Why is it necessary to "teach" about religion or any God?

Many have argued that it is natural, and that humans have been endowed with a "sensus divinitatus" -- a sense that is capable of detecting the Divine... Obviously in Christian circles this isn't really an issue, but when a Christian debates an atheist, it's questionable. Additionally, it is obvious that the "knowledge" gained by a Christian's sensus divinitatus often contradicts a Muslim's. True knowledge is not culturally contingent.

[edit] The problem with the vegetable metaphor is that atheists generally don't believe that liking vegetables is the key to salvation or that our taste buds were divinely designed.

It's essentially a nature vs. nurture question applied to religion.

If "god" supposedly created the world, including our natural inclinations then why wouldnt we accept god from birth?

It's actually really interesting, and I would love to read a logical religious answer. I dont believe in any religion so I cant even begin to fathom how someone is going to logically explain this one.

Oh, and to Catti-brie. . . . bad bad analogy. If anything, it directly supports the dude's thought that nurture is what shapes a person's religion, not nature.

edit: mcshughes, speech is natural because it's our evolved form of communication. Communication is natural and learned from birth. Infants can use sign language and CRYING to get their point across. Crying is the very first thing a baby does once out of the womb. It is a verbal communication.

It's a good question!

I think your premise is faulty though. Speech for example isn't natural at all. We've seen throughout history, that if a child isn't around those making the words, and correctly (taught or caught if you prefer) that speech isn't at all natural. I know that to learn a second language, I had to be taught vs. just listening to it. English wasn't at all natural!

Many people now, especially young people don't have the ability to solve problems well left to themselves. When you don't have the skills (that are taught) you replace that with anything to get by, and those aren't helpful behaviors in many cases.

Left to your own devices, you could be little more than a beggar in the street or a criminal to get by on. All of the skills we have to be successful are because we have aquired them though none "natural" means.

Speech is inherited through the parent. A child does not know speech without first mimicking the parent. Problem solving is natural to us, but everyone can easily loose skills if they are not continually practiced. The same goes with religion. You are born with inherent curiosity of God, but without continued education the knowledge can be lost.

I agree with you, Mike, and I have to respectfully disagree with Cattie-Brie, because a person can eat things like hamburgers and other not-so-healthy foods indefinitely and still manage to survive just fine... not eating vegetables isn't going to land you in a lake of fire, ya know? So, following God, according to many Christians, is necessary for eternal life (survival). Generally, things that are necessary for survival are intrinsic or instinctual. It would only make sense that a belief in God, if that's what's necessary for survival, would also be inborn.

It comes from a primitive view of the divine as a ruler or king, who must be obeyed and/or feared. With the teachings of Jesus, a new version of the divine was introduced, the loving father. Here there is no reason to fear. Sin exists in order for you to find who and what you are. This discovery leads to the true acceptance of God's love and forgiveness. The suffering that we endure as a result of our sins brings us closer to the suffering of Jesus. In other words, we learn by failing. It and you are all part of God's plan. There is nothing to fear, and everything to love. Kuma

I agree. Your light comes from inside, not out. A thundering mountain deity like Jehovah is an ancient concept for a people that lived in a terrible world. I don't begrudge people for their beliefs but I do think a little more introspection is required.

Although I don't believe in any god, your thinking is flawed. Like the rest of the great apes, we rely on learning rather than instinct. We might be able to survive without the things we learn from others, but even chimpanzees don't know how to be mothers unless they learn from their mother.

I KNOW I will get thumbs down for this, but I can't resist....

If vegetables are so important and good for you, then why doesn't everyone like them? I mean, you'd think that the way evolution works you'd automatically be drawn to eating stuff that's good for you, and the stuff should taste good, right? Well, most people don't see it that way, esp. children. :P I know, it's not the same, and it doesn't really work that way, but it's kind of the same thing that you are asking. Because some people have different perceptions (or tastes in my vegetable example) then not everyone will see the world the same.

Eh..... whatev. :P

((((((((((((((Mike)))))))))))))))))

EDIT:

But you can't explain why no matter how hard I try, Brussels sprouts are disgusting! :P But I'm like that too, I loooooove broccoli and all kinds of vegetables. My dad....not so much, but not because he wasn't raised like that, he was just always forc ed to eat stuff he didn't like because it was the only thing available.

I know it's not the best example, but that's my point. Your kids are normal, but there are people who still reject it, no matter what they are told. I could use any example, exercising, getting plenty of sleep all that, avoiding drugs, but some people just don't listen.

It shouldn't be necessary -- but all of us were raised in our parent's religion and we all thought that this was 'truth' because our parents thought so!!

Unfortunately, the understanding of what 'God/Reality' actually is has not been figured out on our own!!!

We 'need' to have this understanding for mankind to experience 'peace' on earth -- it is obvious that this worldwide understanding is yet to be!