Anonymous

I was just thinking about religion and beliefs since I was curious about afterlife and came to the conclusion that don't people follow God just for the reward of it and self-will?

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8 Answers

Tom  Jackson Profile
Tom Jackson answered

There are various reasons that people follow God.

You are doing some independent thinking and that's always a good thing.

Some people follow Him because they fear punishment from Him.

Some people follow Him because they like the concept of "reward" for following His "laws."

I started to follow Him because He is my creator and knows more about what I am and what I can be than anyone else that exists and He set this whole "existence" thing up.

Now of course, some people think I'm wrong about all of this.

Whatever...

But I continue to have a personal relationship with God because it is continually proving to me that it is simply a fantastic way to live.

Darik Majoren Profile
Darik Majoren answered

Most "follow" God, because that is how they were raised.

Indoctrinated beliefs taught at such a young early age can create exactly the sort of "Wiring" the brain needs to continue these beliefs.

Even those not necessarily brought up in a particular religion but brought up depending on things "Outside" themselves to feel complete, are compelled by the allurement of religion and the promise that an outside entity will help, guide, watch over and has a certain form of "destiny" in mind for their lives.

That and the promise of immortality are enough to keep vast numbers of people indoctrinating future generations so that their "Belief Support Structure" stays intact for their lifetime. 

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Tom  Jackson
Tom Jackson commented
@Dark Majinn

I do agree that something stinks in this thread---but it's not my fish analogy.
Darik Majoren
Darik Majoren commented
"Thread's" don't belong to anyone:" -
It has literally nothing to do with ownership, it has to do with "position" . . . You are the challenger since it is my answer and I am the defender. Merely clarifying whom decided to attack someone position.
This should, of course, "Go without saying" , but apparently that only applies to with Common Sense, of which your years might have robbed you . . .

Your inability to distinguish this most common of ideas "eliminates" nothing.
Darik Majoren
Darik Majoren commented
"Just read your first reply to my comment. LOL

My goodness, what a torturous Labyrinth must be your mind---full of fun-house mirrors that so distort your evaluation of reality into such a constant fails."

It is a call to use direct comparisons Thomas.
You are unable to understand this other fundamental concept.
When trying to communicate and idea using comparatives, you need to use comparatives from THIS reality for those things that are natural to it, and Fantasy for those things of Supernatural nature . . . you and Just Ice, seem to NOT be able to draw ANY direct Supernatural comparisons . . . I wonder why?

On the bright side, if at least you NOW know how ridiculous you sound with your proclamations of "Supernatural Truths" to the rest of us Free Thinkers.

If you find the comparison of Odin, Zeus or even Santa Claus to be ridiculous and crazy notions . . . you're almost there . . you just need to go one "God" further like I did.
Zack -  Mr. GenXer Profile

Sounds plausible and also people are religious out of fear.

Ancient Hippy Profile
Ancient Hippy answered

Most people follow a god out of fear.

PJ Stein Profile
PJ Stein answered

There are many religions that believe in an afterlife, and not all have a singular God. Some have multiple gods and some have no good at all.

Bikergirl Anonymous Profile

There are many reasons why people choose to "believe" .. Some reasonable and some completely absurd  .. But all dependant upon perspective.

Some choose to  believe and choose to follow because of the benefits (a wondrous place like heaven to reside)  they are being promised  for their good behaviour ..  And some choose to believe and follow because they are afraid of the consequences (like a fiery hell)  for not having good behaviour .  Primarily most  Cherry pick what they want to believe and what they refuse to believe how to behave and how not to behave based on their perception and how they translate what is believed to be instructions on how to conduct oneself as dictated by a Church's or any denomination's understanding of "God's Word" .

.. and then, of course, there are some religions that depend on the promise of extra 'benefits' in
the after life to get people to do what they are led to believe is
required of them .. like the orgy of virgins (or something along that
line (for example).

otis campbell Profile
otis campbell answered

Drink my shine and u may see god

mary adam Profile
mary adam answered

Everything comes from one original story. Our films, songs, books reflect the same story told again and again. Man was tempted by desire for knowledge and to become like God, and therefore fell from Grace into darkness, struggle, and separateness.

The Olympians (olymipics) and Titans, Gigamesh, the great men of old offspring of the Giants. That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

The serpent, the tempter, Naschash, The shining ones, illuminated,  the fallen ones. Nimrod, Tubal Cain 007 (two ball cane when viewed upside down), Enki who brought Mes to mankind. The caduceus, our symbol for medicine, Hermes staff, mercury's staff, and in Egypt Thoths djed pillar a symbol of man's animal nature (soul) mixed with (spirit) to become union with a  God as the wings above, one with god, a union (to become one) but which one? Star Wars Daath Vader Daath, Daat, Kabbalah,  meaning a union with a deity.  Daniel 11:38 a God of forces. Buddhism, union with a deity. 

The same mystery religion again and again. Esoteric knowledge, the forbidden knowledge. Not outside of ourselves but inside. You are being indoctrinated whether you are aware of it or not. The pillars of Jachin and boaz, the twin towers, the sun and the moon, the dark and the light, ying and yang the dual natures. 1 John 1:5. The stag, the bull, the goat, the Horned deity, the green man, Pan, Baphomet.  The mysteries/ the gnostics, are  being taught to you beyond your awareness. One eye symbolism - Ayin - O.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6p5Q6_JBes

Breaking through the borderline what one must do internally kundalini to become one with a deity, but again which one?

“The true Mason is not creed-bound. He realizes with the divine illumination of his lodge that as Mason his religion must be universal: Christ, Buddha or Mohammed, the name means little, for he recognizes only the light and not the bearer. He worships at every shrine, bows before every altar, whether in temple, mosque or cathedral, realizing with his truer understanding the oneness of all spiritual truth. All true Masons know that they only are heathen who, having great ideals, do not live up to them. They know that all religions are but one story told in divers ways for peoples whose ideals differ but whose great purpose is in harmony with Masonic ideals. North, east, south and west stretch the diversities of human thought, and while the ideals of man apparently differ, when all is said and the crystallization of form with its false concepts is swept away, one basic truth remains: All existing things are Temple Builders, laboring for a single end. No true Mason can be narrow, for his Lodge is the divine expression of all broadness. There is no place for little minds in a great work.” 
―    Manly P Hall

http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/40220.Manly_P_Hall

Lucifer - the bearer of light. The temple of Solomon, Sol O Mon.

1 Cor 3:16 Just be careful which "god" enters your temple.

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

thanked the writer.
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mary adam
mary adam commented
I've stated why people believe in God which is what the question asked.
Your last sentence is amusing in an ironic sense when we are talking about the Bible.
But there is a belief that the bible is esoteric knowledge only taught to those in the know, why I don't know, it seems the leaders of this world want us consumed with desire and to believe that we are mere animals and this life is it. Although people read the bible they don't want to appear stupid (pride) so deny that there are powers of darkness which exist to our detriment ie to blind us, yet this is what the bible teaches Eph 6:12.
People read the bible get disheartened with it due to all the enslavement and murdering in the OT and miss the message. If you want to understand what it going on in this world you need to know what the enemy is doing, and that requires further investigation into what they believe and how they distance us from knowing God (by feeding desire and teaching useless knowledge which just keeps us in the system). What can be better than knowing God i.e becoming in union with him, experiencing his mind? X-box? Being Famous? Eating cakes? Learning grammar? Driving a sports car? Which are momentary experiences of elation before boredom sets in.
Tom  Jackson
Tom Jackson commented
Boredom is unused spiritual energy---that's not much of a problem for me.

We're way past your answer to the question.

I not worried about fact and fiction in the bible, I think it is much more important to find out if I can trust anything you say on here as a statement about reality.

One excellent way of knowing God is to appreciate all of the things He has created for us to "play with" through the instrumentality of the human intellect.

Elation is the cathecting of one of the human emotions He gave us when he created us. It frequently occurs in me when I am aware of His presence in that special way He interacts with me.
mary adam
mary adam commented
You don't have to trust anything I say Tom, all information to me is made available to you, this isn't my idea I am talking about this is Gnosticism which is available to everyone. Knowledge is learned I take no pride in it. For me I want to know what those in charge know, because it is there actions that affect me. Then I want to understand how that knowledge is different or the same as what Christ taught. My main enemy is me, because just like Eve was tempted by the serpent, I too can be tempted, I must know my tempter the part of me that says it's ok, or justifies a wrongful act which takes me away from God and consumes (burns) me with desire.

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