Do you believe; and why?

[Lucidus]

(05-08-2019, 03:01 PM)fredtoast Wrote: People who believe in a higher power are usually happier.  I think that has a lot to do with it.  It just feels good, so why not.

Personally I was raised in a very strict Southern Baptist home.  Everyone I knew believed.  It never occurred to me not to believe.  But when I was in college I started to have some doubts.  When I decided to read the Bible straight through I realized what a racist horror show the Old Testament was.  that pretty much ended it for me.

However I was lucky that my parents were not the hypocritical, or self righteous, or overly-judgmental Christians who can give that faith a bad name.  They were just wonderful loving people.  My mother is still alive, and I would never tell her I lost my faith, but she does not do or say things that upset me.

That is another common reason, "it feels good, so why not." I would offer that many things feel good, but is belief or practice in such things reasonable or justified? It may make one feel good to believe that their dead relative has inhabited the body of the pet, but is it logical to hold such a belief, regardless of how comforting it may be? I know that it isn't your position, just offering the question for discussion.