Tigger
Favorite Answer
Of course I doubt. My beliefs were and are established and refined in skepticism. I strongly advocate against accepting any claims without examination to see if they are trustworthy and useful. If one asserts to believe something, one should be able to give a reason why they believe something, If one cannot give a reason for their belief, their belief is poorly rooted and likely to fail them. That being said, I also recognize the difference between legitimate skepticism and cynicism. Too many people who proclaim themselves as skeptics are in reality just cynics with positions that are no better rooted than beliefs that are not subjected to honest skeptical review.
Belief and skepticism should not be seen as being in opposition one to the other, but rather should be seen as complementing one another.
biggalloot2003
I am an atheist, and no I never believe. But I have found that the reading some Hermann Hesse like Steppenwolf and Siddhartha can awaken a sense of spirituality in me, but then I read the Glass Bead Game and that clears it from me.
tonysh
As a committed atheist of 50 years standing, I do not accept the existence of any god as none can be scientifically proved to exist.
In those 50 years I have heard a load of the same old quotes from the antiquated "Holy Books" that prove nothing, and not seen or heard one shred of new scientific evidence that could prove that any god could exist (although some charlatans try to trick people occasionally with what turns out to be nonsense).
?
If you are a believer, do you ever doubt ? If your a skeptic do you ever believe ?
I will take it since one placed the Question under R & S one is referencing Gods .
I could answer quite aggressively . But I will first give you the foundation of the psychology of belief in gods . what is the human factors fostering god beliefs
. It is actually based on Child development the human child during the ages of about 2 .to 5 years old . Children face fears and anxiety of abandonment . They also begin to engage in what is called Personification of imagined fears friends and animation of inanimate objects such as ones GI Joe barbie or teddy Bear .
They project human characteristics or personalities on them we call it play they have conversations and answer for their toys as if they are talking or an imaginary friend to protects them or keep them company .Most children grow out of it .
What religions do is exploit this behavior and development process . through the parents religious belief and they inject god concepts at his stage the child is praised and encouraged to accept the god concepts , actually to maintain the detachment from reality they are drawn through rituals daily or weekly participation they are given rules and instilled with obligation and submission
this is viewed as a positive state and society reinforces it as a positive state even though it is detached from reality .. I can say I had my imaginary guardian angel friend who watched over and protected me till I was about 8 or 10 years old . had conversations and pretended she answered me
I can say I was a believer for 30 years I can say I Kick fantasy 33 years ago and have been hooked on reality ever since . Having fact based information gives you a degree of certainty contributes to making sound decisions
I have no fears of death it is not to be feared for it is the natural cycle of of things Religions try to ROB us of the certainty of reality of finality projecting imagined concepts of heaven and hell to elicit compliance as if they possess special Knowledge from an ancient people project uncertainty to claim we even have power over you when you die that you REALLY do not die .
I accept demonstrated and proven things religion can not demonstrate their claims
Ralph
The fact of the matter, NO, I never doubt my Faith, because I know that my belief in God is so strong that nothing will separate me from the love of God word the bible only.