Why people believe in God and Religion

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- strangestdude
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Why people believe in God and Religion
OP - July 27, 2011, 01:42 PM

This guys channel is now a favourite of mine...

In this video he eloquently explains that in order for people to lose their belief in their God/religion the majority of the pillars holding it up need to be called into question, like Hassan's approach on youtube.

Quote
The concept of God, while having the appearance of being a single, coherent belief is often actually supported by multiple pillars of intertwined sub-beliefs.

Great video for those of us who make youtube videos challenging Islam, and debate with muslims.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12rP8ybp13s

An alternative to religion;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2nfXfTg92E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWNW-NXEudk
- strangestdude
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Re: Why people believe in God
Reply #1 - July 27, 2011, 01:56 PM

I was thinking it would be useful to present some of the beliefs that either inspired us to convert to Islam, and/or stay muslims, so we can better challenge Islam.

(in no order of personal importance)

1 Scientific miracles in the Quran

2 Hell

3 Shaitain/human ego/our finite nature blinds us from understanding God's message/plan.

4 Muhammad being illiterate and producing the Quran

5 Awe and gratitude inspiring/pleasent internal experiences related to Islamic rituals

6 Needing the Quran and hadith to provide guidance on morality

7 Emotional and philosophical support from Quran and Hadith

8 Kalam, fine tuning, and intelligent design arguments.

9 'Muslim' as my primary group identity, rather than human being

10 The inimitability of the Quran

Please add more guys

An alternative to religion;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2nfXfTg92E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWNW-NXEudk
- Zaiba
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Re: Why people believe in God and Religion
Reply #2 - July 27, 2011, 02:01 PM

Liberation of women.

How Islam gave women freedom way before the West did such as education, property ownership (less than a man nevertheless), whereas the West gave women voting rights only recently.

Daughters shouldn't be killed on birth. (apparently it was a common practice whereas Mo stopped it from happening, probably so he could have sexual relations with them too.)

Sharia is the most just law. An eye for an eye mentality.
- strangestdude
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Re: Why people believe in God and Religion
Reply #3 - July 27, 2011, 02:32 PM

Thanks Zaiba.

Another one that was big for me...

*The belief that happiness/inner peace without the spirituality provided by religion is impossible.

Here's the conclusion to his personal journey of scrutinizing the beliefs that supported his religion...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQJrud71gL8

An alternative to religion;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2nfXfTg92E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWNW-NXEudk
- Jinn and Tonic
- My Place is the Placeless, the Trace of the Traceless
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Re: Why people believe in God and Religion
Reply #4 - July 27, 2011, 02:44 PM

strangedude.. on the science channel, in aug, will be the
series "did god create the universe" Should "prove" to
be interesting (pun intended) lol.

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.
Helen Keller
- Jinn and Tonic
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Re: Why people believe in God and Religion
Reply #5 - July 27, 2011, 02:48 PM

And by the way, WHO actually WROTE the koran? I mean WHO
penned it, and did they write it on scraps of bone, hide, and leaves?

Also, if saudi (and iran) are so pure, WHY do both of them invest so
much in "haram police"?

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.
Helen Keller
- strangestdude
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Re: Why people believe in God and Religion
Reply #6 - July 27, 2011, 04:09 PM

I have to look out for that series Jinn, cheers.

Yep that's a good question. Have you seen this?

Oldest Quran manuscript found..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNdvsLh128Q

An alternative to religion;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2nfXfTg92E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWNW-NXEudk
- Hallakuf
- Pastafarian
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Re: Why people believe in God and Religion
Reply #7 - July 27, 2011, 04:40 PM

In the beginning there was spirituality. Then came superstition. Then came collective superstitions in several cultures. Then they mixed culture and superstitions and called it religion. Then men took over to rule over others.

Religion is organized superstition
- Eternity
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Re: Why people believe in God and Religion
Reply #8 - August 02, 2011, 01:19 AM

Not bad. Pretty good video.
- strangestdude
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Re: Why people believe in God and Religion
Reply #9 - August 02, 2011, 04:45 PM

Quote from: Eternity on August 02, 2011, 01:19 AM
Not bad. Pretty good video.

The rest of his deconversion story is moving and insightful. I recommend watching the series.

An alternative to religion;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2nfXfTg92E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWNW-NXEudk
- Kodanshi
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Re: Why people believe in God and Religion
Reply #10 - August 03, 2011, 08:33 PM

Quote from: Zaiba on July 27, 2011, 02:01 PM
Daughters shouldn't be killed on birth. (apparently it was a common practice whereas Mo stopped it from happening

I always touted this as a plus point for Islam back when I followed it. After apostatising I realised that the practice could not have been that widespread, otherwise there would have been no ‘Arabs left to murder their daughters!

On a similar note, the fact that Muhammad’s first wife was a successful businesswoman must point to a culture allowing the high standing of women even before Islam!
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