I cannot seem to comprehend the religion phenomenon?

Question

Ok, I'm going half insane here. Please let me first note, I believe the error likely lies within me, not within the millions of Intelligent religionists, particularly Christianity. So I mean no offense.

My very intelligent, reasonable husband, and my PhD mother, with more wisdom and intelligence than even her education suggests, are both Christian. Obviously, Christianity and intelligence are not mutually exclusive.

However, evidences against Christianity are overwhelming and compelling. www.godisimaginary.com and www.skepticsannotatedbible.com are excellent resources. The annotated Bible takes longer to review, since it's the whole Bible, but it's well made.

Someone who is intelligent Should, theoretically, be inclined towards the use of logic and reason. The more intelligent, the more innate use of logic and reason. Right?

Christianity seems to exist in utter defiance of logic and reason. Instead of me going into extensive detail, you can look over the *continued*

Answer 1

I suspect your husband and mother, and the many other Christians you mentioned, are able to engage both the left and right hemispheres of their brain to use both logic and the more intuitive centers of knowledge to grasp something that cannot be grasped with logic alone.



Many studies are being done on brain function in theists vs. atheists. I am *not* saying one or the other is brain damaged, but that their brains operate differently. Logic, while wonderful, will only take you so far in understanding life. It sounds like your loved ones are able to use logic, but also utilize other types of knowing. You can see them as deluded, or you can see them as able to comprehend truths that are beyond the merely material.



Add--I don't think there's anything faulty about the approach you described about energy work; in a sense that's what prayer is (to me). I just don't think logic is the *ultimate* answer. In both Christianity and Buddhism, truth is found in paradox, which can make very logical people crazy, I guess.



As far as the other ways of knowing, it's hard for me to describe, because it's knowing in a way that doesn't use language. The best I can describe it is "a knowing beyond knowing." To go back to the point about brain function, those with high levels of spirituality have high activity in the right temporal lobe. Atheists who were tested did not have this activity level. So perhaps the answer lies there.



I think about this a lot, and pray for God's help to understand. One thing I know--for those who think and search, understanding this is the quest of a lifetime, so we all need patience with ourselves.

Answer 2

Please indulge me if you will:



First of all thank you for posting an honest question! It is rare on here, so I will try to give you as complete of an answer as I can.



1. You offer web-sites because you cannot explain it all in a post here, very true, I am sure. It is the same with us that Believe in God, Basically, I cannot believe that we created ourselves, so there has to be a higher power. But to get into the nuts and bolts, you would have to study the New Testament and the Catechsim of the Catholic Church. I reference the Catechism not only because I am a Catholic Convert, but also because it is the most complete Christian reference in print that you can turn to to get an Idea of the beliefs of all Catholics and most Protestants.



Personally, I am 42 years old, have been a Christian, a non-Christian, and now a Catholic Christian, this has taken a lot of use of logic and reason, along with searching for the truth in a lot of different faiths and in having no faith as well.



Thanks for not calling us all delusional, or stupid, and I will respect your beliefs as well.



My suggestion, if they are Catholic, go to RCIA classes, they cover the basics over a period of 6 months or so about an hour a week. That will give you the bare essentials so that you can understand where they are coming from, but not nearly the fullness of the faith.



As a logical person, if you are trying to come to a conclusion on two different points, do you research BOTH sides equily? Does research on one side only give you a sound, answer? How much time have you spent reading the New Testament? You may be trapped by a pre concieved Belief that there can be no thruth in Chrisitaniaty and they may be being supported by a continued consumption of arguments from the non Christians ONLY!



So, I am going to suggest a couple of sites for you:



www.Catholic.com

www.Catholic.org.



peace be with you !

Answer 3

it is noted as shallowness. anybody is contempt basically having a motor vehicle, a cellular telephone and a computer. no rely in the event that they do no longer know the place they arrive from, the place they pass to or what are they meant to be. confer with human beings interior the branch shops, streets, frequently; (a minimum of right here interior the North American area) human beings have not have been given any understanding of Hystory (you do no longer would desire to be a PhD) or Geography, music, and so on...a number of those I handle have issues examining and writing their own language, no longer to point yet another new one like English. young ones look stupid-ized with Rap, Regatton, lady Kaka, Justin, and so on, and now the "womaniser" Barney (????). television shows are on a daily basis worst that the 300 and sixty 5 days till now. those actuality television shows are the worst; no classification in them, and the greater gross the greater effective scores they have. pass parent...Beside that...zip. i won't be able of photograph all and sundry with those characteristics making an investment too plenty on examining something. Sorry, yet i'm very cynical at present. wish i became into diverse now and back.

Answer 4

Don't know what you are asking for.....an explaination for why educated people believe in Christianity?? Same can be said for most all religions and nonreligions....some people find comfort in a deity...in an afterlife....in a punishment/reward system....some people are brought up in the church and don't bother questioning it...or if they question, it is only at a surface level.

I think some people are seekers and are intrigued by learning more....which will enevitably lead them toward or away from their former beliefs....most people are not caught up in the great questions of life and how things work....so while they may be highly intelligent, they haven't asked the deeper questions....they haven't checked the facts...b/c they either believe wholeheartedly without question, or they simply don't want to do the difficult, time-consuming work of examining their life and their belief system.

Answer 5

Since their beginning, philosophers have observed that our experiences are mediated by our senses and only approximate reality. As beings with a limited amount of consciousness, we must necessarily sort and filter our experience to avoid being overwhelmed by sensory overload. We recognize patterns, prioritize and make snap judgments about hundreds of trivial events every day, often without realizing it. It is a coping mechanism that distorts reality to make it recognizable and tolerable for each of us.



Where do these patterns and priorities come from? Some we are taught, some we develop on our own. To make them consistent and memorable, we tell ourselves stories about how the world is and how it works. Some people's background myths are complex, others are fairly simple, but none can be considered objectively "true". Nor do they have to be, they only have to help us deal with life as it comes to us.



When a person's background myth is somehow damaged or destroyed, that person becomes disoriented. What s/he "knew" about the world is no longer reliable. At some point, a new understanding must be found to restore psychological equilibrium and control existential anxiety.



Sometimes a mythos causes problems, especially if it doesn't match the predomnant cultural mythos. Sometimes a new mythos is so attractive that it is spontaneously adopted by others. It doesn't even have to contain supernatural elements. It just has to work for the person who holds it. And changing is often painful, since the old mythos likely defines the basis of one's self-worth.



Being aware of the diversity of myths can help one better communicate with people. Often understanding is a matter of choosing the proper idiom. What is believed is usually not as important as how behavior is affected by that belief, so framing a discussion in "understandable" terms can improve the odds for peaceful coexistence and fruitful cooperation.



You admit that your mother is intelligent and wise. The objective should not be to convice her that her mythos is "wrong" (any more than your own, unrecognized, secular "myths" are "wrong"). The objective should be to gratefully go along with whatever works. Too many people let their own beliefs block meaningful relationships with others.

Answer 6

" At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; " (Matthew 11:25)



As you must already know faith is very important, as Jesus said:



"Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29)



Nowadays we also rely on faith, but if you 'd like to strengthen your faith you can ask Jesus to do it by sending you the Holy Spirit.



There are also miracles and NDE accounts ( Near death experience ) which are very interesting if you search on line.



For instance type the following names in Google and see their stories:



_ Ian McCormacks ( I also give you a video link below)



http://www.gedeonchampion.com/My_Homepage_Files/Page96.html



_ Daniel Ekechukwu



http://www.gedeonchampion.com/My_Homepage_Files/Page159.html



_ Domitila NABIBONE



I hope you will take take the time to see their stories as you took the time time to read the arguments claiming that the Bible was not true ( Personally I believe that the Bible is true and I accept Jesus as saviour )



Feel free to search other NDE accounts on line of course ( or if you want other links, just let me know )



Take care :)

Answer 7

it all starts with faith



faith leads to trust



trust leads to proof



proof leads to assurance



assurance leads to peace





perhaps you are not inclined to step out in faith



most people will use the excuse, they stepped out once ...but it's the step back that robs them of the evidence they were after.



you must step out into faith and remain long past all fears and doubt. There's a reason why perseverance is a virtue.



once this foundation is established.....then logic and deduction will reap countless insight



before this foundation is set... logic and reason are stumbling blocks





Peace

Answer 8

you sound like one smart cookie. I too, have been searching for this answer, though I haven't gone as far as you have. I guess fear could play a roll, as fear can cause us to go into "survive mode" rather than remain mentally sound. Perhaps a certain event that happened to someone in which the "felt" and divine interference. Some have suggested that the desire to want to believe in a God is in our genetics.

Answer 9

What you seem to have figured out, is that people can be intelligent, and still delude themselves to varying degrees.



For the most part - it seems like intelligent people are just paying lip service to religion.



The don't really believe the literal interpretations of the bible, etc.

Answer 10

don't concentrate on religion conceited on Jesus.you don't have to have religion. if you go to heaven your religion tag falls off ,if you go to hell it burns off. [its relation} <>< peace be with you!