Shalom - for me to believe and put my faith in something such as a monothesitic entity, first he/it must be consistant, the only thing consistant about whats written of this god is his inconsistant behavior. In that - he seem's perfect. but in that only.

Believing in what?

I don't see any good coming from believing in Mediterranean mythologies. In particular with respect to the biblical myth. I don't see that story portraying either God or man in a positive light.

It's truly not something that I'd want to believe in. I'd sincerely rather atheism be true than the Bible.

However, this doesn't stop me from believing in a spirit world.

Just because the Bible is an ugly story that was clearly written by egotistical controlling men doesn't mean that the real creator of this universe needs to be like that.

It doesn't come down to either believing in the Bible, or not believing in anything at all. I think a lot of Christians hold that narrow mindset. They need a printed security blanket because they can't believe in a real God. So instead they turn to the written documents of men, and worship those as though they are the word of God. It gives them an idol to worship. People prefer to worship idols.

I don't need an idol to worship. If there is a spiritual world it's not necessary to idolize it. It just is. And that's good enough for me.

If I'm going to believe in a 'god' or spiritual realm, why not believe in a genuinely benevolent one? At least as good as my own personal existence.

There is nothing benevolent about the biblical picture at all, and therefore I have no reason to want to believe it. The god depicted in the Biblical picture is far inferior on a moral level to even me! Why would I want to believe in a God that holds inferior morals than my own? That would be stupid.

If a God exists, it has to at least be at least better than the best mortal human we can find. I'm already know mortal humans who hold much higher moral values than then Biblical God. Ironically, most of those are atheists!

I see nothing to be gained by believing in a God who has an inferior moral fiber than many mere mortal humans.

If a creator exists it has to be superior to the male-chauvinist, egotistical jerks who wrote the Bible. That's a given.

Well put. Given the evidence the question 'why DO people believe?' is the more valid one.

... for me it is as simple as wanting to make more loving choices than fearful choices on a daily basis ... choices that are free of judgment and hostility...

in order to do this, i find that growing along spiritual lines helps me tremendously, because for some reason my default thinking is usually negative...

... how anyone practices or terms finding inner peace and serenity is clearly his or her own affair, but i have found that being open to the notion that there is a loving power which is greater than myself from whom i can draw great guidance if i am willing to let that in ...

this truly helps me, and i wish only that everyone finds this within themselves by whatever means.

I don't pity you fool.......gigglsnort...and I don't care who doesn't or does believe...It's an individual thing....I only will cause grief if people lie and tell me what I believe is a myth.....pretty simple really.

I wasnt talking to you necessarily Deb. But since you quoted me, i do find some of your beliefs pityful as they make no sense to anyone but yourself.

MYTH-MYTH-MYTH-MYTH-MYTH- oh yeah and - MYTH -

when we as humans EVOLVED from chimps and began to reason. the question arose. how did i get here? this question was first asked at a time when there was no other way to prove a higher power wrong. but since humans EVOLVE and science advances, we have proved the cavemen wrong. so to me, bowing to a higher power is saying you dont accept the fact that science begets intelligence. are you gonna tell me that god created cures for diseases that have plagued mankind for ages? if that was the case, then why is it that god didnt create **** sooner?

religion, so easy a caveman can do it.

By "him" are you referring specifically to Yahweh? Or are you asking why do certain people refuse to believe in anything whatsoever?