Refuting Theist Arguments - Why People are Religious

Refuting Theist Arguments -- Why People are Religious

In this video I will touch on a few of the reasons why religious individuals stay religious.
This video will not deal with the genesis of religion; it only deals with why religious individuals remain religious in modern societies.

Due to time constraints I will not go too far into each point.
It is also important to note that this list is not comprehensive, and not all of these reasons will apply to all theists.

1) Social Evolutionary Reasons

--Beliefs that, in the past, were the biggest sources of pride, promoted group cohesion, and enabled the culture to survive, are the beliefs that people are least willing to surrender.
This makes perfect sense from an evolutionary perspective; but societies have now evolved to the point that religion is no longer needed.

In fact, religion creates conflict and group mentalities; not peace and cooperation.

2) Other Social Reasons

--Many people have been falsely taught that religion is the only source of 'moral behavior.'
Many theists act as if there is no way for people to be moral without religion.
This is false. Codes of morality existed long before any of the major modern religions.

Morality evolved to support human survival, religions just borrowed preexisting moral concepts.

--Many theists are reluctant to give up their religion because of their family, friends, and peer groups. They are afraid of being shunned by their loved ones.
They are afraid of losing valuable social support if they discard their religious delusions.

This is a very real concern; atheists are the most discriminated against minority group in America.
Even though atheists are generally very accepting of new atheists, a new peer group is not sufficient to replace old friends, and, most importantly, family.

This particular issue would best be addressed by trying to reduce the stigma attached to atheism, and by breaking down the taboo against criticizing mass delusion (religion).

--Society discourages people from critically examining religious beliefs.
This goes back to the taboo against criticizing religion.
When people are not encouraged to critically examine their beliefs, they often go along and conform to the group.

This harms society as a whole, because it teaches people that it is better to conform to the group than to think for oneself.

3) Ignorance
Note: I do not use ignorance as a derogatory term; I use it to describe a lack of knowledge/understanding.

--Many theists are taught not to think critically, use logic, or pursue/accept science.

These teachings make people reject logic that would otherwise lead them away from their religious beliefs.
These teachings are a way to keep people indoctrinated.

--Many people are also taught falsehoods regarding scientific theories.
Examples of this include the widespread misconceptions regarding evolution.
Such as the idea that evolution is 100% random, the idea that abiogenesis is part of evolution, the misconception that macroevolution has not been observed, etc.

4) Ego Reasons

Note: Humans are inherently focused on themselves, and their immediate family/friends.
Egocentrism actually promotes survival.
Sadly, it promotes false beliefs just as much, if not more so, than it promotes survival.

--Human ego makes people want to think that life has a grand purpose to it. They want to believe that they are somehow 'important' to the universe.
This is simply not so. There is no cosmic or supernatural plan.
Humans are the result of natural chemical reactions, random mutations, and natural selection over billions of years.

Life does not inherently have a purpose.
However, each individual can give their life a meaning, goal, or purpose.

--The average human mind also has immense trouble grasping the concept that someday it will simply cease to exist, so they choose to believe in an afterlife (or reincarnation).
Wanting to believe in an afterlife is an ego defense mechanism.
People do not want to think that one day they will simply cease to be.

For most people, the concept of one day being non-existent is beyond comprehension.
In many ways, death is a lot easier to deal with if you can convince yourself that it is not the end.

--People do not want to admit that they do not know something. Ego coupled with curiosity drives people to want to know everything (or at least think/pretend that they know everything).

By admitting that there is no god, people are also admitting that they do not have all of the answers.
It is easier for the average person to say 'god did it', than it is to say 'I don't know.'

All of the ego reasons for belief could be considered ego defense mechanisms.
By believing in an afterlife or a deity, people are able to deal with the uncomfortable facts of reality.

Society has evolved to a point where we can deal with these uncomfortable facts of reality without resorting to delusional beliefs.
The time has come to abandon archaic myths and accept reality.

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• deity
• delusion
• reason

[charliehorse12345]

aint you got any respect for dr. martin luther king? man was a preacher, what do you make of that?

[GreenDragon23]

Great fallacy of association. Some preachers also do meth, does that mean that being a preacher causes meth use?

Think about what you are saying.

[braino2000]

Life didn't begin on it's own. You say a bunch of bullshit like it's fact. Idiot, idiot, idiot.

[GreenDragon23]

lol

From your post it is clear that

a) you seem to lack basic courtesy and communication skills (pretty common for an ignorant religious individual however)

b) Have no expertise regarding abiogenesis; and I also doubt that you have the congitive ability to actually lookup the research articles on the subject

(c...)

[GreenDragon23]

and

c) You lack any sort of logical reasoning ability, as is clear from you proof by assertion fallacy

Also, your subscription to venomfangx reveals your clear bias as well as all of the above.

It is sad to see people like you who are so clearly blissfully and passionately ignorant.

[nogster7]

really good vid man..

spot on.

sadly, i am still driven by ego, i still have a "faith" of sorts in re-incarnation. or soul recycling. but thats just my own personal belief to satisfy the "ego" as u say. but i certainly dont believe in any religion, hell, devil, god, and the primitive man made laws that must be adhered to..religions are just socially accepted cults, and our evolution will eventually eradicate these archaic beliefs. its just a shame i wont be around by that time

[GreenDragon23]

Thanks! :)

At least you understand that your "faith" is ego-driven; and even at that it doesn't sound as if it is a belief that you adhere to that strongly.

BTW - I completely agree that religions are just cults; an I do hope that they are on their way out...

[letyourangerout]

@cwross1976 It's not just that there is no proof. It's that also the stories don't add up to the facts. For example, there's proof that when dinosaurs were alive, humans were not. And the bible says that humans were the first living thing he created (besides plants), and NOT dinosaurs. hmm...doesn't this sound wierd?

[stevehayes13]

@cwross1976 This is completely disingenuous. First, hurting other people's feelings is hardly evidence of honesty; and is, anyhow, beside the point. Second, not believing in gods is not a faith based belief system; it is the absence of belief. Third, the burden of proof on the issue of the existence of any god resides with the person asserting it; your attempt to shift that burden is, ironically, just another illustration of the intellectual dishonesty of god believers.

[cwross1976]

@stevehayes13 wrong. i am a believer as you say and am honest to a fault, i hurt peoples feelings all the time. rather than accuse you or any other nonbeliver of this same sort of wanton dishonesty i'll just ask one question. how can yours be a superior position based on logic and reason when you are simply engaing in the same form of faith based belief system, just in reverse? so far science has not provided anything like proof of God's nonexistence, and never will. it can't.

[cwross1976]

@letyourangerout no, science is a word that comes from the latin word for knowledge. all science is is literally what we know. just because we don't know God exists doesn't mean shit. we didn't know the world was round but it was still round... similarly we still have much to learn about this universe and just might learn enough to finally satisfy people like you, who wouldn't believe in God if He slapped you in the face and said 'boo'...

[cwross1976]

i can't speak for others but for me i find the idea that this universe has multiple over lapping dimensions to be rather compelling. the materialistic view of the universe seems a bit incomplete in this perspective. the physical aspects of the universe are mostly empty space, with time being just another 'dimension' rather like the sides of various 'three dimensional objects'. imagine all of the other dimensions of yourself... a little more complex than penis, vagina and mouth...aint it.

[letyourangerout]

god doesn't and nevr did exist. Just face it. There's no proof, and the stories don't add up. We were created by science. Not a god.

[Jmortal]

Nice vid. I unfortunately know someone who recently gave in to "partner pressure" (though they try to downplay it) and went from being a fairly staunch atheist to a theist. This came about from a conversation about what "deal-breakers" may exist in their relationship. Sadly, the other partner seems to believe that a beautiful relationship between two people of different faiths (or non faith) isn't worthy of their effort. To me, this is emotional manipulation and coercion of the worst kind.

[samuellis]

@Kurzhal09 Agree, this is what we call illusions... weak arguements these are common questions and points that I hear people say all the time and it's refuted all the time... I'm with you bro...

[samuellis]

these are lame arguements, u cant say that morals change and evolve over time, it doesnt matter where u are or where ur born on an island or in Manhatten new york u still have the same moral, god law is written inside us, even people who calim to be atheist lives life with a moral law wether they believe in god or not... =)

[Kurzhal09]

I say your first three points and that was all I needed. Dumb arguments.