironically non-believers contemplate the possibility of committing certain sins once in a while, according to the circumstances, and believers do not.
Another very strong point of debate now. People recognize religions as great hypocrites because they have committed very scandalous sins. Some examples of these are the crusades or the purchase of forgiveness (indulgences) during the Middle Ages, plus the fact many heads of religious communities have stolen money, raped children or done other atrocities. To this, the churches respond that it is true that many horrendous things have been done along history, yet this is not an excuse to state the whole religion is wrong.
Now, the last point I am going to mention in this article. A lot of people do not believe in God because they see how attendants are drained from their money or asked to do things just because they are members of a community. To this, they reply that who do these are not religions but sects, and that religions have a very responsible use of the money or goods they receive as donations.
One of the first and most interesting comments I received while making my research to write this article was this one:
"People usually want to know if God exists, if he is going to destroy evil someday or if there is another life or hell and paradise after you die; but they do not care to wonder if having a relationship with God can be good for them now, while they are alive."
I found it very interesting, so I asked if there are really benefits of believing in God and following a religion. My interlocutor said yes. And he game me some examples:
When you have a relationship with God, your life is peaceful. You understand that your life will have nice moments, ugly moments and even tests, but this does not mean you are going to go through them day after day, then die and that's it. You have a summon for transcending and a support to achieve it. This gives your life a fresh new breath of hope to continue.
You can stand hard moments without the usual desperate "why on earth did this happen to me?" quote, and you recover quicker from your bad news.
You understand that money is a mean and not an end, which makes you more generous and fair with regard to money and resources. Everybody likes that.
People really trust you. Believers are acknowledged as good people by the majority of people and they enjoy true friendship more than who live surrounded by co-workers or other social circles. You get also used to being a sincere person.
Believers' marriages can be stronger. Why? Because believers' relationships are not merely based on sex or what they do while we go out. Religion always reminds them there are other important things to keep in mind... even if you do not get virgin to the altar.
You can be forgiven and release your soul from any wrongdoing.
And you understand both life is not perfect and it does not have to be. Life is a chance you have day after day to become a better person for yourself and for the rest.
Following God, you are not going to make your life any easier. But in the end you will see it was worth the extra effort.
Will you try out?
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