Where does this confidence of believers in a religion come from?

[Redlight82]

Where does this confidence of believers in a religion come from? Why are believers in a given religion so sure of it and do not allow rational facts that explain many things to us? Why is it that a book, such as the Holy Scriptures, is living proof to these people, even though it is no proof at all.

[Sheldon]

Oh do fuck off please, this is the what the 14th thread you’ve started by positing a question, and you’ve not responded in any of them.

@Sheldon

Will you ever be revisiting this thread to involve yourself in debate, only the other times you’ve started threads with bizarre OP’s you’ve not bothered?

HERE for example.

And HERE

And again HERE

And again HERE

And again HERE

And again HERE

And yet again HERE

And HERE

And HERE

And HERE

And HERE

And HERE

All seem to be threads you’ve started and then not bothered replying to any posts?

So I have a question, what’s up with that?

And now we can add this one, so you’re trolling aren’t you.

[Tin-Man]

@Sheldon

Oh do fuck off please,

And people say we atheists have no manners. Puh-leeeeeze… That is possibly the most polite “fuck off” request I have ever seen.

[Kevin_Levites]

Even if the original poster is being an asshole by posting threads and not responding, he does–at least here–ask fair questions.

I think that the answer is that religion removes ambiguity, and humans are uncomfortable with ambiguity.

When religion makes us feel good despite the obvious harm, it seems–at least to me–that this is a similar dynamic that we see in drug abuse and alcoholism. In drug addiction, the body is deteriorating, yet we keep doing the substance because it makes us feel good. When we do drugs, a chemical (or chemicals) removes doubt, it removes anxiety, it takes away feelings of guilt, and so forth. These “benefits” are so powerful that we dismiss the damage that is done by the chemical, such as losing a job, contracting HIV, or becoming a street prostitute to support the habit.

I feel that it is similar with religion. It makes us feel good by providing similar benefits to drugs, and we keep doing it despite the wars, terrorism, and other garbage that comes from it.

[Tin-Man]

@Kevin_Levites

I feel that it is similar with religion. It makes us feel good by providing similar benefits to drugs, and we keep doing it despite the wars, terrorism, and other garbage that comes from it.

Dang, Kev, that’s a pretty cool analogy. Never really thought of it like that before. Makes sense. Gonna have to remember that one.

[Kevin_Levites]

Thank you very much.

[Get_off_my_lawn]

@Tin-Man

Dang, Kev, that’s a pretty cool analogy. […] Gonna have to remember that one.

I second that. I have saved it in my list of arguments that can come in handy later.

[Kevin_Levites]

Thank you very much for seeing my side of it.

[ashwaganda]

Faith and Spiritual Experiences: Many believers derive confidence from their personal faith and spiritual experiences. These experiences can be deeply personal and profound, providing a sense of certainty and comfort. For some, experiences that they interpret as encounters with the divine or as spiritual insights reinforce their belief.