Question to religious people: why do you believe?

I grew up in an orthodox jewish family in Toronto. We strictly followed all the laws of judaism such as pray daily, keep kosher and observe sabbath. When I was growing up, we were maybe a 7 on a scale of 1-10, 10 being fanatic. The minutia of rules lived in every moment of every day. There were specific blessings to say when you ate, slept, went to the bathroom. Rules about what women may not do, say, be. Rules for men too, but much less limited.

For me, it was too much. I defected from that world 20 years ago. (It was hard.) My parents and siblings have only become more fanatical as the years go by, they’re all at a 9 by now. We do speak to each other and get along OK.

But I have trouble understanding how they or anyone can truly be happy in that life.

So I ask, why do YOU believe?

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

sree251 · 41-45, M

I am religious because I don't accept the explanations of science that provide me with a ridiculous perception of reality. This worldview is inconsistent, incomplete, and fragmentary across the various paradigms of knowledge.

Perception is reality. The world I see, as well as, what I am, is informed by science. Everything appears real. I feel that what is real is not true. This is why I am religious.

Pfuzylogic · M

@sree251 The “big bang” went away quietly as valid theoretical science. It just took evidence from Gaia and JWST to toss that junk to the side.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@Pfuzylogic Theoretical science is in the realm of beliefs. What is not easy to toss out is settled science that governs our perception of reality. Take Newton's law of gravity. He says the scale that tells your weight is due to Mother Earth's attractive force acting on your body. This is not true.

Pfuzylogic · M

@sree251
And there is another general theory of relativity for gravity Einstein in which elaborated

sree251 · 41-45, M

@Pfuzylogic Einstein's theory of gravity is not settled science. Besides, it is on a scale beyond relevance to practical life. Bending light waves? Give me a break.

Pfuzylogic · M

@sree251
MuCH more solid theory that big banging though.
Einstein was a genius.
hawking was a poser.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@Pfuzylogic Yes, Hawking was ridiculous but that's how it is with intellectual types hyping up their self-worth, preening as the high priests of knowledge. I don't know why you say Einstein is a genius. None of his theories contributed to useful practical knowledge.

Pfuzylogic · M

@sree251 Winstein resisted against the big bang theory but didn’t argue against it because of the perceived validity of the red shift as a measurer of distance.
JWST put us into 21st century with the data that it provided.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@Pfuzylogic I know it sounds ridiculous, but I am not into telescopes and their views of the universe. Perception is reality. What you can see but can't verify with your sense of touch has no relevance to practical life.

Pfuzylogic · M

@sree251
The big bang was given the leverage of explaining how the universe began. That answer for science has dissipated and no longer valid with no viable replacement.