so i was up at 4 AM last night writing this rant [excuse any fail sentence structure]
thing I may drop by the time I've woken tomorrow (which should be in four-ish hours).'>
I've been trying to rest since four. And, instead, I've spent this past hour listening to the glorious rain and thinking and thinking about this thing I may drop by the time I've woken tomorrow (which should be in four-ish hours).
Genuine ideas exist out of necessity.
Religion is the most prominent example of this. No, I am not contending the existence of a higher being or omnipresent spiritual force (whichever else theists believe), but I am contending the foundation of those beliefs. These beliefs weren't innate. Most will agree that the majority of theists have not received concrete evidence to support their beliefs; rather, they have "faith". This faith is not a negative thing in and of itself, so do not take my quotes as implying as much. Faith can be beautiful and, as suggested, necessary.
People are intellectual creatures, as surprising as this may seem, so they often demand to know "what", "how" and "why". The "why" is the greatest question. The human race's vast accumulation of knowledge expresses this need to know perfectly. One can drive themselves mad asking the unanswerable and, sometimes, when the answer is so drastically beyond reach, humans reach a decision based on what they do know.
I'd compare it to one of Marcia's identity statuses, identity foreclosure, in which a person settles upon an identity due to excessive pressure. In this case, however, individuals instead make a decision about the reality they interact with so as to lessen the strain on their mind before exploring enough to properly decide. Why do I exist? What happens when I die? How did the world come to be? These are especially heavy questions which are quite important to one's identity and way of interacting with their world. It would be fairly difficult to assess the situation and decide that he or she simply lacks enough information to make an accurate decision because, then, there would be a blank.
There would be an unanswered question.
You would actually not know an answer.
In the past, there have been many cases of religion being utilized as necessity dictates, such as blaming the sea God's wrath when a ship is crushed against the cliff. In ancient civilizations, blood-letting was common so as to appease the Gods. When the harvest did poorly, sacrifices were offered and, if conditions failed to improve, they did not offer enough. If conditions improved, the offering's effectiveness was confirmed. However, with time, human knowledge explained natural disasters and droughts. In industrialized countries, where knowledge is more widely propagated, such events are not blamed on an angry creator but the interaction of wind and air pressure or environmental situation.
Mental illness was blamed on the work of the Devil or his demon minions and miraculous recoveries were attributed to the work of God rather than physicians or probability. The aforementioned still exist to a lesser degree and in lesser numbers. In general, fewer people utilize their spirituality/religious views in explaining the world around them because it is no longer necessary to such an extent. As such, the educated are less likely to rely more heavily on religion on a daily basis.
I must repeat that this does not mean that the less intelligent are religious, but that those with greater access to the information to explain situations which may be attributed to a higher power are less likely to attribute that situation to a higher power. This access is not the sole factor. The number of unexplained woes or questions that befall populations affect their reliance upon faith-based beliefs. For instance, those facing greater hardships such as those in poverty are more likely to be theist since it will explain several questions massively relevant to their lives.
With that, it will lessen strain on their mind and procure hope for the future and, in many situations, the afterlife.
Many also believe that spirituality imbues their children with morals. As psychologists more and more proved otherwise, the shift to a concentration on parenting lessened the necessity some degree. Of course, the belief does persist at some level, though most will admit that parenting is of greater importance.
Now, I am an atheist primarily because the burden of proof lies on those who believe in a higher power. If we were to assume the burden rested on both parties, I would more accurately be referred to as an agnostic.
This is because I do not have proof denying the existence of this being. Yes, I can refute many "facts" in religious texts and finds ills in the beliefs of organized religion, but I cannot and, really, none can prove the non-existence of a being that, by definition, is beyond testability. This all said, neither can theists prove his or her (or other) existence.
How many on my friends list can admit that they do not know?
I know it's a difficult thing, being that we're human, but it is the truth for every one of us. Personal experiences? Feelings of elation while meditating or reciting a prayer? That uplifting feeling? Is that your belief creating such bliss or, truly, the existence of that being? I would argue the former, but everyone is free to their opinions.
And yes, I'm open to debate. I love it. <3 /should totally be sleeping, also may have experience a foreign electrical current, ow
I've been trying to rest since four. And, instead, I've spent this past hour listening to the glorious rain and thinking and thinking about this thing I may drop by the time I've woken tomorrow (which should be in four-ish hours).
Genuine ideas exist out of necessity.
Religion is the most prominent example of this. No, I am not contending the existence of a higher being or omnipresent spiritual force (whichever else theists believe), but I am contending the foundation of those beliefs. These beliefs weren't innate. Most will agree that the majority of theists have not received concrete evidence to support their beliefs; rather, they have "faith". This faith is not a negative thing in and of itself, so do not take my quotes as implying as much. Faith can be beautiful and, as suggested, necessary.
People are intellectual creatures, as surprising as this may seem, so they often demand to know "what", "how" and "why". The "why" is the greatest question. The human race's vast accumulation of knowledge expresses this need to know perfectly. One can drive themselves mad asking the unanswerable and, sometimes, when the answer is so drastically beyond reach, humans reach a decision based on what they do know.
I'd compare it to one of Marcia's identity statuses, identity foreclosure, in which a person settles upon an identity due to excessive pressure. In this case, however, individuals instead make a decision about the reality they interact with so as to lessen the strain on their mind before exploring enough to properly decide. Why do I exist? What happens when I die? How did the world come to be? These are especially heavy questions which are quite important to one's identity and way of interacting with their world. It would be fairly difficult to assess the situation and decide that he or she simply lacks enough information to make an accurate decision because, then, there would be a blank.
There would be an unanswered question.
You would actually not know an answer.
In the past, there have been many cases of religion being utilized as necessity dictates, such as blaming the sea God's wrath when a ship is crushed against the cliff. In ancient civilizations, blood-letting was common so as to appease the Gods. When the harvest did poorly, sacrifices were offered and, if conditions failed to improve, they did not offer enough. If conditions improved, the offering's effectiveness was confirmed. However, with time, human knowledge explained natural disasters and droughts. In industrialized countries, where knowledge is more widely propagated, such events are not blamed on an angry creator but the interaction of wind and air pressure or environmental situation.
Mental illness was blamed on the work of the Devil or his demon minions and miraculous recoveries were attributed to the work of God rather than physicians or probability. The aforementioned still exist to a lesser degree and in lesser numbers. In general, fewer people utilize their spirituality/religious views in explaining the world around them because it is no longer necessary to such an extent. As such, the educated are less likely to rely more heavily on religion on a daily basis.
I must repeat that this does not mean that the less intelligent are religious, but that those with greater access to the information to explain situations which may be attributed to a higher power are less likely to attribute that situation to a higher power. This access is not the sole factor. The number of unexplained woes or questions that befall populations affect their reliance upon faith-based beliefs. For instance, those facing greater hardships such as those in poverty are more likely to be theist since it will explain several questions massively relevant to their lives.
With that, it will lessen strain on their mind and procure hope for the future and, in many situations, the afterlife.
Many also believe that spirituality imbues their children with morals. As psychologists more and more proved otherwise, the shift to a concentration on parenting lessened the necessity some degree. Of course, the belief does persist at some level, though most will admit that parenting is of greater importance.
Now, I am an atheist primarily because the burden of proof lies on those who believe in a higher power. If we were to assume the burden rested on both parties, I would more accurately be referred to as an agnostic.
This is because I do not have proof denying the existence of this being. Yes, I can refute many "facts" in religious texts and finds ills in the beliefs of organized religion, but I cannot and, really, none can prove the non-existence of a being that, by definition, is beyond testability. This all said, neither can theists prove his or her (or other) existence.
How many on my friends list can admit that they do not know?
I know it's a difficult thing, being that we're human, but it is the truth for every one of us. Personal experiences? Feelings of elation while meditating or reciting a prayer? That uplifting feeling? Is that your belief creating such bliss or, truly, the existence of that being? I would argue the former, but everyone is free to their opinions.
And yes, I'm open to debate. I love it. <3 /should totally be sleeping, also may have experience a foreign electrical current, ow