Why Do Believers Need a God? Is Religious Theism an Addiction?
The Atheist Geek writes:
When a person admits to truly needing to believe in an idea like God, aren't they also admitting that they don't want to see things any other way? Aren't they basically folding their arms at us and saying "I like the way these beliefs make me feel, so I don't want to change them even if they're wrong!" As I showed you earlier, some believers even come right out and say that very thing to us. This is the sort of thing that often leads atheists to conclude that religion is used as a sort of crutch and that faith really is a kind of delusion.
None of this necessarily proves that these atheists are right. But I do think it makes it easier to understand why some atheists might see it that way.
I believe that there are four chairs in my dining room, but I can't say that I need to believe this. It's what I perceive to be true and if it turned out to be false I'd be rather concerned about my powers of perception, but that's not the same as needing to believe. On the contrary, if it really were the case that there aren't four chairs in my dining room, I would very strongly want to learn this despite the fact that this means I have been mistaken. I don't want to persist in believing erroneous things, regardless of how uncomfortable or disconcerting the truth may be.
There are many things which I can say that I need and strongly desire — including states of affairs — but I can’t think of any beliefs that could be included here. Needing to believe that something is true separates the belief from the importance of truth. It is thus indeed little wonder that atheists would regard theism in this context as an addiction, a crutch, or a delusion. People who care about the truth and reality should "need" to believe whatever is most likely true and most defensible, regardless of what it is or where it might lead.
Comments
RE: “Is Religious Theism an Addiction?”
The overwhelming majority of people are raised with whatever religion from the get-go.
As one sent to Catholic Schools (yeah…nuns & Christian Brothers) by an Irish Catholic mom; the first thing I remember being taught is to BELIEVE!
In other words most of us were taught to accept religious ideas without any question of, or use of rational thinking. In fact; the only use of the word ‘rational’ is associated automatically with the simple fact of turning seven years old; nothing really to do with true critical, rational…or logical thinking!
One is just TOLD that they NEED to believe…yea; MUST…believe and worship an invisible, incomprehensible “Sky Daddy”. With all the usual programming using guilt and fear (hell-fire damnation) and the practicing over and over of rituals…almost drug-like ‘toking’…the ‘addiction’ begins to form; both mentally and perhaps, even physically!
Yes…from my experience…Religion IS an addiction; which is unrecognized as such, and extremely hard to shake off in one’s life.
“Believers Anonymous, anyone?…or…”Higher (Sky Daddy) Power?”
Oh wait! 12 step programs are (in my opinion) just another subtle form of religion!
And, even THOSE programs become addictive!
[I experienced AA for many year!]
Penn & Teller (with their usual bluntness!) did an interesting investigation about AA, in particular.
Checkout these YouTube videos…
“12 steps programs 1″:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8tPNgHrIkgo
“12 steps programs 1″:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5uwx2P5LJgk&mode=related&search=
“12 steps programs 1″:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7PjpOsE3xoY&mode=related&search=
PEACE!
[2nd try on this!]
RE: “Is Religious Theism an Addiction?”
The overwhelming majority of people are raised with whatever religion from the get-go.
As one sent to Catholic Schools
(yeah…nuns & brothers) by an Irish Catholic mom; the first thing I remember being taught is to BELIEVE!
In other words most of us were taught to accept religious ideas without any question of, or use of rational thinking. In fact; the only use of the word ‘rational’ is associated automatically with the simple fact of turning seven years old; nothing to do with true critical, rational thinking!
One is TOLD that they NEED to believe and worship an invisible, incomprehensible “Sky Daddy”. With all the usual programming, using guilt and fear; and the practicing over and over of rituals…drug-like toking(?)…the ‘addiction’ begins to form; both mentally and perhaps, even physically!
Yes…from my experience…Religion IS an addiction; which is unrecognized as such, and extremely hard to shake off in one’s life.
“Believers Anonymous”, anyone?…or…”Higher Sky Daddy Power?”
Oh wait!…
12 step programs are (in my opinion) just another subtle form of religion!
And, even THOSE programs become addictive!
[I experienced AA for many years, by the way!]
[Penn & Teller (with their usual bluntness!) did an interesting investigation about AA, in particular.]
Check this YouTube video [part 1 of 3; you’ll find the others?]…
“12 steps programs 1″
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8tPNgHrIkgo
Some questions that could be posed in discussion with a theist re: are you addicted to your religion?
1) Can you even imagine what your life would be like without religion?
In my experiences so far, most theists describe such a scenario as hellish, much like a drug addict going through everlasting withdrawal.
2) If your religion is not an addiction, why not try giving it up? Could you just “stop” being religious?
Again, my experiences with theists thus far indicate an overwhelming NO; they can’t even imagine just quitting being religious in a “cold-turkey” way. They usually state that their lives would become utterly empty, meaningless, devoid of hope, etc. As far as even trying to give it up, the “but I NEED to believe” is the most offered response.
Personally, I have overcome more than one chemical addiction throughout my lifetime, and it ain’t easy. Methamphetamine addiction was the worst. I was sick for weeks, even relapsed a couple of times, but eventually conquered the addiction. I’ve been clean for over five years now. Needless to say, I purposely avoid placing myself in any surrounding where the drug might be used. The temptation would be, possibly, more than I could resist.
If there is such a thing as mental addiction, belief in the supernatural is a dangerous drug.
Forrest. Was giving up meth worse than giving up cigarettes? After giving up cigarettes a number of years ago, I can’t anything being more difficult!
I was curious, because I know a guy who was able to give up meth, but he was never able to shake off the cigarettes.
The human mind is an addict. If it finds something to be pleasurable, it will stimulate itself. Mental masturbation actually exists and it is universal.