Religious people, why do you believe in God?

This blog attracts quite a few religious people, probably because my rational, reasonable, intelligent posts appeal to their subconscious mind, given how much of their conscious awareness is filled with faith-based religious dogma.

So I'd like to offer an opportunity to religious people to explain why they believe in God or some other divine entity. This includes the notion that there's such a thing as "God in human form," which is the basis of Christianity and some other forms of religion.

Leave a comment with you best explanation of why you believe in a higher supernatural power. I'm curious whether any explanations would make sense to an open-minded atheist like me. 

I'd love to see a reason for believing in God that's based on sound demonstrable evidence or a convincing argument. I'm doubtful that any religious believer who visits this blog can supply such a reason, but I'm waiting for it.

Still waiting...

Comments

[Dungeness]

@ So I'd like to offer an opportunity to religious people to explain
@ why they believe in God or some other divine entity

Why do I feel like there's a guy with a tool belt and a
big wooden cross lurking nearby... Alright, I'm over it,
musta been the mind trying to scare me.

Let's make it a little more nuanced. Instead of an "entity"
call it only "totality of consciousness". Who knows what
its form or origin or composition is, whether it's divine or
satanic, or even if its "daddy" is a throbbing brain.

I believe consciousness is real. I'm not at all sure about
the magic show we perceive out "there" though. Even
if a cast of Biblical proportions whispers it's real and this
is all there is, doubt seeps in. Dream figures could assure
you of the same thing every night but they all vanish into
thin air when you wake up. No one is sure what's real.

The only thing we know at the most primal level is the
reality of consciousness itself. We get glimmers of it every
time we're aware of being aware. But there are gaps in
awareness. Mindfulness helps us fill in the gaps. Where,
oh where, did my awareness go when one of the mind's
firecrackers went off leaving me dazed and confused.

So, we turn to consciousness itself, specifically its gift of
awareness, to explore this vast terra incognita within.
It will expose he army of thoughts marching through the
head that hide the knowledge of what's going on within
us... of the secrets of consciousness itself.

Once consciousness is understood, we can debate the
idea of "God".

[Jesse]

I believe in something like a god precisely because there is no rational, convincing, evidence based argument for existence itself. It's the only thing that proves itself by absence of evidence, and all things being evidence at the same time.

Of course no dogma, or path or specific claims to this things nature are worth much, but I believe it exists because existence is impossible to explain.

[Um]

Well, maybe there is an neuropsychological explanation for it to be found in the brain.

These days scientists find proof for all sorts of human behaviour in the brain.
Maybe believers and atheist are born with that predisposition and is it not a matter of personal choice.

[Pema Tej]

Science has not managed to clearly explain and define the workings of consciousness.

I call this very 'conciousness', God or Atman (Soul).

[s*]

Because there is life..
In everything we can see ''life force''.
In everything that grows is energy..
It's magic,...so life is magic.
When I was a bit grown up kid,I was always thinking..
''there must be someone,who knows it all,all the life,the why of everything explained.
Then Maharaji came in our life,I was 19 years old and felt that he was the one who knows..everything.
What I learned from him was the Love in all..in all that lives..So I felt entirely in love with my Master.
After some time I heard about transmigration and there I fel of the wagon.
I could't not stommic the idea's of scary ''as you reap so shall you saw''

What stays to me is Love, I wanna see love in every living being..altough that is/can be in a sleeping state..
So now for me God is the same as Love..

[j]

When atheists love their girlfriends, their wives, their children, their neighbors, what explanation do they have for such irrational behavior? Science tells us that people are nothing more than flesh-covered robots. All people are just mortal biological beings and their apparent personality is just a cognitive illusion. Truly, there are no "people" who have any inherent value greater than mealworms. To say that human beings deserve special appreciation of any kind is to buy into irrational sentimentalism. It's indefensible. Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot had it right; when will all of human society embrace the wisdom of valuelessness?

[Scienceasprocess]

Sorry J but science doesn't say people are nothing more than flesh-covered robots. Indeed, quite the opposite given our biochemical emotionality, etc.

Science doesn't say anything actually. Human beings do, because we are the ones who interpret what the world portends. Science is merely a human tool of discovery, not to be confused with a reification.

In any case, valuelessness is also a value statement.

[um]

@ J

Development psychologists have found that the capacity to use a match box as an "car", use imagination and fantasy, is divided according a gauss curve. A child at the negative extreme of the curve is not able to understand how it is possible to see a match box as an car and play with it in fantasy.

The same holds for the ability to lose oneself in a book or movie etc.

Different people react differently on mind altering drugs.

Probably, sceptics and atheist are more to be found in the negative slope op the curve.

Love and everything related to it, is no a thing that can be acquired, learned or developed. That being the case it must be sort of a talent one is born with.

etc etc.

Maybe love is also available like IQ and devide along the same curve.

[John_S]

I recent brain-examinations it is shown that religious feelings or imaginations engage the same regions in the brain as social interactions. That leads to the conclusion, that religion has a social component which is undoubtedly true. But religion could also be substituted by nation, soccer-cub or tribe.
To love: Is the love from a dog do his human dependent of the IQ ? Could a dog be a religious entity?
To be in love is in that case no evidence for god.
Many atheists have a humanistic attitude, more than many of the religious people I know.
For me love is a deep feeling of connection between humans, animals even virtual "fathers or friends:" gods and angels.
But, the belief of god could be a psychological stabilizing factor to religious peoples. Therefore religion has a function, it declares things we don't understand, and gives sense to the existence.
It is the easier way to live, maybe not the intellectual honest one.

[um]

@Understanding things ….

The basic instincts of living creatures, to stay alive as an individual and as a species, goes with pleasure. If these pleasures would not be there maybe there would no creatures around.

Humans are probably the only species that have found ways to manipulate that pleasure site. Satisfying hunger, real hunger results in pleasure …. so manipulating it we created Mac donalts etc etc.

Humans are also the only species that can RE-create their habitat wherever they please to go and so they came to live as Inuit on the snow planes, as tribes in the burning desserts and even in space for short times. That is due to the mind. The mind is there to find solutions to survive. Finding explanations about God etc etc is in a sense an mis-use of natural tools, like the creation of restaurants, cuisines are.

Culture is an mis-use … in that sense.
First of all we have to live a natural live in a natural way.
To find out what that is … is the real question.

[Jen]

People want to believe in a God because they are desperate and afraid of dying and trying to make sense of how and what we are. Nowadays people believe in consciousness but what the heck is consciousness anyway? Dictionary: "the state of being aware of and responsive to one's surroundings; the fact of awareness by the mind of itself and the world".

I like to think outside the box and my awareness looks at this short lifespan on this tiny little world in a supposedly vast creation which seems to me like we are living in a some kind of computer game. Its some kind of simulation and as Elon Musk says if we play our role well and make it interesting we won't be deleted LOL.

"What will technology be like in 10,000 years if we keep progressing at this current rate? It’s not inconceivable to think that we won’t be able to distinguish between a video game and reality.
...
If you believe in a Creator, then we are in a Matrix already, one that is in some ways a simulation. What came into existence can suddenly stop at the wave of a hand."

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3080506/this-mind-bending-quote-from-elon-musk-will-stop-you-in-your-tracks.html

[Sonia Taylor]

Simply put, because I believe in myself. I believe in love. I belief in rational and creative thinking. Rational thing helps us operate effectively in this world of biology. Creative thinking helps us explore the hidden, the unseen, the quantum physics of mystical nature.

What does it hurt to believe in a power greater than our own minds? Is it narrow minded to think we know all there is to know about life. Life in the here and now as well as life in the hereafter.

Unfortunately too many religions and philosophies and cults have given love a bad name. God doesn’t speak to the masses. He speak to the individual. And where there is love, there is life. You are not dependent upon anyone else for your feelings of love. No one can tell you those feelings aren’t real and no one can judge those feelings. Not even God himself can judge because judgement is an act of man.

There is no fear in love. Love is the opposite of fear. And every time you experience fear you are experiencing the opposite of God. Most likely these feelings of fear come from the poisonous doctrines of loveless religion.

You have nothing to fear.

Simply put, if you believe in love then you believe in God. And there is nothing beyond that. There is nothing to “preach” about God. The only proof of God is the love in your heart.

[Sonia Taylor]

God doesn’t care whether you believe in “him” or not. Because when you practice love you are acknowledging the connectedness between all living things.

And that is all that matters.

[Sonia Taylor]

Whatever religion you claim or spiritual practice you devote yourself to, if you don’t practice love then you are not a believer in God.

If you are atheist and you practice love, then whether you realize it or not, you are a devotee of God. No need to worry about the hereafter. It will take care of itself.

[Sonia Taylor]

The Beatles may have been the greatest prophets of our generation. Love is all there is.

[Sonia Taylor]

Love requires no sacrifice. That statement will enrage the clergy and “godman” but nothing could be more true. If you believe in love then you believe in God. Because God IS love. There is nothing to fear for those who believe in and practice love.

OK, I’m done for today.

[Meditator]

The flashing question finally on existence of God, therefore, belief in Him I expected earlier from Mr Brian. It alone segregate the believers from atheist. But to me in a way all are atheist except for the very few Including the Mystics of the past and present who have known Him and written vastly about Him and who exclaimed in wonder in the end that the logs of wood (for making paper) on earth would be insufficient if they wish to sing His praises exactly.

Since none of us ( except for very few blessed ones) has realized Him perfectly as He exists in His exact form I fear all of us are same. The belief may evaporate at times to make us behave like atheist. Mystics are living God but for those who have strong belief in God and therefore in Him.

I only rely on the commandments of Saints written by them in the Holy Scriptures for catching up the Belief in Him and also in the Mystic/s ( I have only one) proposing to us about Him - validating His existence and our ready access.

The theory of God can never be a physical law for it deals with immaterial consciousness even though there may happen sufficient evidence in Science suggesting His co -existence within the physical realm.

[Spence Tepper]

I believe in God because I consider it a gift I have received to do so. And impolite not to. It is a priceless gift to see His works, a priceless gift to witness his humor and love, patience and compassion. God gives and gives. It is heartbreaking to see how much God gives in every moment of life. It is impossible to reciprocate adequately. But at least I can be thankful. And in gratitude, I get His company, which is also priceless, unearned completely, undeserved absolutely. Still, I can't help begging for it all the time. When I stop complaining from the pain, I start begging. And Then He comes. The dawn, the merciful end to my suffering, the sea of love.

[Um]

Sonia,

If god is love and love is god …. love is something that is beyond the grasp of us humans and cannot be practiced

If people don't know god, they don't know love.
They have to be god to love.

the use of the words god and love by humans becomes a blasphemy.

[I don't believe, I know]

Atheist people, why do you believe there is No God?

Just because there is no evidence of God?

Do you believe in time/future? If yes, why? What evidence suggests there is a tomorrow?

[I don't believe, I know]

If you believe in love then you believe in God. Because God IS love. There is nothing to fear for those who believe in and practice love.

OK, I’m done for today.

Posted by: Sonia Taylor | February 24, 2020 at 03:09 PM

ABSOLUTELY nothing supports your claim that God is love - except maybe a few so called mystics who have so proclaimed. Who probably were no different from you.

God can very well be a venom spewing, hateful and revengeful being whose abode is a heart filled with hate.

[Jen]

Wow that word 'Love' repeated so many times. Who and what is this so called God who loves everything and everyone, including psychopaths, murderers, rapists. Also people pretending to love everyone and everything and this God who comes when called to bring mercy to those who beg. Not very good at his job when you look around the world to see and hear about the huge amount of suffering.

[Sonia Taylor]

Wow that word 'Love' repeated so many times. Who and what is this so called God who loves everything and everyone, including psychopaths, murderers, rapists. Also people pretending to love everyone and everything and this God who comes when called to bring mercy to those who beg. Not very good at his job when you look around the world to see and hear about the huge amount of suffering.
Posted by: Jen | February 24, 2020 at 08:58 PM

The reason for so much suffering is because people don’t love.

[Sonia Taylor]

If you believe in love then you believe in God. Because God IS love. There is nothing to fear for those who believe in and practice love.

OK, I’m done for today.

Posted by: Sonia Taylor | February 24, 2020 at 03:09 PM

ABSOLUTELY nothing supports your claim that God is love - except maybe a few so called mystics who have so proclaimed. Who probably were no different from you.

God can very well be a venom spewing, hateful and revengeful being whose abode is a heart filled with hate.

Posted by: I don't believe, I know | February 24, 2020 at 07:05 PM

Lovely. Clearly you don’t believe in God.

[Sonia Taylor]

ABSOLUTELY nothing supports your claim that God is love - except maybe a few so called mystics who have so proclaimed. Who probably were no different from you.

God can very well be a venom spewing, hateful and revengeful being whose abode is a heart filled with hate.

Posted by: I don't believe, I know | February 24, 2020 at 07:05 PM

You’re just looking for something/someone to hate. And because that’s what you want, you’ll surely find it.

[Sonia Taylor]

Your “god” is whatever you worship—whatever you dwell on the most. That could be anything. But nothing is more powerful than love. Hate is not stronger than love. You may be in pain but pain doesn’t last forever. Only joy is eternal. So whether your angry or hurting or hating, at the end of your time there will be no more suffering. The years may seem long but the days are short.

No one knows how many days they have left. You may only have one. Tomorrow could be your last day on earth. Death is the only certainty we have. If it scares you, find a way to deal with it.

But no one, ABSOLUTELY no one can deny that we will most definitely die. Perhaps we should all be dwelling on death. Really breath it in. Isn’t that why so many people choose to believe in a hereafter? Because this world is full of hate and suffering. However, if you’ll open your eyes you’ll see this world is also full of love and kindness.

You choose what you want to dwell on. You choose whether you want to make the best of your situation or if you’d rather dwell on the negative and be miserable.

Death. We will all die.

[s*]

Yes there is idd a lot of suffering..
And what is Love then..??
Not so easy.
Beings have to go trough bizarre things emotions and feelings also.
So in fact nothing to believe nothing to know(for sure).
Life can be a bitch.
Vipsassana helps me at times to go trough.. when there is much pain and suffering.

[s*]

Sometimes one can be on top of the hill (happiness)
And then down hill( suffering).

David Lane explaned''We are mixed bags''.
I think that is well said.
Sometimes ''the not knowing is light and fresh''
Sometimes the same ''not knowing is heavy and lonely''
In fact one is never alone but the feeling of loneliness can be terrible''
While somtimes that can feel as sweet and calm..
It's just where one has to go trough..
That is for ''believers and non believers the same I think..Maybe not I do'nt know.
Everybody has a heart...
While we also differ..
Yinyang..

[anami]

I'm stuck on whether to count Hestia or Dionysus among the twelve Olympians.

[drsatpurush]

1.the super consciousness which underlies creation is god.
2.individual actions by fragments of this consciousness (us) which make this a better world for all underlies the idea of morals.
3.moral actions are rewarded by the super consciousness.
that
This is the crux of Hindu thought, in general one likes to believe world is moving towards order not disorder. This is observed in Nature too where all disorder or waste is recycled into order or useful stuff at a material level.

[Turan]

"I'd love to see a reason for believing in God that's based on sound demonstrable evidence or a convincing argument. I'm doubtful that any religious believer who visits this blog can supply such a reason, but I'm waiting for it".
Still waiting...

Lots of lovely conceptual beliefs so far Brian, but no 'demonstrable evidence ' Still waiting?

[Laurel]

https://youtu.be/p0_-7FmrDq8

[I don't believe, I know]

God can very well be a venom spewing, hateful and revengeful being whose abode is a heart filled with hate.

Posted by: I don't believe, I know | February 24, 2020 at 07:05 PM

Lovely. Clearly you don’t believe in God.

Posted by: Sonia Taylor | February 25, 2020 at 12:54 AM

My id says it all. I don't believe, I know. And when I know there is no place for a belief.

How profound it is to know God exists or doesn't exist. Beliefs vs knowing ....... Beliefs are just so down market (even the belief that God exists).

A smarter response from you would have been - how do you know God exists or doesn't exist.

Enjoy your day Sonia.

[John_S]

1155/5000
just to believe in something (God) to hide the insecurity of our life and our origin and future is dishonest. We cannot talk about things that we cannot know.
Intellectual honesty means that you are simply not ready to lie to yourself. It's also about moral integrity, but above all about what you should believe at all.
Mystics and masters tell us stories that we cannot understand.
We can believe them without testing them. Or we try to check it and it doesn't work. If we still believe in it, we are dishonest in the sense of intellectual honesty.
Evolution doesn't care if we're happy or not. It is about successful reproduction of the species. If religion offers us an advantage here in the struggle for survival, it has served its purpose. When we no longer need it to accomplish this purpose, we can leave religion and belief in God behind.
Isn't God a gap filler for all things that we cannot explain or where we do not understand the meaning?

[Jen]

"The reason for so much suffering is because people don’t love."

Sonia do you expect people living in conditions you have never experienced in war torn countries to be loving and grateful for their lives? Only spoilt people who don't even know how spoilt they are can do the whole "love" thing. For most its all about life is suffering. Why don't you try going to speak to those who are suffering and tell them they need to love. The problem is with those who have comfortable lives and the ego is in charge and they will never be content even with the relatively good life they have because they don't care to look at those who are living desperate lives. Life can be hell for some.

[Um]

@Karim

and … if I may add to what I wrote:

Its my experience with this path, that the teachers deal only with what comes before them.
Actually THEY don't teach at all .., thy say NOTHING when they speak.

The speaking is done by others, fellow students, and through books.
THEY pose themselves as servants themselves and explain only what they have from others, the previous teachers and the sayings of known mystics…..so to say like any other speaker in any other location.

In their contacts with their students, they only address what the student bothers, things mostly related to how to live a sant mat way of life in the world.

The only thing I remember that the predecessor of the todays teacher would say out of himself would be .. do your meditation. And don't forget the many times he said that the students were put of with this or that funny remark just as parents do with small children when they cannot or don't want to answer a childs' question.

The same holds for interviews, and Q&A sessions.

So everybody leans on hearsay that has its roots in belief what "moses" said.

Moses gave a piece of land to the hebrews on command of his inner voice, an inner voice that was never heard by others and teachers, give the willing eternity on behalve of the same proces.

Of course the hebrews are well served with believing what moses said and so are students of the saints path.

Nothing wrong with it … UNLESS … it intervenes with lives of others that didn't receive the same message.

Nothing wrong with being a devout christian, muslim, hindu etc or an ardent student of the path as long as it is private.

In many cases devout is like a pyramid seller or an alcohol adict trying to convince others "how good" it is.

[Sonia Taylor]

Sonia do you expect people living in conditions you have never experienced in war torn countries to be loving and grateful for their lives? Only spoilt people who don't even know how spoilt they are can do the whole "love" thing. For most its all about life is suffering. Why don't you try going to speak to those who are suffering and tell them they need to love. The problem is with those who have comfortable lives and the ego is in charge and they will never be content even with the relatively good life they have because they don't care to look at those who are living desperate lives. Life can be hell for some.
Posted by: Jen | February 25, 2020 at 03:23 PM

Jen, your ego is not your amigo.

I wasn’t preaching. I wasn’t judging. I wasn’t attacking. I wasn’t say what people should or shouldn’t do. Just the opposite—I was trying to say there is no need to fear death. That is ultimately the message I’m trying to get across, whether you believe in a god or not.

[Sonia Taylor]

I'm stuck on whether to count Hestia or Dionysus among the twelve Olympians.

Posted by: anami | February 25, 2020 at 06:43 AM

😂😂😂😂😂

[Sonia Taylor]

My id says it all. I don't believe, I know. And when I know there is no place for a belief.

How profound it is to know God exists or doesn't exist. Beliefs vs knowing ....... Beliefs are just so down market (even the belief that God exists).

A smarter response from you would have been - how do you know God exists or doesn't exist.

Enjoy your day Sonia.

Posted by: I don't believe, I know | February 25, 2020 at 08:42 AM

OMG, you are so angry. Why are you so angry? No one is forcing you to believe in anything. You don’t have to believe in god or unicorns or rainbows or ANYTHING that you don’t want to believe in.

Who cares what other people think or what they believe in. If believing there isn’t a god suits you then stick to your own version of truth.

However, since you say you “know” there isn’t a good and that your knowledge goes beyond mere believing, can you PROVE to me that god doesn’t exist???

[Sonia Taylor]

A smarter response from you would have been - how do you know God exists or doesn't exist.

Enjoy your day Sonia.

Posted by: I don't believe, I know | February 25, 2020 at 08:42 AM

You know what, I’m going to ignore the “smarter response” but for now and just focus on the last line of your comment, “Enjoy your day Sonia”.

You’re making this personal. This is personal for you and I’m getting pretty tired of playing your games.

[Sonia Taylor]

Sonia do you expect people living in conditions you have never experienced in war torn countries to be loving and grateful for their lives? Only spoilt people who don't even know how spoilt they are can do the whole "love" thing. For most its all about life is suffering. Why don't you try going to speak to those who are suffering and tell them they need to love. The problem is with those who have comfortable lives and the ego is in charge and they will never be content even with the relatively good life they have because they don't care to look at those who are living desperate lives. Life can be hell for some.
Posted by: Jen | February 25, 2020 at 03:23 PM

Jen,

I’m all about minimalism. I live in a first world economy like you, but I couldn’t care less about material things. I don’t do retail therapy or go to church or belong to any social clubs or circles. I’m sure I have about a fraction of the amount of material things and money as much as you do. But I don’t care about those things AT ALL. And for your information, people that are forced to endure trying and terrifying situations usually develop stronger characters and have a much greater appreciation of love and capacity to give love.

Do you even understand human beings???

[Sonia’s afterthoughts]

@ I don’t believe, I know.

Fine. Tell me. How do you know?? 🙄

[Spence Tepper]

Hi John S
You write
"just to believe in something (God) to hide the insecurity of our life and our origin and future is dishonest. We cannot talk about things that we cannot know."

Let me suggest two alternate views for consideration.

1. Believing in something one does not yet know is hope. And hope has an important role in survival. It's a survival mechanism. Keeps people struggling against all odds. And God damn if once in a while they get lucky after all that ridiculous and futile effort and actually succeed! Survival of the species. More than that. Thriving of the species.

2. What crazy mechanism gives people hope? If it's hard wired it may not be dishonest. It might just be biology. See 1. Above.

[Sonia Taylor]

Jen,

Look, I’m pretty much left brain dormant. Logic and linear thinking are not my strong suits. How I manage to function in this time space continuum almost defies science. I even have Amblyopia which makes me almost blind in my right eye (because my left brain isn’t working to hard).

That said, I am just always surprised at how you see me. I’m often even more surprised when you take one of my comments as a personal attack. I really don’t understand it all because I don’t have any ill feelings towards you. 🤷‍♀️

I’m definitely NOT what I seem.

[Whodunit]

https://youtu.be/p0_-7FmrDq8

Posted by: Laurel | February 25, 2020 at 08:36 AM

Zoran Josipovic, 'spirituality and spiritual beliefs are consciousness trying to find itself'

[Sonia Taylor]

The reason I believe in God is because I’ve been to hell. But since I don’t like to scare people shitless so I usually don’t begin with that. I’ve never been to heaven but I’ve been to hell—and the real hell is full of dark irony. If you think this world is hell, you have no idea. While you’re in the “real” hell engulfed in the suffocating terror of the blackest, isolating darkness, you somehow realize there’s an alternative—an equally opposite experience. It’s the quickest route to enlightenment, but trust me, you’re better off taking the scenic route.

[Jen from Austin Texas]

Sonia can you tell me more about hell?
I wonder what Brian has to think
Of this statement of yours.
“I believe in god because I’ve been to hell”

Brian???

[Jen]

Sonia,

Thank you, I do appreciate your comments. My comment was a knee jerk reaction and I've beaten myself up quite a bit since I posted it.

You say, "I’m definitely NOT what I seem."

Probably most of us aren't what we seem. Sounds very interesting about you saying you have experienced hell. Now I understand why you are still wanting to believe in God but you are also a strong person yourself.

Try to believe in yourself, you have the personal power to chase the monsters away :)

I love this video because its about the insecurity of old age, where I'm at now, its beautiful, meaningful and always makes me tearful. Such is life... sigh...

James Blunt - Monsters (Official Video) (4:20mins)
7,161,484 views 15/1/2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTFbGcnl0po

[Sonia]

Sonia can you tell me more about hell?
I wonder what Brian has to think
Of this statement of yours.
“I believe in god because I’ve been to hell”

Brian???

Posted by: Jen from Austin Texas | February 26, 2020 at 02:56 PM

Hell cannot be described. Just like Heaven cannot be described. There are no words to adequately convey the experience because it is no where near a normal human experience. It’s a mixture of indescribable fear and hopelessness. You have this awareness that there is a light surrounding everything but you have no access to it. It’s a spiritual suffocation.

I cannot describe it to you and I certainly would never tell anyone to experience it for themselves. It is the exact opposite to what the mystics say they experience. However, the end result is the same—you KNOW there is a God and you KNOW God is pure love. You also gain this understanding that without a shadow of a doubt, the idea of “eternal” suffering is the most insane concept conceived by man. You’re given this profound understanding while you’re there—unshakable—that God is pure love and there isn’t anything that cannot be forgiven. One may commit a crime or many crimes and have to serve time in prison or possibly be sentenced to death. But there isn’t anything that is unforgivable in God’s eyes. You just have to make the conscious decision to change your behavior and attitude. There is nothing anyone can do to “earn” love. It is our natural birth rite.

That said, “serving time” in Hell does give you one superpower that all the meditating in the world does not—it gives you the power to forgive anyone and everyone for absolutely anything even if they don’t want forgiveness. That’s why I say I don’t really care what others believe in or don’t believe in at this point in Time. Suffering after death doesn’t do service to anyone. There’s only One Life left.

[Sonia Taylor]

Jen,

I have always loved James Blunt’s music. It holds a very tender place in my heart as a good friend of mine used to play his music nonstop and that good friend passed away at a very early age—no one expected it.

Such a moving song.

And no worries... I know who you really are. 💕

[John_S]

Hi Spence,

you wrote:
1. Believing in something one does not yet know is hope. And hope has an important role in survival. It's a survival mechanism. Keeps people struggling against all odds. And God damn if once in a while they get lucky after all that ridiculous and futile effort and actually succeed! Survival of the species. More than that. Thriving of the species.

Perhaps it is so that insecurity creates stress in people. Then it is an evolutionary advantage if you can reduce this stress by believing in supernatural entities and magical explanations.
Then there is the social aspect:
Belief is similar to money: everyone believes that a piece of paper has a certain value, it is a tacit agreement. If the belief in it disappears, it is just a worthless piece of paper.
It is similar with religious belief systems. For example, only a few people still believe in the Greek divine world.
If you are an outsider e.g. in Beas with 400,000 people sitting at Satsang and listening to the guru and seeing all the worship around you, you could get the impression that he has to be a special person.

Today, however, we have many explanations and the level of uncertainty has become much less than in the past.
A lot of questions cannot be explained yet. But we're grown up enough to wait patiently for an answer. Or to leave the question uncertain.
And religious fanaticism in all colors puts us in more stress than that we are unsure about our spiritual future.

[Spence Tepper]

Hi John S
The illusion of certainty has not grown. Uncertainty has grown. Science teaches us our biosphere is much more vulnerable and certainly not all powerful.